Week in History: October 17 - 24
Events that occurred during the week of October 17th through the 24th in South Florida's history.
OTD: October 17, 1926 - Mareldean Hotel Opened
On October 17, 1926, the Mareldean Hotel and Rooming House opened at 44 SW Eleventh Street in the Brickell neighborhood. The former site of this structure is now part of the Millecento Condominiums located at 1100 South Miami Avenue.
OTD: October 18, 1911 - The Miami Club was Sold
On October 18, 1911, Max Zapf sold the Miami Club, located on NE Second Avenue between SE First and Flagler Street in downtown Miami, to Peter Ullendorf and W.C. Groves for $12,500. The Miami Club was formed to promote the city of Miami before the formation of the Chamber of Commerce in 1915.
OTD: October 18, 1906 - Hurricane Made Landfall in Miami
On October 18, 1906, the Miami Hurricane of 1906, which reached sustained winds of 80 MPH, made landfall in Miami and did significant damage to downtown Miami and surrounding areas.
OTD: October 19, 1904 - Remembering Miami Pioneer Captain Edward E. Vail
On October 19, 1904, Miami Pioneer Captain Edward E. Vail passed away. The captain converted a steamship into a floating hotel to provide Miami Pioneers with accommodations on the Miami River prior to the construction and opening of land-based hotels in early Miami.
OTD: October 19, 1950 - Roper Building Opened
On October 19, 1950, the Roper Building at the corner of SE Third Avenue and Flagler Street officially opened. The building was completed on June 1st, and stores unofficially conducted business prior to the formal opening. It was built on land that was once the location of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Miami.
OTD: October 21, 1896 - First School in Miami Opened
On October 21, 1896, the first school in Miami opened, with 38 students in a storefront in downtown Miami. By 1897, with the help from Henry Flagler, Miami's Grammar School, a two-story, four classroom building was constructed on the site of what became the post office and federal courthouse on NE 1st Avenue, between Third and Fourth streets. This is a picture of the first school building in 1904.
OTD: October 21, 1912 - John Collins Donated Land for Park
On October 21, 1912, the city council for Miami passed a resolution to accept John Collin's offer to donate 10-acres of land to be used as a park. This donation was the beginning of Collins Park on Miami Beach at 2100 Collins Avenue.
OTD: October 22, 1899 - Miami Quarantined During Yellow Fever Epidemic
On October 22, 1899, Miami is quarantined by state officials because of a yellow fever epidemic. The quarantine was lifted on January 15, 1900, and there was a total of 220 reported cases of the illness resulting in the deaths of 22 people who contracted yellow fever during this epidemic. The City of Miami had 1,700 residents at the time of the outbreak.
OTD: October 23, 1926 - University of Miami Plays First Football Game
On October 23, 1926, in the programs very first game, the University of Miami football team defeated the Rollins College freshman team by a score of 7-0.
OTD: October 23, 1909 - Carl and Jane Fisher Marry
On October 23, 1909, Carl Fisher, the father of Miami Beach, married his wife Jane.
OTD: October 23, 1939 - Florida National Bank Opens in New Home
On October 23, 1939, Florida National Bank opens in the new Alfred I Dupont building at 169 East Flagler Street. The grand opening featured music, flowers, and a crowd of state and bank dignitaries to witness the opening of the building. A few years later, the Alfred I Dupont building would be taken over by the U.S. Navy as their southern command during the war years.
OTD: October 24, 1895 - Henry Flagler and Julia Tuttle Sign Contract
On October 24, 1895, the official contract was signed between Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler to deed land in exchange for Flagler to extend his railway to the Miami River, build a first class hotel and lay out the infrastructure for a city. The Brickell's signed a similar agreement on June 12, 1895.
As always enlightening and informative stories!