Sunset Lounge Open House
October 9, 2022
The event was held on Saturday 10-8-2022 @ 11:00 AM and there were to be 2 showings.
A presentation by Dr. Alisha Winn on “Historical background” and she spoke on the “Styx” when people of color lived on the island of Palm Beach and what became of them. A story on the Styx can be found at the end of the story and draw your own conclusions as to which version is believable those of African Americans or the Palm Beach Historical Society’s version.
Looking around an elderly gentleman caught my attention by the name of Arthur L. Freemon, who walked with the aid of a walker, and he was on the dance floor swaying with music only he could hear and a serene smile on his lips. I made it a point to introduce myself and we spoke for a while. I asked if he attended the Lounge when it was opened and he shared a story with me and gave permission for me to share with readers. His story.
Mr. Freemon was in the service and on some type of training mission when the day was over some of his friends were planning a trip to the Sunset Lounge to unwind and invited him to go. He declined saying he was tired and just wanted to go home. His friends insisted, and he again declined the invitation and went home.
He was home for a short time when a knock on his door found his friends outside asking him to join them saying don’t make us come in and take you out by force. He relented and joined them for a trip to the Lounge. My next question was “did you have a good time?” He responded “it was the best night of my life, I met my future wife that night, and we danced the night away, and that was 47 years ago.” The Sunset lounge held good memories for Mr. Freemon and he was excited it was about to be reopened.
The picture above shows the 2nd. floor where diners ate while watching the dancers below them and the space under the 2 centered windows is where the band set up.
Happy residents at the Open House checking out the dance floor. Double click pictures to enlarge.
Jade Jarvis, Anchor/Reporter for Channel 25 (WPBF) has written a story concerning the City’s Open House for the Sunset Lounge and reads in part:
Saturday, community members in West Palm Beach got their first look at the renovations inside the historic Sunset Lounge since they started back in 2019.
The project is several years in the making and officials said there’s still a ways to go before it can open its doors officially.
“It’s been a long time in the making, but this is a location that wasn’t just a music venue. And it wasn’t just a lounge. It was really a place that meant so much to the community and was a place that gave people a sense of purpose and place,” Christy Fox, a West Palm Beach city commissioner, said.
The entire story is below and when you open the link you will find 2 more links and I encourage readers to take the time to read Previous Coverage on “Judge orders West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James to give deposition in Sunset Lounge lawsuit” and “Vita Lounge LLC files lawsuit against West Palm Beach for disqualifying it from running historic Sunset Lounge”
https://www.wpbf.com/article/community-members-invited-inside-sunset-lounge-for-sneak-peek/41565457
Below is a story on the Styx and includes quotes from former City Commissioner Richard Ryles, Everee Jimerson Clarke and Derrick McCray. Clark and McCray are decedents from folks who lived in the Styx.
https://cbs12.com/news/local/the-folklore-surrounding-the-styx-of-palm-beach
“Officials said construction project fees estimate to be $16 million.”
As hard as I tried I couldn’t see where 16 Million was spent and it’s reassuring to me that the City’s Internal Auditor is continuing to audit the project.
The Sunset Lounge is extremely important to the African American community and the City needs to step up and do the right thing by finishing the project so older residents can stroll down memory lane as they did Saturday and the young can began making their memories.
The end