With such interesting characters as Sir Harry Oakes and his “haunted” mansion and James Munroe Munyon, a con man with the Fountain of Youth located on his little island in Lake Worth, the Northern Palm Beach County area has its share of mysteries. The once quaint little towns and villages of Jupiter, Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Park, Riviera Beach and Singer Island are now much larger, but haven’t lost their tropical charm.

Author Ruth Hartman Berge has skillfully woven her memories of growing up in the area in the 1960s and 70s with the history of the people and places she loves.  Her stories are a glimpse into a Florida that no longer exists and a time when children ran barefoot under palm trees.

Growing Up in Northern Palm Beach County is a very personal remembrance of Florida for me, as it brings back many fond memories of my own childhood in South Florida.  Author Ruth Hartman Berge brilliantly weaves a selection of her fondest recollections that, when combined, leave the reader with a genuine feel and context for an important era in our state's history.  Writings such as this add to the rich body of literature that define Florida culture.

Harvey E. Oyer III
Author
5th generation native Floridian
Former Chairman, Historical Society of Palm Beach County
Director, Florida Historical Society

Reading Growing Up in Northern Palm Beach County: Boomer Memories from Dairy Belle to Double Roads was a trip down 'memory lane' for me as a native Floridian. But you don’t have to be born in Florida to appreciate Ruth Berge’s warm, homey style while she delivers pleasurable memories of growing up in the Sunshine State.

Robin Draper
AuthenticFlorida.com

Author Ruth Berge perfectly captures the cold-drink-on-a-hot-day, barefoot-in-the-sand freedom of my youth. I could almost smell the orange blossoms! Growing Up in Northern Palm Beach County will charm not only those born in the Sunshine State, but also those who choose to call it home. Park a beach chair in the sand, kick off your shoes, and enjoy this great read.

Deborah Sharp,
Florida native and author of the Mace Bauer Mystery Series 

Anyone who grew up in northern Palm Beach County during the 1960s and 70s will be able to insert themselves into Ruth Berge’s autobiographical tale, Growing Up in Northern Palm Beach County.  Remember the Christmas in Dixie parade?  Visits to Air Force Beach or surfing by the shipwrecked Amarylis?  You probably ran into Ruth at least once and if you don’t remember those things, Ruth’s book about growing up in Palm Beach County is an entertaining read that will cause you to think you were there.

Debi Murray
Chief Curator
Historical Society of Palm Beach County