My name is John Palmer Payne, a strange history nerd raised on my Granny’s stories and a curiosity for the parts of South Florida we don’t put on postcards. I love Fort Lauderdale. For me, this community has given me many things in the short time that I have been here. I found a community of people who care for one another, a safe space where I can be who I want to be without the fear of persecution, and a love for the diverse people who make up this place I now call home.
Why this exists:
Properly South Florida was born out of the love that I have found here and my natural curiosity for history and interesting people, places, and events that have shaped South Florida to what it is today. The real story is always better, stranger, and honestly more useful. Properly South Florida documents the culture, the characters, and the hidden history that shaped the place we all know and love. I am happy to share my research along the way to my discovery of the past and present, exploring our history, myths, legends, and culture.
What to expect:
- Longform stories with personality
- Clear sourcing when facts are available
- Rumors labeled as rumors (no sneaking folklore into “facts”)
- A love letter to this place, with a raised eyebrow
