A surname very familiar to those who study Coconut Grove’s early history is Munroe. There were two unrelated families with the same last name, and same spelling, that had a deep impact on the Grove from its onset. Today, Ralph may be the most well-known Munroe given that his home, The Barnacle, is a very popular tourist attraction in the heart of Coconut Grove. However, his friends, both namesake and others, were central to the early development of a community that so many admire today.
Ralph’s mother, her companion, and his uncle were also early movers and shakers in the area. Kirk and Mary Barr Munroe were internationally known writers prior to arriving in the progressive area that was briefly incorporated as a town from 1919 until 1925. The two families shared a friendship in addition to a last name. The Munroe family and friends set the tone for the early progress of Coconut Grove. This podcast will detail the connections to the surname of Munroe in Coconut Grove.
Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about the Munroe families and their close friends. You can access the episode on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud and the Miami-History Blog site (www.miami-history.com/podcasts).
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Further Reading:
- Miami History Podcast: Coconut Grove
- Miami-History Article: Early Stirrings in Coconut Grove
- Miami-History Article: Coconut Grove’s Twentieth Century Journey
- Miami-History Article: Coconut Grove – Yesterday & Today
- Miami-History Video: Coconut Grove Boat Tour by HistoryMiami
Images:
- Cover: The Munroes at Ralph’s Boathouse. Courtesy of HistoryMiami Museum.
- Podcast Image: Coconut Grove residents in 1888. Courtesy of Florida Memory.