OTD: October 17, 1926 - Mareldean Hotel Opened

The Mareldean Hotel on December 12, 1973. Courtesy of Casey M. Piket

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.

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OTD: October 18, 1911 - The Miami Club was Sold

Miami Club in 1911. Courtesy of Library of Congress.

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

Front page of the Miami Evening Record on October 19, 1906.

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

Vail Floating Hotel in 1895. Courtesy of HistoryMiami Museum.

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

Roper Building in 1950. Courtesy of HistoryMiami Museum.

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

Miami Grammar School in 1904. Courtesy of Florida State Archives.

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

Article in the Miami Herald on October 22, 1912. Courtesy of the Miami Herald.

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

Downtown Miami on Twelfth Street in 1900. Courtesy of HistoryMiami Museum.

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

The first football game on October 23, 1926, in Coral Gables. Courtesy of Florida State Archives.

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

Portraits of Henry Flagler and Julia Tuttle.

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.

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Week in History: October 17 - 24