Week in History: May 25 - 31
Events that occurred during the week of May 25th through May 31st in South Florida's history.
OTD: May 25, 1912 - Ocean Beach Realty Formed
On May 25, 1912, several prominent Miami pioneers formed the Ocean Beach Realty Company for the purpose of buying and selling real estate on the island that would become Miami Beach. Some of the people listed as principals of the company included Joseph A. McDonald, James E. Lummus, John N. Lummus, Avery Smith and Dan Hardie, to name a few.
OTD: May 28, 1899 - Miami’s First Lawman Fired
On May 28, 1899, Young F. Gray, Miami's first lawman, was relieved of duty for unspecified reasons. Gray was elected city marshal as part of the incorporation process. Gray had a penchant for drinking on the job, but no official reason was given for his dismissal. He was replaced by John Girtman.
OTD: May 31, 1941 - Memorial Day Remembrance
Above is a composite of a Miami Herald headline on Memorial Day in 1941. The article was published on May 31st, more than six months prior to the United States entry into World War II. The headline provided a reminder of the war that raged overseas with an ominous appreciation for the slumber of peacetime for America during the Memorial Day holiday of 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Memorial Day would take on a more contemporary observance as those back home remembered the men and women who lost their lives during the great war.
OTD: May 31, 1983 - Historical Designation of Petit Douy in Brickell
On May 31, 1983, the Miami City Commission voted in favor of providing local historic designation protection to Petit Douy located at 1500 Brickell Avenue. It was one of the first structures in the city to be given this designation.