When writing about the great Florida land boom of the 1920s, Helen Muir described it as “a fever that carried from person to person and place to place until finally no one remained untouched.” Two of Cocoa's most beautiful neighborhoods Carleton Terrace and Broadview Manor were both products of this period and the city beautiful movement that stressed planned communities with winding streets, landscaping, parks and architect designed homes. Carleton Terrace was the brainchild of D.P. Davis a millionaire developer from Miami, who purchased a hundred acres along the river from the Wells family who had citrus groves there. This “high class”, restricted development was announced on December 13, 1923 and lots that averaged 50 X 130 were offered at a pre-development price of $550. Construction began immediately with Davis, investors and residents building homes there. Most notably Alfred Trafford Sr., a local realtor and investor, purchased several lots and hired noted Miami architect Martin L. Hampton to design ten Mediterranean Revival homes which he built on MacFarland Ave. These homes were offered for sale at prices ranging from $4,000 to $10,600, and buyers had the opportunity to choose interior colors and finishes if they purchased early enough. Davis put his brother M. H. Davis, who lived in the large home at 2105 MacFarland, in charge of finishing Carleton Terrace while he went on to his next project Davis Islands in Tampa Bay. As the land boom ended in 1926 and Davis fortune dwindled, he embarked on a trip to Europe with his mistress and children. He was lost over board en route and was never heard from again. While some believe that he committed suicide in despair over his losses, others believed that he disappeared with millions to some unknown location.

Platted in May of 1924 the Broadview Manor subdivision was developed by the Mexican Crude Rubber Company, of which two, of the areas most prominent citizens, Charles D. Smith and C. Sweet Smith, were principal investors. In order to garner publicity a contest was held to come up with a name for the development, with a prize of $100 being offered to the winner. The development was placed on the market at the start of 1925 during the height of the great Florida land boom of the 1920's. By August of that year the developers had sold all but sixty of the original one hundred and sixty-eight lots. Broadview Manor was considered to be one of the model subdivisions on the East Coast and the Cocoa Tribune reported that, "Situated as it is on the high bluff of the Indian River, where cool breezes blow all the time among tropical trees and scenery, it was bound to sell quickly." The company made extensive improvements to the land, installing streets and sidewalks, street lights, a waterworks system and a park for the residents. The first three homes were constructed on Circle Dr. in the popular Mediterranean Revival style, but later homes were built in other styles, which included Colonial Revival and Foursquare. The neighborhood remains one of Cocoa's prettiest and the homes built there are charming examples of our area's history. by Michael Boonstra