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1645-4 Historic Markers . • ' rn HAL HERTZ 5720 ALTON ROAD/MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA 33140/TELEPHONE (305)865-7383 • , anuary 15 , 1987 "' 15 ili•i 8 Lit Honoralbe Bruce Singer 4 Ji;.• ' ' `������1J Commissioner, Miami Beach City Hall CrFi�� 1700 Convention Centre Drive Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Re: Historic Marker Project. Dear Bruce, As per your suggestion, I reviewed the twelve recommended suggestions made by the Historic Preservation Board, for historical significance. I must first commend the Board for their effort in this regard and Nancy Liebman and Sandra Cook in particular for their dedication. Although my research differs somewhat with theirs, in some instances , or perhaps my knowledge is in greater depth than that which I read in their briefings , I took the time and the extended privilege to thumb- nail my own account of these historical-- sites in brief. I also recalled to your attention some other sites of historical sig- nificance, not mentioned by the Historic Preservation Board. It is always my pleasure to serve or help where I can in this City' s best interests. Most Sin -rely, • HE HH:med HAL HERTZ 5720 AL'fON ROAD/MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA 33140/TELEPHONE (305)865-7363 MIAMI BEACH Today, Miami Beach embraces just eight square miles of enchantment. There is no place quite like it, anywhere else on earth. To write of it' s history now, is to do an injustice, for there is al- most no such thing as a history of Miami Beach. For history implies age, and Miami Beach, as a City, is still a youngster, despite it' s magnificent early development. But to preserve in memory, some of the very earliest sites or individ- uals, who were of special importance in the embryonic stage of Miami Beach - the following are of significance. 1. Captain Richard Carney House. In 1882 - 12' x 22 ' . A small, portable house brought from New Jersey along with tents, wagons , tools , mules and several lifeboats along with men and provisions all transported on a Mallory Line vessel bound from New York to Key West. On a natural clearing on the site of today' s Lummus Park at about 10th street, the portable house was bolted together and used as a headquarters for Captain Carney, leader of the 25 man crew as well as Henry Lum, Ezra Osborn and Elnathan T. Field. Years later, Carney took the portable house with him to Coconut Grove; this was in the fall of 1886 . The house was moved again in 1894 to South Bayshore Drive where it stands to this day. 2 . Lum Plantation - Charles Lum Homesite. Charles Lum was 15 years old when he and his father, Henry Lum, first came to Florida in 1868 . Two years later, in 1870 , these two came again , this time to Key West on a Clyde Steamer, from there they came to Miami in a 16 foot sailboat. They visited Miami Beach, found three coconuts growing at Brahman' s Landing which immediately gave them the idea for a Coconut Plantation. They went back to New Jersey and did not return again for 12 years. But, in the meantime, Charles and his father bought a tract of beach land from the government for 35 an acre. The land they bought stretched from 1st street to 15th street (most of this land was later to comprise the Ocean Beach Development. ) In the spring of 1886 , Charles Lum, now married, built the first real home on Miami Beach. A sure enough, two story home, complete even to roofed porch. He and his wife lived here for three years and then history lost sight of them. -1- 1 HAL HERTZ 5720 AL'fON ROAD/MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA 331.0/TELEPHONE 13051 865-7363 3. Carl Fisher Homesite. The Shadows at the foot of Lincoln Road and the Ocean. It was during the winter season of 1915 that the Fisher home was com- pleted and Carl and his wife , Jane, moved into the most sumptious home built on the Beach. President Warren G. H,;,rding was known to play poker here. Many of the nations ' richest industrialists were guests of the Carl Fishers' . N.B.T. Roney bought the Fisher home and later sold it to two gamblers. After Fisher' s death, they turned it into the Beach ' s most exclusive gambling casino called the Beach and Tennis Club. Carl Graham Fisher, the developing genius of Miami Beach, after squandering a 50 million dollar fortune, died a poor man in a little house on 51st street from a gastric hemorrhage in July of 1939 . . .For that which was created here and exists today - Carl Fisher planted the first seeds of development. 