Post #598940 by TikiTomD on Sat, Jul 23, 2011 12:09 PM

As a follow-up to bigbrotiki’s observations (http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=38880&forum=20&vpost=595048) on the Flagler Beach Pier A-frame structure, I dug a bit into its history. The original pier and pier building were constructed in 1927 and dedicated on July 4, 1928. Here are some postcard scans and photos of the old pier from http://www.flaglerbeachpier.net/ and http://www.cityofflaglerbeach.com/...

The original pier was intended to be huge, according to a 1957 newspaper article, excerpted here…

Daytona Beach Morning Journal April 21, 1957

The deteriorating condition of the old pier building drove the town commission to plan and construct a new building in 1962...

The Flagler Tribune March 22, 1962

The article below reveals that the town commission wanted a more contemporary look to the pier, so they chose an A-frame structure like that of a now defunct restaurant named Beyond the Reef down the coast a few miles in Ormond Beach...

Daytona Beach Morning Journal November 4, 1962

I haven’t been able to find any photos or information about the décor and structure of Beyond the Reef Restaurant, formerly located at 1130 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach. With a name like that for an early 1960s era restaurant, it’s entirely possible that the pier A-frame was inspired by Poly pop...

Maybe someone on TC has a postcard, matchbook cover or menu for Beyond the Reef Restaurant (but not the Wisconsin establishment of the same name)? It’s interesting that the former owner of the Ormond Beach restaurant, Charles Gittner, came to Florida in 1955 from Wisconsin, according to his 1980 obituary.

-Tom