Sweet Tributes for George Hadley, the Friendly Face of Jaxson’s in Dania

A Lasting Legacy

There’s the origin story about Dania Beach icon Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant that founder Monroe Udell liked to tell customers, and then there was the truth. The popular-yet-untrue version is that Udell, a Connecticut native, named Jaxson’s after his father — in other words, Jack’s son. But the real reason is firmly rooted in the racist and segregationist laws of the 1950s: Neither Blacks nor Jews could own business licenses in Dania Beach, so Udell pretended to be gentile, naming his scoop shop not after his father, Harry, but after Jackson Street in nearby Hollywood because it sounded fittingly Southern.

A Tribute to a Hidden Figure

It wasn’t in Udell’s nature to talk about the antisemitism he faced — and he especially kept quiet his practice of hiring Black employees in the Jim Crow South — including the soft-spoken ice cream man who made the banana splits and kitchen sinks at the soda fountain window for 38 years: George Hadley.

George Hadley is now the focus of two Black History Month tributes. First, the city of Dania Beach has declared Feb. 24 as Mr. George Hadley Day, saluting one of the first Black employees at Jaxson’s. And Jaxson’s owner Linda Udell Zakheim has donated an original 1950s "Kitchen Sink," the parlor’s signature dessert vessel (minus the 4 pounds of ice cream, flags and sparklers), for History Fort Lauderdale’s permanent exhibit "Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward," which debuted Feb. 19. The show traces the county’s Black residents through historic artifacts, photos, and oral histories, from slavery through Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement to present day.

A Legacy of Ice Cream and Kindness

When you think of George, you think of Jaxson’s Kitchen Sink, says Jerry Hadley, George’s brother. "It’s a great symbolic gesture to recognize him for the thing he did best, so it means a lot. It shows that he was worthy." And he was a vital member of the Jaxson’s family, if you ask Udell Zakheim, Monroe Udell’s daughter, who took over the ice-creamery after her father died in 2014. She remembers Hadley as a "stoic, friendly and generous" man whom Udell hired in the waning years of the Jim Crow era, when segregation banned hiring Black employees in white businesses.

A Life of Service and Kindness

As an infant, George Hadley, his parents, and 11 brothers and sisters moved from Titusville to Hollywood’s Liberia neighborhood in the 1940s when their father took a job with Florida’s East Coast Railroad. Jaxson’s hired him at age 15, when "Black folks were lucky to get a job anywhere," recalls brother Jerry Hadley, now 75 and living in Dania Beach. "The fact that [George] was working, if you ever needed money, you could ask him, and he would not hesitate to give you a couple of dollars or buy you school clothes," his brother says. "He was a good person who ran track and played tennis at Attucks [High School]."

A Legacy That Endures

The original Kitchen Sink vessel donated by Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant in Dania Beach is on display in the "Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward" exhibit at History Fort Lauderdale. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

IF YOU GO

• WHAT: "Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward"
• WHERE: History Fort Lauderdale, 231 SW Second Ave.
• COST:
  • Self-guided tour costs $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students
  • Guided tours are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7 for students
  • Entry is free for accompanied children age 6 and younger, and for active and senior military members
• INFORMATION: 954-463-4431 or go to HistoryFortLauderdale.org

Conclusion:
George Hadley’s legacy is a testament to the power of kindness, resilience, and the impact one person can have on a community. His story serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of marginalized individuals and the role they played in shaping our shared history.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What is the significance of George Hadley’s legacy?
  George Hadley’s legacy is a symbol of the struggles and triumphs of the Black community in Dania Beach during the Jim Crow era. His story highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of marginalized individuals and their impact on our shared history.

• What is the "Roots of Resilience" exhibit?
  The "Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward" exhibit is a permanent exhibit at History Fort Lauderdale that tells the story of the Black community in Broward County, from slavery to the present day.

• How can I visit the "Roots of Resilience" exhibit?
  To visit the "Roots of Resilience" exhibit, visit History Fort Lauderdale at 231 SW Second Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Admission prices and information can be found on the History Fort Lauderdale website.