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 Company 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, Marshal Young F. Gray, Miami’s first lawman, was suspended from office by Mayor John B. Reilly. In his last year on duty, Gray had been remiss in fulfilling his duties and had a reputation for drinking on the job. He later resigned from his position as marshal and tax collector and was replaced by his assistant 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.
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.