When Waterside Was Just a Mango Grove
by Elissa
Crawford, Resident
In addition to the early beginnings of Waterside
Village, another bit of the property’s history came to light the summer
before Hurricane Frances.
I had gone to middle and senior high school with a
girl named Joanne Miner. I knew that Joanne’s father, James T. Miner, had
owned a home on this property when the grounds were primarily his business
of a mango grove. The entrance street to Waterside Village --- Miner Road
---is named for her family. During school years I spent many days and
overnight “sleep-overs” with another girl friend who lived right across the
road on Loomis Street, so the grove was always familiar to me. I had lost
touch with Joanne for a few years, but we reunited in June of 2004.
During our conversation, it turned out that Joanne
had never been inside the gates of Waterside, and she was always curious as
to how the property had been developed. Excited to show my friend the
beautifully designed buildings and recreational facilities, I invited her
for a tour. As we walked along, Joanne pointed out where her family’s house
had been located (behind Waterside’s office), reminisced about what a
blessing it was to have grown up in the fresh air, and was duly impressed
with the landscape.
 She told me that her father had formerly been a
cabinetmaker, and had purchased this property before he went into the Navy
during World War II. Here he planted several varieties of mangos with names
such as Hadens, Kents, Tommy Atkins, Zills, Brooks, Springfields, Parvins,
and many more. When World War II ended, the public demand for mangos
increased, and James Miner expanded his acreage to several thousand mango
plants. He developed a marketing campaign with pamphlets describing the
food value of mangos and explained how to ripen, slice and serve them. Then in 1959 Mr. Miner began his rose business on the twenty
acres west of here (which became Quadrille Condos). In the spring of 1973,
Mr. Miner signed the first contract to sell the property but he still had
the place for another year.
I’m so glad my friend had the chance that summer day
to at last see the grounds where she grew up and to discover how it had been
developed into such a lovely community. Shortly after both hurricanes had
knocked down so many trees, I invited Joanne back to take a second look.
Yes, there were fewer trees, but many of her beloved mango trees still
stood. I promised that if we have a good crop next summer, I’ll save some
fruit for her!
 Mangos
Additional facts
about the origin and popularity of mangos
The mango is native to Southeast Asia and India. It
is the most widely consumed fresh fruit in the world. The fruit is related
to cashews and pistachios, but also to poison ivy! (Some people experience a
rash if they touch the outer skin or the trees). Some mango specimens can
produce fruit after 300 years. In India the mango is a symbol of love. A
basket of mangos is considered a gesture of friendship.
The mangos share the spotlight with another
universal symbol of community friendship, the pineapple. Families from
Michigan founded neighboring cities like Boynton Beach and Delray Beach by
farming pineapple groves. The pineapple figurine at the main fountain in
Waterside Village is an example of extending a warm welcome to visitors. |
