Week in History: October 1 - 8
Events that occurred during the week of October 1st through the 8th in South Florida's history.
OTD: October 1, 1938 - John S. Knight Acquires Miami Herald
Frank B Shutts and James . Knight closing on the sale of the Miami Herald in October of 1938. Courtesy of Florida State Archives.
On October 1, 1939, James L. Knight acquired the Miami Herald from Frank B. Shutts. The Miami Herald was founded by Shutts in 1910 with the merger of the Miami Evening Record, which was started by Frank Stoneman in 1903, and the Miami Morning News-Record, which started publishing in 1907.
OTD: October 2, 1885 - Congresswoman and Ambassador Ruth Bryan Owen was Born
On October 2, 1885, Florida’s first female representative in Congress and Miami resident, Ruth Bryan Owen, daughter of William Jennings Bryan, was born in Illinois. Mrs. Owen served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1929 until 1933. In 1933 she became American’s first female envoy, serving as ambassador to Denmark until 1936. After WWII Owen worked as a delegate to the San Francisco Conference which resulted in the creation of the United Nations Charter. Owen was also an original officer of the first board of regents for the University of Miami.
OTD: October 2, 1937 - Walgreens Opens in Downtown Miami
On October 2, 1937, the Walgreens store at 200 East Flagler Street in downtown Miami opened for business.
OTD: October 2, 1982- James L Knight Center was Dedicated
On October 2, 1982, the $110 million James L. Knight Center was dedicated in a ceremony hosted by Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre. The convention center is located at the Miami River on the west side of SE Second Avenue.
OTD: October 5, 1986- Remembering Restaurant Pioneer Wolfie Cohen
Remembering Wolfie Cohen who died on this day (October 5), in 1986 at the age of 74. Cohen was the flamboyant founder of three of South Florida's most famous eating establishments: Wolfies, The Rascal House and Pumperniks. All three eateries were fixtures in Miami Beach beginning in the 1930s.
OTD: October 6, 1920- Miami Street Naming Scheme Approved
On October 6, 1920, the Miami City Council approved the Chaille Plan to rename all the streets in the City of Miami. The plan called for the center of the new naming system to be the intersection of Miami Avenue and Flagler Street.
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 ‘Learn More’ button below. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase your signed copy online.
Thanks for this newsletter. Anyone know why the city decided to rename all the streets? What was the impetus for that?
Do you know when the Briggs house was demolished? I used to play there when in my early teens and lived close by. It was owned by the Powers family. John Carter