Before the birth of Lake Worth, the James Homestead and Post Office formed an important part of the area's history. In 1885, Samuel and Fannie James, an African American couple, were among the first people to file a homestead claim there. Two white neighbors witnessed the 187-acre purchase, indicating that Samuel and Fannie were widely respected throughout the community. Samuel, a carpenter, built the couple's first home. In 1889, Fannie applied to designate their store as a post office and gave the community the name Jewell. She served as postmaster and received mail by boat. After the Florida East Coast Railway was completed between West Palm Beach and Miami, mail arrived by train, and Fannie moved the post office to another part of their property near the tracks. In 1910, she sold most of her property to Palm Beach Farms Company and retained only the lot where the house stood. Sale records place the James home and post office within 100 feet of the current South Bryant Park Picnic Pavilion. As prominent early settlers, the James family held an important place in both Lake Worth's history and African American history in Florida.