4 . John S. Collins - 1837-1928 . First came to Miami Beach in 1907 . On February 11 , 1928 at age 90 John Collins was laid to rest, a happy man. Only 5 feet 2 inches tall , he nevertheless was a giant of a man in his accomplishments . He truly was one of God' s noblemen. Miami Beach is a monument of his vision and courage and he rightfully earned the title of "The Father of Miami Beach. " (John Collins ' story is too expanded to detail in this thumbnail mention. ) 5. Thomas Jessup Pancoast. John Collins' son-in-law and right hand bower, served Miami Beach long and faithfully in many capacities, from it' s infancy. . .was the Beach' s second Mayor, elected in 1917 following J. N. Lummus . He was also one of the five founders of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and it' s first president. (Thomas Pancoast's story as it relates to Miami Beach' s early beginning is too beautiful to be done here in thumbnail. ) -2- HAL HERTZ 5720 ALTON ROAD/MIAMI BEACH.FLORIDA 33140/TELEPHONE 1305)865-7363 6 . Collins Bridge - formally opened June 12, 1913 . Rates were 10G round trip - 20 - motorcycles - automobiles 70 plus 10G each passenger. This is one of the great, emotional, historical stories of John Collins foresight and courage at age 74 , to envision the completion of the world' s longest wooden bridge. It was originally called Collin' s Folly and his heartaches attendant to it' s construction and the major role that Carl Fisher played to help him, is worthy of in-depth telling. 7 . County Causeway - Now called McArthur Causeway. 5th Street and West Avenue was the Miami Beach Anchor. First proposed by Mayor Watson of Miami in 1915 . However, it was in October of 1916 be- fore real action was taken to finance this undertaking. Bonds were voted in an issue of $600 ,000 . 00 . In much of 1917 work was actually be- gun on the causeway. It was J.N. Lummus, first Mayor of Miami Beach, who really persuaded the County Commissioners to apply to the government for a permit and instilled life into the project. The causeway was com- pleted on New Years Day, 1920 , by which time $625 ,000 . had been spent. On Tuesday, February 17 at 2: 00 p.m. , the 3 mile causeway was opened to the public for the first time. 8 . Star Island - 1917. Dredged, bulkheaded and filled by Carl Fisher to originally house the stables for polo ponies - later developed for homesites. A great personal triumph for Fisher and his PreF$--O-Dight partner , James Allison - Great story if told in depth. 9. N.B.T. Roney and Roney Plaza Hotel. Roney was one of the major influences in Miami Beach' s beginning and the Roney Plaza Hotel was the crown jewel in the early years of Miami Beach, ably promoted throughout the nation by Walter Winchell. This is a major story told in depth. -3- HAL HERTZ 5720 ALTON ROAD/MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA 33t40/TELEPHONE (3051 865-7363 10. Nautilus Hotel and Polo Fields. Carl Fisher built 3 hotels at one time. The Lincoln - The Flamingo and the Nautilus Hotel with it ' s polo field. The story of the Flamingo' s crown of ground glass topped Florida 's 2nd tallest building and was a beacon to Mariners at sea. The Nautilus story is one of Miami Beach' s most interesting. From resort hotel to Navy Hospital to Miami Beach Medical Center. A great, great story. 11. Allison Hospital now St. Francis Hospital - 1924 . I have already done this story and had it published. 12 . Harvey Firestone Estate - Site of Fountainbleau Hotel. T- e tready—d®uled--±^t-mTr4bHi-sh , -4- HAL HERTZ 5720 AL TON ROAD/MIAMI BEACH.FLORIDA 33140/TELEPHONE (305)865-7363 Suggested Important Early Historical Sites Not Yet Mentioned. 1. Smith ' s Casino - 1905-1912 . First Miami Beach bathhouse. 2. Joe' s Restaurant - 1918 - Miami Beach 's first restaurant. 3 . Lincoln Road Fishing Pier - First Pier in Miami Beach. 4 . Brahmans Landing - 1870 - where Henry Lum first found 3 coconut trees which brought him back in 1882 to start a coconut plantation. 5 . Lake Pancoast - First Called Indian Lake - Crocodile nesting pool. 6. Roman Pools - Miami Beach ' s first sea water concrete swimming pool . 7. Miami Beach Municipal Headquarters - 1927 - built for $213 ,000 . 8 . Miami Beach Aquarium - 1919 - West Avenue at 5th Street 9 . Miami Beach Railroad. 10 . Miami Beach Dairy Farm. 11. John Collins Barn for his avocado farm. 41st at Sheridan Avenue .. 12. Pine Tree Drive - it' s purpose - 1909.