"She was an amazing person," Stranahan House guide remembers accomplished Ivy Stranahan
MIAMI - John Della-Cerra Jr. can tell you all about Ivy Strahahan. He knew her well, worked for her, and continues to this day as a tour guide and maintenance person at Fort Lauderdale's Stranahan House, the oldest remaining building in Broward County. It was built in 1901.
"She was an amazing person and really the mother of the city, so many things that she organized," said Della-Cerra.
Eighteen-year-old Ivy Julia Cromartie was hired at $48 a month to teach in a school house built by Fort Lauderdale pioneers. She met Frank Strahahan who was managing a camp and ferry business at Tarpon Bend on the New River. Trading with the Seminole Indians became the economic backbone of the business.
Married in August of 1900, Ivy gave up teaching but quickly became involved in the budding but remote settlement.
"She was constantly involved in education, ecology, women's rights, the Seminoles," said Della-Cerra.
Through the years Ivy Strahahan served on Fort Lauderdale's planning and zoning committee. In Tallahassee, she lobbied for the Homestead Exemption Law. She also founded the Broward County Red Cross Chapter, the Camp Fire Girls, the Audubon Society, Woman's Club, and established the powerful Friends of the Seminoles, solidifying her long time devotion to the cause of the area's indigenous population.
"She was constantly trying to improve the lives of everybody here, Blacks, Seminoles and a lot of things she was doing on both fronts were not very popular with a lot of people but that did not deter her," said Della-Cerra.
With all the accomplishments and involvement there was tragedy and hardship.
Frank Strahahan's trading business and bank failed financially due to devastating hurricanes and the Great Depression. The one-time postmaster, took his life, drowning in the New River in front of the magnificent home he had built first as a trading post, it later became a home.
Today that home is a museum dedicated to Ivy Strahahan where Della-Cerra remembers a determined woman who leased out part of it to a restaurant to make ends meet.
"I think that when I am telling stories to people walking around the property that Ivy is gonna tap me on the shoulder and say 'John, you have been standing here for 30 minutes and I have not seen you do a bit of work'," said Della-Cerra.
Ivy through the years stayed in the historic home until her death on August 30th, 1971 at the age of 90.
