#537 The War Years 1939
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The War Years
A different kind of poolside music.
At the end of 1939, the Greater Miami
area had a population of 240,000. By
this time, the nation had largely shaken
off the Depression, and visitors were
coming back in large numbers to the
Miami area once again. Some of them
came not for vacation, but for divorce -
Miami was said to lead Reno as the
divorce capital of the country.
Hopes were high in late 1 941; the
best winter season ever was predicted.
But when the visitors came, most were
in uniform. With the onset of war,
hotels were taken over to house ser-
vicemen. The initial contingent was
500 airmen, who were housed at the
Boulevard Hotel and trained on the
Miami Beach Municipal Golf Course. In
November 1942, the Miami Herald
reported that all but a few of the 334
hotels at Miami Beach would be used
as barracks. All over the state, 500
hotels were leased by the armed forces,
not only for training but for use as hos-
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pitals and rest and rehabilitiation clin-
ics. For example, the Biltmore and the
Nautilus both became VA hospitals.
While this military and naval busi-
ness was a useful stopgap until normal
tourist travel could resume, it had a long-
term, perhaps unforeseen, benefit. It
introduced thousands of young men to
the pleasures of Rorida and its weather.
Just as after w.w. I a number of service-
men came back to stay or for a vacation,
now there would be many more.
In April 1948, it was reported that
235 of Miami Beach's hotels would be
in operation for the summer. Double
oceanfront rooms would be available at
$5 or $6 per day, and it was said to be
possible for a vacationer to spend two
weeks here for around $200 including
recreation. The old dream of more
plentiful summer visitors was starting
to come true. As the 50's drew near,
older hotels were getting facelifts and
glossy new hotels were being planned.