State Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, wants a bronze sculpture of Henry Morrison Flagler, who was integral in the development of Miami and Palm Beach–and gave Flagler County its name–to go up in the courtyard between the state Capitol and the Historic Capitol in Tallahassee. Hager has filed a measure (HB 131) that would allow the creation of the Flagler Memorial.
“Henry Flagler had a vision for our great state and through the building of his railroad and its surrounding development, Florida has become the fourth largest state in the U.S.,” Hager said in a news release.
Flagler, a founder of Standard Oil, built the Florida East Coast Railway down the state’s east coast primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century. The passenger rail line at one time reached to Key West; the extension known as the Overseas Railroad was destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. The bill would require the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach to commission the sculpture and to raise private funds for the project. Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, is expected to file the Senate companion.–News Service of Florida
Jody says
Mr. Flagler would be disappointed had he known Palm Coast would ruin the county that he was named after. Also, he wouldn’t have wanted Disney World to invade Florida as well. He would’ve wanted Florida to remain the fishing and farming capital of the world. Now it is the immigrant and red light camera capital of the world.
Bethechange says
All for any measure that helps customer service reps across the state to spell f l a g l e r.
Unbelievable says
What is money…..people are moving in with parents and other loved ones and politicians have money to buy bronze statues. Discusting!!!
Ron says
Huh??????