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1674-10 Rose Weiss VW)t/ MRS. ROSE WEISS, October lo. 1969 • Interviewer; Susan Powell Mrs. Weiss came to Miami in ve..ouer 1920, ana we are going to let her tell you W11y till 11-w s.a.a t:mau.. L. miatLLi beach. ••Tes, J. Was Very Sl�:x in New York wit“ asthma, alio t..e uv. for told we to take a trip ana wnerevei 1 nit a place, 1 SvoUlu as Lick. w, in late october on a dreary rail arternoon, I bully, 011 a S..lp to Jacksonville. It alun't go to Mlallll• All my Iatllily all.. my Malay rric11uS eau to wish me bon voyage. As t::c gu gpianx WaS 1'1::en, halo 1 saw mole and mot a water seperate the uoam, rr„m uOc.r, 1 was torn by storms ana mixed emotions. Hope, iearlul, pia...; nll_i, Woulu tills trip mean in my lire.' WOulu 1 rinu nealt.: j LLe.?UCiately iuoxea ror. uou1d I look alter my baby in a strane e.lvtrJ. ueut II 1 was S1clt7 lama. would happen to my I•amily when i w.�. ue; ' 5� "r'lllally 1 tore ulyseii LT= the docx, went to my stateroom, hila 1 nae Surirlsea to rinu it rilled with riowers, cages, canal.:S a:.0 ...ZrrT o tningS. The rour day. Oi the trip passes pie aeently. e1a...cs 'was an attractive child, ana t.ie Ciaptain as well as Sowe vi talc passengers ptayea with him. 1 sat at t.ie uabtaln'e taut: and met some charming people." "We had to wait for four hours,after we landed, to catch the train for Miami. Restles, the child finally began to cry without stopping. I tried all the usual things to interest him 4.....a-4.e+.44-pap, including a lollipop; but he wouldn't stop. He kept right on crying. I had to check the bags through to Miami. So, holding the 3DAgs cyring baby, I talked to the baggage master at the depot. He tried to play with James, but nothing helped. Fianll$t, he suggested that I take him to a lake to feed the ducks. He said that the bus was at the corner which I take there." "When we arrived at the lake I bought some bread to feed the ducks. This finally interested him and he stopped crying, playing with the ducks, saying "nice ducky". It was hard for me to get him to leave when it was time to return to the depot. We passed the baggage (I shouldn't read all of this because it don't mean anything, you see?1". "When we arrived in Miami, Mrs. Rosen and Mrs . Isador e Cohen from Miami were at the station to meet me. Mrs. Rosen brought a jar of homemade jam, a gift to welcome me.The only bus which crossed thenc ecy was the new causeway to Miami Beach. We hadn't gone very far before we had a flat tire. The few people that were on the bus had to go outside to wait for the tire to be changed." "While standimg outside the bus, I inhaled the pure salt air; already felt better." Interviewer; " Mrs. Idadore Chhen, isn't she the mother of Mrs . Clair Weintraub?" "Yes. The bus took us to Ocean Drive, First Stree, , on which corner stood a wwety4en frame building called the Brown's Hotel. And,the upstairs was occupied by bedrooms while the ground floor was made for a lobby,and the floor was used for kitchens. People could rent both bedrooms and kitchens. It was arranged for me to ....aye both bedroom and kitchen.(Mmm, bad lighting) ." #(that was my little boy that I took with me) . - 2 - MRS. ROSE WEISS "Mrs. Brown, a robust, good-lookktg woman with piled-up chestnut-colored hair, greeted me warmly. I appreciated her affection and kindness, but all I wanted at the moment was to wash, change my clothes and try to get a little rest. Gene (ed.: seems it is Gene instead of James) was willing to wait a little while. We set out bath, and looked out wondering at the blue sea. I told Gene that the fishes were sleeping, and then he went to sleep too." Interviewer: "Mrs. Brown, would you please tell us what buildings you remember being around the Brown's Hotel when you and your family first came to Miami Beach?" "I remember where I had my own apartment, 4r. Shapiro as building on Ocean Drive, right in back of me the Mera (?) Vista Ana uci,1 . d the ? Hotel was being built by the same contractor that built mine on First and Collins. Then the Hibiscus Apartments was built way before I cam, I guess. It was down on Collins, no not Collins . . . . uh . . .." "Interviewer: "Ocean Drive?" "No, wait, wait. I think, Washington, 'way down, all the way down -- and, uh . . . (ed. mumbles).. .." I: "Ater you moved out of Brown's Hotel, then you had your apartment building built, which was known as the Royal Apartments?" "Yes." I: "And you waned that apartment building for how long?" "Well, fourteen years. Now, wait a minute (ed. mumbles). . ." I: " Is that the apartment building in which you were kind enough 4 -th to accept families during the war to let their children live?" / "Yes." Y: "Can you tell us something about that?" "One day, as I was walking around town, I came to the fire station at Collings Ave. and Sixth Street. As wer were going by, Chief Stevenson came out to say hello to me and to (Ed. mumbles) . He introduced himself and asked Gene if he would like to go out on the truck. Of course, he said yes, leaving with a smile. The Chief said that he heard that I'm a newcomer to the city and asked if I would like to meet the City Clerk, Mr. Samuelson. I told him that I in°t tehe building, and that I wished the fire station was fr. And then I met several people with whom in was interesting to have a long, enjoyable