Week in History: July 9 - 16
Events that occurred during the week of July 9th through the 16th in South Florida's history.
OTD: July 9, 1912 - First Plat Filed on Miami Beach
On July 9, 1912, the Lummus brothers filed the first plat to develop land on Miami Beach. The brothers founded the Ocean Beach Realty Company which was the entity that filed that first plat on the future Miami Beach. The Town of Miami beach was incorporated on March 26, 1915, and James N. Lummus was elected the town’s first mayor (1915 - 1918). Two years later, on May 1, 1917, the town reincorporated as the City of Miami Beach.
OTD: July 10, 1896 - Call for Assembly to Incorporate Miami
On July 10, 1896, the Miami Metropolis published a notice on page two of their weekly edition to call all eligible parties to an assembly scheduled for July 28 to select officers and organize a municipal government. This was the beginning of the process to incorporate of the City of Miami. The notice informed readers that the vote would take place at "the room over the 'The Lobby' which is situated on Avenue D.
OTD: July 10, 1972 - Democratic National Convention Began on Miami Beach
On July 10, 1972, the Democratic National Convention began at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Miami Beach. The convention took place over four days where George McGovern became the nominee for the party.
OTD: July 11, 1979 - Shooting at the Dadeland Mall
On July 11, 1979, a mid-day shooting at Crown Liquors in the Dadeland Mall between Colombian drug traffickers sent shockwaves throughout the nation. This event has been largely remembered as the beginning of the Cocaine Cowboy era in Miami, a time period that was dubbed ‘Paradise Lost’ on the cover of Time Magazine a couple years after this incident.
OTD: July 11, 1991 - Remembering WTVJ Legend Ralph Renick
Remembering television pioneer Ralph Renick on the anniversary of his death. Renick was the face of WTVJ from 1949 until he left the station in 1985.
OTD: July 12, 1921 - City of Miami Held a Special Election to Re-charter
On July 12, 1921, Miami voters went to the polls in a special election held to adopt a new city charter. The charter reshaped Miami’s government, replacing the previous system of a powerful mayor and 13-member city council with a mayor of limited authority and a five-member city commission.
The election produced Miami’s first city commission, quickly nicknamed the “Bankers’ Commission” because all five commissioners were banking executives. The vote marked a major turning point in Miami’s municipal history, ending the form of government that had guided the city since its incorporation in 1896.
OTD: July 13, 1927 - Illegal Contraband Seized
On July 13, 1927, a Miami Daily News headline reported that a combination of federal, city, and county law enforcement officials disposed of $250,000 of seized alcohol that had been stored by prohibition agents in and around Miami.
OTD: July 15, 1997 - Gianni Versace was Murdered Outside his Home by Serial Killer
On July 15, 1997, Gianni Versace was shot to death outside his Miami Beach home by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.
OTD: July 15, 1939 - Miami Beach Founder Carl Fisher Passed Away
On July 15, 1939, Carl G. Fisher, one of the prominent founders of Miami Beach, was rushed to Saint Francis Hospital on Allison Island with a gastric hemorrhage. He passed away in the hospital at 4:52pm.
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.
As always, a great look at momentous things. There have been further efforts to change Miami's government since 1921, but it still has mostly the same structure.