The Kester cottages, owned and restored by the Pompano Beach Historical Society, offer a slice of life from the 1930's. The two cottages at Founders Park were moved from other locations in the city, but a few are still lived in throughout Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach.

The cottages are named for William Livingston Kester (1873-1954), who moved to Pompano Beach in 1925 after a career with Westinghouse in the United States, Mexico and France. A man of some wealth, Kester bought large pieces of property in the area and soon became involved in local politics. He was elected to the Pompano Beach City Council in 1927 and served for two years, promoting tourism and growth.

Kester's fortunes and the fortunes of his neighbors took a hit in the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression that followed. Still, he maintained his interests in local farming and real estate. He was instrumental in reopening the local bank as Farmers Bank of Pompano Beach in 1934. The historic building still stands at NE First Street and First Avenue.

As the nation's economy recovered, interest resumed in South Florida as a vacation spot. Kester saw this as the perfect time to build cottages that could be used as vacation getaways and as homes for local workers. About 150 were constructed on lots owned by Kester. Most were built of Dade County pine, a dense wood resistant to rot and termites. The cottage open to the tour has been restored in period furniture, giving us a glimpse of what life was like in the early days of Pompano Beach.