association in the operatingbof Miami Beach. Mr. Samuelson told us that the city Council meeting was upstairs, and I asked him if I could invite some friends." • "We went upstairs, and there I met the members of the City Council . ???????????9? was the first to greet me, and invited me to attend meetings. I took the invitations seriously, and attented the City Council meetings for the next 38 years. (Ed.mumbles) ." - J - „ MRS. ROSE WEISS I: "Mrs . Weiss, I understand that you were very active with the Parent-Teachers Association with our sch000ls here on Miami Beach. Would you please tell us something about the schools?" "When I came he re, there was a small building, six-room school. And, Miss Dean (?), the principal there, was very nice. I brought my little boy, and Miss Bradlyy statted a kindergarden there. Then, later, I brought my children, Melvina my daughter and Milton my son. She was put in third grade and Milton, in second grade. And then I got busy (ed. mumbles- . . . . the school work." "One day, I came to school and I saw a little boy stadding outside with shabby hair and a torn slipper and (ed. mumbles). And, I went over to him (it was lunch hour), and I said, why don't you go in to eat? He said, "I lost my dime". And, I said, "Well, come in, I'll lend you a dime." I took him in and I told Mrs. Dean to give the child lunch, and to give him lunch every day, and to keep him busy in the kitchen. (ed., membles)". "That same day, I asked Mrs. Dean if I could take the child out early from school. And, I did. I took him to the barber, and gave him a haircut. He gave him a washing, a cleaning up. Next door to the barber shop there was a store with everything, shoes. And, I went in there and I bought him shoes, I bought him underwear, I bought him everything else, and I brought him home, and I knocked at the door. And, a woman came to the door. She didn't recognize her own child. And, she says "Hello, hello -- and I smiled. And, the little east boy just went on in, and she screamed "That's not my child t" And, from them on I continued to do welfare work. That's my first story for welfare work. There wasn't a child on this beach who was hungry or had nothing to wear, that I didn't supply them for." I: "What year was this that you started this wonderful work, Mrs. Wiess?" "Well, it would be around '21 or "22. And I got in so deep that I didn't have interest for anything else. There were many poor people there, but I tried hard tc give people jobs . I was working with Mr. 4nshaw, he was very, very nice." I: "What position did he hold?" "City Manager (of Miami Beach). And, he told mg maybe he'd give 'em a job, and so he told the man to give them a job. And, most of the people there, in the early days, I gave them jobs -- in City Hall . That's how I got into City Hall, see? -- through that. And then, of course, ixwas every. Council day, I was over there watching." I: Tell us about the Parent-Teachers Association. "The Parent-Teachers Association, I was Vice-President (I wouldn't take the chair) -- I think Mrs. Renshaw was President, at that time. And, I dim did something in those days -- I started to make Christmas baskets and Thanksgiving baskets for the poor people here. And, I got a truck from the City and a man to hebp me deliver all the baskets. Sometimes I had ten, sometimes seventy. And, Mrs . Dean and the children used to help provide the canned goods, you know, to put in the baskets. And, Lions Club gave me chickens and money t6 put in the baskets." "One morning, I was at one of the Council meetings, amAxxxmamxsanaextnxxsx I was sittin' there, and a man came up for a liquor liscence. And I didn't like that -- because I was at the PTA meeting where a little boy fell asleep at the fence. And the principal asked Him, "What's the matter with you, are you sick?". He said "No, I'm sleeping". He says, "Why are you sleeping?" He says, "I was up all night". He says, "Why were you up all night?". He says, " I was working for my father on the bar". Andhe bent down ( I xonly say this because it's true), and he smelled of beer. And, that in my mind, and I head about the liseence -- I jumped up, and I told the story and it went Mtb. ROSE WEISS ) - 4 - ~ County (en• mumbles it was terrific, terrific. In the papers and all over Dade so bad, ashamed that I did it -- but I killed the liscence. And, And, I felt so bad, t felt very bad about it, but it was a help." I: Mrs. Weiss, can you tell us how far north Miami Beach was developped when you first came? "Til about forty-odd street. They had the o"o" and the barn (?) and they had other things. And they had the Polo Field. And, on Forty-first Street -- Polo starts on Fourteenth Street, then it went to 41st St." I: "What's your story about the Polo Park?" "Oh the Polo Park was just lovely, and I always talk about that and laugh about that, and the only free thing I got was Carl Fischer gave me a free ticket for polo (laughs) ." And, I had a lot of trouble with my did =-- he wanted a halter and a pie polo pill (?). And, so the headman on the polo field, I forzot what his name was, gave me one." I: "What was your means of transportation around Miami Beach?" ! I had a car". I: "Were there many cars?" "No, not quite. I have a story on that, and I'm gonna' tell it to you. One day, I was visiting Mr. p wcluLl kl?,>in the