Great Floridian - Collins
Great Floridians 2000
Nomination Form
(Please type or print clearly.)
1. Name of Municipality
sponsoring the nomination:
City of Miami Beach. Florida
2.
Great Floridian Nominee:
John Stiles Collins
(a.)
Year of Birth 1837
Year of Death 1928
(b.) A photo or image ofthe nominee is enclosed (X ) not enclosed ( ),
(c.) Please describe the nominee's overall contributions as a Floridian to their community, the
State, the nation and/or the world. When and where were those contributions made? Was
this person a Florida resident at the time of their contribution?
John Collins' vision and pioneering efforts in the early 1900's were chiefly responsible for
the creation of the City of Miami Beach and its development as a tourist resort, benefitting
both the immediate community and the State as a whole,
A horticulturist from New Jersey, Collins first came to Florida in 1896 to pursue agricultural
interests. He kept winter homes in Florida for the rest of his life, in Hypoluxo Beach and the
Miami area, In 1909 he purchased 1,675 acres of dense mangrove swampland on the barrier
island east of Miami, After an arduous land-clearing process, he established there the largest
avocado grove in the world.
In order to facilitate transportation of his crops, in 1912 at the age of 75, he dredged the
Collins Canal, linking the Oceanfront to Biscayne Bay, and began work on the Collins
Bridge across the Bay, linking the Beach to the City of Miami. When completed in 1913,
it was the longest wooden bridge in the world, a marvel of engineering. This provided the
first roadway access to the island that would become known as Miami Beach, literally paving
the way for its further development.
Collins and his family formed the Miami Beach Improvement Company in 1911, the first
official use of the name "Miami Beach". With Collins as patriarch, they built a bathing
casino, an oceanfront hotel, and several homes.
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3. Building or Site Information:
(a.) What is the name and address of the building or other property associated with the nominee
that is proposed for placement of the plaque?
Miami Beach Cultural Campus (Library & Arts Center)
Collins Park, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
(b.) Where on the building or property will the plaque be located? (The plaque should be placed
at least 8 feet above the street level to prevent vandalism.) Provide a clear photograph of the
building showing its character and appearance in relationship to the public way and the
proposed plaque location. (No Polaroid pictures, please).
See Attachment
(c.) What is the age of the proposed building or property to be marked?
Property deeded as a park in 1913, renovation and new buildings to be constructed and
dedicated this year. Oldest property built in the 1930s.
(d.) How is the proposed building or property associated with the nominee?
In 1913 Collins deeded 10 acres of his oceanfront property to the City as a permanent "public
park and recreation ground", which still exists as Collins Park. The main thoroughfare on
the island was named Collins Avenue in his honor in 1914. The following year the land he
had pioneered was incorporated as the Town of Miami Beach.
4. Property Owner Information and Concurrence:
(a.) The property is (X ) publicly ( ) privately owned.
(b.) If the applicant does not own the property, the owner of record must sign the following
statement indicating concurrence with the proposed placement of a plaque.
I, the undersigned, am the owner of the property, or an authorized representative of the owner
of the property identified under item 3a on Page Two of this nomination form, and hereby
acknowledge my support for and full concurrence with this nomination and the proposed
placement of the plaque.
Name (print or type),
"
Date
February 8. 2000
Signature
Address
1700 Convention Center Drive
City Miami Beach
Daytime phone (305) 673-7030
State Florida Zip 33139
Fax Number (305) 673-70~PROvtLJ AS fa
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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(City orllf>}' ~
5. Additional Resources:
List any additional resources available for background information such as articles, books, etc.
. Carson, Ruby Leach; "Forty Years of Miami Beach", Tequesta, Historical Assn. Of South em
Florida, No. xv, 1955, pp. 7-13.
. Kleinberg, Howard; Miami Beach: A History, Centennial Press, Miami, 1994, Chapter 3.
. Lummus, IN.; The Miracle of Miami Beach, Miami Post Publishing Co., 1952.
6. Sponsoring Municipality's Agreement
4i~IL
City of Miami Beach
(Name of Municipality)
plaque, to maintain it for at least 10 years after its placement, and to hold the Florida Department of
State and the Florida League of Cities harmless from any and all claims or liabilities.
AOH:C:vm AS TO Neisen O. Kasdin, Mayor 1)fi.
Fe}!.;J,,',8. LANGUAGE Name and TIt! ~~hIefElected OffiCial (type or print)
& fOR EXECUTION
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Signature 0 hief Elected Official
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Date-r;;;;,,(J. ie, L/
agrees to pay for the Great Floridians
1..- '} 0(/
Dailt
Preparer of nomination Judy M. Hoanshelt
Address 1700 Convention Center Drive
City Miami Beach
Fax (305) 673-7010
Affiliated with City of Miami Beach
Daytime Phone (305) 673-7010
State Florida Zip 33139
Email
Contact person for nominating municipality
Address 1700 Convention Center Drive
City Miami Beach
(305) 673-7782
Judy M. Hoanshelt
Phone (305) 673-7010
State Florida Zip 33139
Email
Fax
Send Applications to:
Great Floridians 2000
Florida League of Cities
P,O, Box 1757
Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1757
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AGREEMENT
The municipality agrees to be responsible for the cost of an approved plaque and its
general maintenance, informing the Florida Department of State of any serious
damage, for at least 10 years after its placement.
The Florida Department of State and the Florida League of Cities shall not assume
any liability for the acts, omissions to act or negligence of the Municipality, its
agents, servants or employees; nor shall the Municipality exclude liability for its own
acts, omissions to act or negligence to the Department. The Municipality hereby
agrees to be responsible for any injury or property damage resulting from any
activities conducted by the Municipality, its agents, servants or employees.
The Municipality agrees to indemnify and hold the Florida Department of State and
the Florida League of Cities harmless from and against any and all claims or
demands for damages, including attorney fees and court costs, resulting from
personal injury, including death or damage to property, arising out of any activities
performed under this Agreement, omissions to act or negligence of the Municipality,
its agents, servants, or employees and shall investigate all claims at its own expense.
Plaques removed from their designated sites must be returned to the Florida
Department of State, Plaques must remain at the point described in the nomination
and approved by the Great Floridians Committee unless written permission to move
it is obtained from the Department prior to the move.
Representative for the City
Name an~e) ~ Levy. City Mana~er
Signatur a Date February 8. 2000
Address 1700 Convention Center Drive
City
Miami Beach
Zip Code 33139
Fax Number (305) 673-7782
Daytime phone (305) 673-7010
APPROVED AS TO
i::ORM & LANGUAGE
8. FOR EXECUTION
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