Cooley's Landing Marina is a quiet back water on the New River - palm trees tickle Alexia's nose - we seem a world apart from the industry and residences around us..

This section of the river is dedicated to the memory of William Cooley, one of Fort Lauderdale's founding settlers. He was a plantation owner growing coontie, whose roots and stems had to be washed, scraped, beaten, soaked, pulped and finally forced through a sieve this resulting sludge allowed to dry leaving behind arrowroot - used to make bread, wafers ,biscuits, gazing gel

He was also a Justice of the Peace and local indians held him responsible for what they saw as a misjudgment involving the murder of one of their Chiefs.

This plaque in the car park tells the next part of the story in a few words.