27 February 2009 Friday's Photo of the Week

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Laid Back . Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL . Sunday, 9 March 2008

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2009 Fridays' Photos of the Week

The KenAnn Building at 3101 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale

Since my first visit to Fort Lauderdale in January 2003, the Art-Deco looking building situated at the upper northeast boundary of Wilton Manors at the corner of US 1 and Oakland Park Boulevard has more than fascinated me.

When during recent trips to Fort Lauderdale that I have inquired of the name and history of the building, from the locals, no one was able to furnish much information. With the exception of a receptionist in the leasing office on the 5th floor who, a few days ago, suggested that I may should do some research on the Kenann Building.

When in recent previous weeks that I have googled "3101 N. Federal Highway - Fort Lauderdale FL" which is the building's address most of what I found was information associated with the tenants of the building. But nothing regarding it's history.

Howver, but, when back in DC last night that I googled "architect of 3101 N. Federal Highway - Fort Lauderdale" I found this Broward - Palm Beach New Times Best Landmark of 2008 article pertaining to the Kenann Building.

Designed in 1962 for Ken and Ann Burnstine, by Architect F. Louis Wolff who Wikipedia currently references with the architectural firm Wolff DeCamillo Associates Architects Planners, Inc, the KenAnn Building was remodeled by Architect Dan Duckham in 1992.

In A Note from Radio Ink's B. Eric Rhoads blog posting dated 28 April 2008 regarding his String Of Magical Experiences he writes:

I loaded up my VW bug and drove to Fort Lauderdale and was on hand for the launch of Cecil Heftel's Y100 in Miami-Fort Lauderdale. I was part of the original air staff, along with Roby Younge from WABC, John Emm, Larry McKay, Steve O'Brien, Don Cox, Bill Steadman, and Davy O'Donnel. Roby was fired after one day. Dick Casper was the general manager. We were in that round building on US1 and Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, called the KenAnn building (yes, the builders were Ken and Ann). We were only the second station in America to use a letter as our name -- 13Q was the first, and I'm told Y100 was the second.

In the history of WHYI-FM, better known as Y-100, Wikipedia reports the following:

From 1962 to 1973, it was known as a beautiful music station with the call letters of WMJR. During the latter portion of 1966, the station's studios (located in the Kenann building, a round building on the corner of US1 and Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale, FL), tower, and signal coverage were greatly upgraded from 56,000 watts to 100,000 watts by engineering guru and entrepreneur Ron Crider ...

And here is an interesting article regarding alleged drug smuggler Kenneth Burnstine.

Click the image above to view my ongoing KenAnn (Burnstine) Building album.