October 2021
Volume 14 Issue 8
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Along the Coast
Crashes spur municipalities to enforce speeds on Intracoastal By Rich Pollack and Jane Smith
It was a perfect Florida June day when Harold “JR” Ewing, his wife and daughter boarded their 16-foot boat and headed north on the Intracoastal Waterway from Boca Raton to Delray Beach for lunch with friends.
Ewing’s boat slowed in the water off Highland Beach as a larger southbound boat created a sizable wake. Not all the boats in the area cut their speeds, however. Instead, the operator of a 29-foot Century apparently didn’t see Ewing’s boat in front of him and plowed into it, crushing the smaller vessel.
Inside
Ewing, who was behind the console, was struck by the Century’s bow and suffered numerous serious injuries, including the loss of sight in his left eye, paralysis on his right side, more than 28 skull fractures, spine fractures, a broken shoulder and three broken ribs. See SPEED on page 6
A boat speeds along the Intracoastal Waterway north of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Accidental discovery brings old wreck to life
What’s next for Old School Square?
The city of Delray Beach decided to end its contract with the nonprofit that runs the campus. Plus: A look at the finances for the downtown arts center. Pages 24-25 Workers stand near lumber retrieved from the Lofthus that was piled on the beach for transport to the mainland. Photos provided by the John Henry Moore Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library
123 years after the Lofthus ran aground off Manalapan, photos that offer first clear look at ship and a glimpse at pioneer life emerge from historian’s idle curiosity
Insurance rate hikes, inspections loom for condo owners
Insurers weigh risks after Surfside building collapse. Plus: Boca is first in county to require routine building inspections; Highland Beach may be next. Pages 10-11
By Ron Hayes
Photographer John Henry Moore holds a scrub jay at his homestead in what is now Boca Raton. The birds were plentiful in the area at the time and were easily trained.
We’ve always known where to find the grave. It rests 175 yards off Manalapan in 15 to 20 feet of water. We’ve always known what happened: On the evening of Feb. 4, 1898, a vicious storm drove a Norwegian ship onto the coral reef. We’ve always known what was left behind. The crew of 16 reached shore safely in their life preservers, and a dog and cat were later rescued, but
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930,000 feet of Southern pine bound for Buenos Aires was stranded on the grounded vessel. And we’ve always known what it looked like, more or less. A single sepia photograph could be found online, faded and hazy, a copy of a copy of a copy. The photograph is so old it looks like a ghost ship spied through dense fog. That was all the barkentine Lofthus left us to remember it by. Until now. See LOFTHUS on page 20
Season Preview 2021-22
Your guide to art and culture. Pages AT7-18