What men did

People of Lake Worth knew how to make their own fun. On the first July 4th of the new city the Fat Man’s Race was a highlight of the celebration. It is not recorded who won, but the picture shows the fun enjoyed by the racers and the crowd. Many of the men’s activities were athletic challenges such as horseshoes, boxing, archery, shuffleboard, or swimming competitions.

Men working at an early gas station in Lake Worth.

Prize fight at the beach close to the bath house in honor of the bridge opening in 1919. Boxing on the beach was a popular diversion. As early as c. 1915, boxing was enjoyed by both the ladies and the gentleman. The matches were sometimes fund-raisers for charity and sometimes held in tents and later in a wrestling arena. Two of the featured boxers were Battling Kelly vs Kid De Vatti.