Founder's Day officially falls on August 4,

the birthday of our city founder, Joseph W. Young.

It is observed by the Historic Society on either the nearest Saturday or Sunday to this date.  The specific date and planned activities will be posted on o u r Upcoming Events page as this remembrance day approaches.

Click here to read more about the first Founder's Day held in 1935.

The Story of Founder's Day

Hollywood, Florida was envisioned and begun in 1920 by one man, Joseph W. Young, Jr.  Young drew up the city plan with its broad Boulevard intersected by three circles.  He spent millions to build several elegant resort hotels, a renowned Country Club, various office buildings, a bridge at the Boulevard spanning the Inland Waterway, a splendid railroad station, an Olympic salt-water pool, and a school.  He gave these to the city together with land for parks.  His city from the start had underground power cables, water and sewers, a telephone system, sidewalks, and handsome street lighting.  In 1925, when Hollywood was incorporated as a city, he was elected first Mayor; but resigned to develop Port Everglades. The 1926 hurricane and subsequent national economic Depression put and end to Young’s work in Hollywood, and he died at only 51 on February 27, 1934 at his home at 1055 Hollywood Boulevard.

Almost immediately the city commission renamed the former Harding Circle as Joseph W. Young Circle, and on August 1, 1935 Mayor Arthur W. Kellner issued a Proclamation designating Young’s birth date (August 4th) as Founder’s Day and a public holiday.

Notables in attendance at the first Founder’s Day included Senator John Beacham, Representative Dwight Rogers, a representative of Governor Dave Sholtz, the president of the Miami Chamber of Commerce representing Mayor Fossey of Miami, and George Merrick, the founder of Coral Gables.  Merrick’s presence is an indication that these two city visionaries were well acquainted.

Some two thousand townspeople attended the events at the all-day affair in 1935.  Events included a golf tournament at the Municipal Golf Course (now the Orangebrook Golf and Country Club), water sports at the beach Casino, band concerts by two local boys’ bands, a dance program by local children, picnics at the beach Ovens, speakers, and a ball game at Dowdy Field.