Beating the heat was a chore in the days before air conditioning
As South Florida was first becoming populated in the late 19th century, rich seasonal residents escaped the heat by escaping South Florida to homes in the north. The less-than-rich had to stay and endure it, using loose clothing, parasols, open windows and hand-held fans. A new exhibit now open at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society shows how residents endured the miserable summers. But perhaps they weren't as miserable as you might think because they didn't know what they were missing.
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