Samuel Jaquinta

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Samuel Jaquinta (January 1, 1896-April 22, 1981) was a noted Fort Lauderdale entrepreneur who opened the first open air fruit market in Southern Florida. The Barnett Bank building carries a plaque commemorating his contributions to the Lauderdale area; the Miami Herald ran a half page tribute on his life.

1 Early Years
2 Name change
3 Entrepreneurism
4 Death and memorials
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Early Years

Born Salvatore (Sam) Iaquinta in Cosenza Provence in southern Italy, in the town of San Giovanni in Fiore.He emigrated to the U.S.A. aboard the Prinzess Irene in 1910, registering at Ellis Island at age fourteen. After living with his brother Franco, in Boomer WV., where he worked in the coal mines, Sam settled in Des Moines, Iowa. There, he married his wife, Mary Theresa Longo of Detroit, Michgan. Sam and Mary had three children: John Sunday, Joseph Longo and Janet Marie. Sam and his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1939.

[edit] Name change

According to family lore, Salvatore Iaquinta became Samuel Jaquinta in Fort Lauderdale, due to a mix-up with a local contractor. Iaquinta had written his last name on a piece of paper to be painted across the plate glass window of his new business. The painter misread his writing, assuming the letter "I" was a "J". The name stuck.

[edit] Entrepreneurism

Jaquinta opened his fresh fruit market in what would become downtown Fort Lauderdale at the interesection of Las Olas Boulevard and Federal Highway. Known as the "TroMar Open-Air Market," his business provided locally grown fruits and vegetables to the local populace. In 1970s, Jaquinta sold the site of his open air fruit market to Barnett Bank. Four skyscrappers now occupy the site of his market in downtown Fort Lauderdale. A small bronze plaque on the side of one of the bank buildings commemorates Jaquinta's contribution to the city of Fort Lauderdale.

Jaquinta was a charter member, deacon, and elder of Bethany Presbyterian Church.

[edit] Death and memorials

He died on Wednesday April 22, 1981 at Broward General Medical Center. The Miami Herald ran his obituary which included a tribute for his contribution to the development of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

His descendants continue to make their home in Florida, Iowa, and West Virginia.