office, and i'ir. Fisher heard my voice. We had the offices on Michigan a. d Lincoln Rd. -- it was on the second story of an old (not old -- but one of the first) building. So Carl says to me "Rose, (he t�had�the��}u�,}�1 Saturday Post in his hand) I'm reading about a man, an engineer� -®rtraffi.c� -- do you think we ought to haven here?" That was around1930, when he said that. And, he said to me, "There are so much cars here." And, I said to him, "Carl, I can't under- stand -- you had foresight for all those beautiful things, and you didn't realize that we need roads for cars." He says to me, "You're right, you're right". (Laughs) . We have so many cars now -- I wish he was here now." I: "Who were some of the other early developpers that you were so friendly with besides Carl Fischer and Mr. Pancos t (?)?" " and Fischer and Pancost . . . . " I: "And, I imagine, many other people too". • "Oh yes, they camelater." I: "Now, tell us the story about the golf course." "So, I got busy, and I went to Carl, and I told him the story and he agreed with me. He said, "I'll be happy to give you some land with Colline"(he was in partnership with Collins). So I went to Collins and I spoke to him about it, and he didn't want to hear about that. Later it went through, but Collins the whole Lincoln Rd. And, then it went through, and it was so handy and nice, and now there's a school there (I: Miami Beach High School). . . . ... (unintelligibabe) . I: Tell us some of the first Rabbis you remember being here thn Miami Beach". MRS. ROSE WEISS "Well, . . . . (untntelliible). . . . you mention anything, I have a story. Now, the 'Rabbi, the first Rabbi I: After the hurricane. . . . "Yeah, after the hurricane, I had a few Jewish people in my building who had to go to to the Holy Holidays (it was on on Kippur), and there was a lady, Mrs. Granite (?), and she had a building on Washinton Ave. by Biscayne, and she made that a worship Temple. And, the men went there, but were caught by the hurricane, and then they began to build a Synagogue. So they built a Synagogue on First et. and Washington Avenue. And, the firtt Rab:,i was Shapiro, no not Shapiro -- oh, I for.tot his name -- (mumbles) ." I: "Tell me, Mrs. Weiss, about your children and what they do today, because I know that you are very, very proud of them." (Unintelligible) I: "The three "B's" of Miami Beach". (Unintelligible) I: "Did tiyx you and your family stay on Miami Beach during the hurricane?" "Yes. (unintelligible) The editor from the Herald came to see me and he broug t a photograher with him to take pictures of the children . . . . I had seven babies around me like a chicken, and three (unintel .) . . . .." I: "Mrs. Weiss, tell us about your city flag." " One day I had an idea that every city has to have a flag, and I went to the City Hall to talk about it, and I went to the Chamber of Commerce to talk about it. And, finally, the Chamber of Commerce said to go ahead and make a design, and they would see what they could do. So, I dkdi. Then . . . 1 . . the fortieth anniversa;q, I think it was, I was on the platform (every anniversary they have something) -- and I see Mr. Hershemeir and the then Secretary ( what's his name) came forward with the flag. I thought they had forgot about it. Fianlly, they gave me the flag and I had to make a speech, you know -- and I said that I was so happy that Miami Beach has a flag . . . ." I: "Were you a representative, did you sit ori the Chamber of Commerce?" "Yes, I was a first member. I brought in sixteen members in two weeds . (mumbles) And, then they gave me a prize. (mumbles)." "So I went to Havana (mumbles) -- I took my sister with me (mumbles) -- we had a wonderful time (mumbles). "I am now a great—grandma at 85." I: "You just celebrated your 85th birthday." "Yes. I have very many friends. My family is: Mr. of Miami, my daughter, my daughter (mumbles) . . . . Mr. and Mrs. Milton Weiss, is my son, and Dr. and Mrs. Weiss is my other son, Gene. And, four grandchildren, • Mr. and Mrs. Harris, live in New York, Mr. And Mrs. have a baby and live here on the Beach. Miss Annie Wiess, Ruth and Gene's daughter is at Colorddo College just now. And, Georgie Weiss is in the high school here on Miami Beach. My theee sidters, one, Mrs. Stan Glass (?) in New York; Mrs . Jacovy - 6 - gBS. ROSE WEISS in , and Mr. and Mrs. Feld in North Miami. I have two nephews, Laurence Feld sand Louis Feld, living in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder and Mr. and Mrs. Collins (?) is here on Miami (mumbles)." "I did belong to so many organizations (mumbles). I belong now to a Pioneers Club, (mumbles), Mt. Sinai Hospital, Old Age Home, The Hebrew Academy , the Eastern Star and Boystown". I: "Mrs. Weiss, we know that you have recie ved many,raany rewards Rmx over the years for all your wonderful service that you have done for everyone else here on Miami Beach, one of which -- in January 1955, Miami Beach Taxpayers Ass, presented to Mrs. Rose Weiss, who, for 35 years has demonstrated outstanding civic service to the Miami Beach Community. We want to thank you so very muc h for letting us some into your home to talk to you. In addition, Mrs. Weiss initiated in 1928 the Harvey Fogg costume contest, which is now an annual event. And, she was awarded ani ward in June of 1962 by the Miami Beach Recreation Dept."