Week in History: April 01 - 08
Events that occurred during the week of April 1st through April 8th in South Florida's history.
OTD: April 1, 1896 - First Presbyterian Conducts First Service
On April 1, 1896, the First Presbyterian Church had its first service in a tent near the Miami River at the terminus of Avenue D in what would become downtown Miami.
OTD: April 1, 1931 - Simpson Park Dedicated
On April 1, 1931, Jungle Park on South Miami Avenue in the Brickell neighborhood was renamed and dedicated to Simpson Park in honor of naturalist and conservationist Charles Torrey Simpson.
OTD: April 1, 1933 - Art Deco Texaco Opens on Biscayne Boulevard
On April 1, 1933, the Texaco station opened on the corner of Biscayne Boulevard and N.E. Sixth Street in downtown Miami. The station featured a Spanish style of architecture and was a mainstay on what was once referred to as "Gasoline Alley" on Biscayne Boulevard during the middle decades of the Twentieth Century.
OTD: April 1, 1940 - Remembering Miami Pioneer Everest G. Sewell
On April 1, 1940, Miami was stunned by the news that the city's mayor, pioneer Everest Sewell, had suffered a heart attack. He would die at Jackson Memorial Hospital on April 2nd. Everest was the brother of John Sewell, early pioneer merchant and three-time Mayor of Miami: 1927 - 29, 1933 - 35, and 1939 until his passing in 1940 (as part of a recall election).
OTD: April 2, 1924 - Remembering Miami Pioneer Physician Dr. James Jackson
On April 2, 1924, residents of the City of Miami mourned the passing of its pioneer physician, Dr. James Jackson who died at his residence at 1627 Brickell Avenue after battling a lengthy illness.
OTD: April 5, 1925 - Holleman Park Methodist Church Conducts First Service
On April 5, 1925, the Holleman Park Methodist Church, located at Fifteenth Road and SW Twelfth Street in the Brickell neighborhood, opened to the public and conducted its first Sunday service. The congregation would later construct a permanent chapel at 349 SW Twelfth Street in 1925.
OTD: April 5, 1925 - Tornado Touchdown at White Belt Dairy in Lemon City
On April 5, 1925, a tornado touchdown near the intersection of NW 32nd Avenue and NW 60th Street causing more than $1 million worth of damage to the White Belt Dairy. The twister killed five people along with injuring 35 others, while destroying multiple buildings including milking stations, dormitories for workers, and office buildings.
OTD: April 5, 1993 - Florida Marlins Play First Game
On April 5, 1993, the Florida (now Miami), Marlins played their first regular season game. The Marlins beat the LA Dodgers 6 - 3 in front of a sold out ballpark at Joe Robbie Stadium.
OTD: April 6, 1927 - Remembering the James Luznar
Remembering James Luznar, the person behind "Jimbos" on Virginia Key, on the anniversary of his birthday on April 6, 1927.
OTD: April 7, 1890 - Marjory Stoneman Douglas was Born
On April 7, 1890, Marjory Stoneman Douglas was born. She was a journalist, writer, feminist and environmentalist that spent most of her adult life in Miami. She was a staunch defender of the Everglades opposing drainage in the interest of land development. One of her most popular books was entitled ‘The River of Grass’ which detailed the importance of preserving the Everglades.
OTD: April 7, 1894 - Lemon City Public Library Opened
On April 7, 1894, the Lemon City Public Library opened, which was the first library to open in Dade County. The Coconut Grove Library opened a few years later in 1901. The earliest libraries in the county were established as reading rooms by local women's clubs in their respective communities.
OTD: April 8, 1924 - City Hospital Renamed to Honor Dr. James Jackson
On April 8, 1924, a resolution was passed to change the name of the Miami City Hospital to The James M. Jackson Memorial Hospital. Jackson arrived in Miami in April of 1896 and was the FEC's official physician. Doctor James Jackson passed away six days earlier on April 2, 1924.
OTD: April 8, 1925 - University of Miami was Founded
On April 8, 1925, the University of Miami was born when the institution was granted its charter by Judge H.F. Atkinson. The university was made possible by the very generous donation of land and money by Coral Gables founder George Merrick. In addition to a large monetary donation to facilitate the construction of a campus, Merrick donated a 160-acre site in the heart of The City Beautiful.
The charter provided for a university focused on scientific and classical courses and authorized the institution to own up to $10,000,000 worth of property. The university began classes in 1926, following the great hurricane of that year, in the Anastasia Hotel.
Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book
Get your signed copy of the Brickell Avenue Neighborhood Book by ordering online on the Miami History Blog website. The book shares a pictorial history of the Brickell neighborhood from 1870 through the 1980s. Read more about the contents of this book and purchase your copy by clicking on the button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.
So many great happenings (Happy 136th Birthday to Marjory Stoneman Douglas!). Seeing the tornado item reminded me of the 1997 tornado going through Downtown Miami and everyone trying to find evidence of earlier occurrences.
loved Jimbos