This episode tells the story of two brothers who arrived on the shores of Biscayne Bay and the Miami River the very year the City of Miami was incorporated. John and Everest Sewell were not only early pioneers, but also among the city’s first retailers. As Miami grew, both men would go on to serve multiple terms as mayor, helping shape the direction of the young community.

John Sewell’s enduring legacy includes the home he built in 1912 just outside the city, constructed from native rock and still remembered today. John’s Halissee Hall is still standing and part of the Jackson Health Complex. His younger brother, Everest, became one of Miami’s most influential promoters, leading the Chamber of Commerce and working alongside local business leaders to launch the first Orange Bowl game, an effort designed to draw visitors during the depths of the Great Depression. Together, the Sewell brothers played a central role in Miami’s formative years.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about the Sewell Brothers. You can download this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify) or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the platforms where this podcast episode is available.

On April 17, 1961, a group of CIA-backed Cuban exiles launched an invasion at the Bay of Pigs, a remote area along the southern coast of Cuba, to overthrow Fidel Castro's government. This failed invasion occurred during the height of the Cold War with Russia and the failure of the operation resulted in a closer relationship between Cuba and the Soviet Union, which led to the subsequent Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962.

The invading Cuban dissidents, known as Brigade 2506, were met with stiff resistance which led to the death of 119 and the capture of over 1200 brigade soldiers during the invasion. There is a Bay of Pigs Museum & Library at 1338 SW 8th Street in Miami, and the Assault Brigade 2506 Museum at 13651 NW 107th Avenue in Hialeah Gardens, documenting the effort and losses of the Cuban exiles that participated in the invasion.

OTD: April 19, 1926 - Model Land Company Breaks Ground for Ingraham Building

On April 19, 1926, the Model Land Company broke ground to construct the Ingraham Building. The building was designed by Schultz & Weaver and is located at 25 SE Second Avenue in downtown Miami. The building was named for James Ingraham, Flagler’s right-hand man and president of the Model Land Company who died on October 25, 1924. Click on the button below to listen to the podcast episode on the history of the edifice.

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OTD: April 20, 1980 - Mariel Boatlift

On April 20, 1980, the Mariel Boatlift begins after the Castro government declares that all Cubans wanting to leave the country can report to the Port of Mariel, to the southwest of Havana, and leave as part of a boatlift to the United States that took place between April and October of 1980.

In total, the immigration from the Port of Mariel led to more than 125,000 refugees fleeing Cuba who mostly settled in South Florida. Refugees were housed initially in and around the Orange Bowl, but relocated to a camp established under the I-95 overpass near today's Jose Marti Park along the Miami River once football season began in August of 1980.

OTD: April 22, 1896 - First Passenger Service to Miami

On April 22, 1896, the Florida East Coast Railway began regular passenger service to the not yet named City of Miami. The city would get its name on July 28, 1896 as part of the incorporation proceedings.

OTD: April 22, 1987 - NBA Miami Heat Awarded

On April 22, 1987, the Miami Heat was named one of four new NBA franchises. The Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and Minnesota Timberwolves were the other three franchises awarded as part of the 1987 expansion. Let’s Go Heat!

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.

Purchase Signed Copy

The cover image captures the Morris Apartments at 1309 Brickell Avenue on August 24, 1948. Originally constructed in 1921, the building opened the following year as the Royal Apartments. After a sale in 1924, the property was rebranded as the Royal Palm Apartments, reflecting a subtle shift in identity during Miami’s early growth years.

Marketed as spacious four-room residences, the apartments were described in advertisements as “very elaborately furnished.” Promotional materials emphasized the building’s prime location near Biscayne Bay, highlighting the cooling bay breezes and the convenience of a short walk to downtown. When the property debuted in 1922, units rented for $30 per month. By 1933, rents had increased to $60 under lease, or $70 for month-to-month occupancy.

In the mid-1940s, the building was acquired by Harry Morris, who renamed it the Morris Apartments. It continued to operate as a residential property until 1967, when it was converted into commercial office space for the Dodd Realty Corporation. The firm remained in the building until its sale and eventual vacancy in 1981.

One of the more colorful tenants of the Morris Apartments was Roger Steadman, a pilot who resided in the building in 1958. That year, he was arrested on charges of conspiracy to launch a military expedition against a friendly nation and to unlawfully export arms and ammunition. Steadman had agreed to assist a group of twenty-two Cuban rebel sympathizers in transporting weapons to Cuba during a volatile moment in the island’s history.

The plan centered on an aging B-18 bomber, which the group intended to fly from Prospect Field in Fort Lauderdale to Cuba. The aircraft was to be loaded with rifles, submachine guns, ammunition, and field equipment. Prospect Field, originally known as West Prospect Satellite Field, had been constructed in 1941 as a training base for Naval aviators during World War II. After the war, the federal government transferred the site to the City of Fort Lauderdale in 1947, where it evolved into today’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE).

The operation unraveled when nearby residents reported suspicious activity at the airfield. Members of the group had driven ten cars onto the property and begun unloading crates of weapons onto the plane. Law enforcement quickly intervened, triggering a chaotic series of events that included machine gun fire and multiple car chases. By the end of the night on November 11, 1958, authorities had arrested twenty Cuban men, two Cuban women, and one American, Steadman.

In the aftermath, Steadman acknowledged that the overloaded B-18, which pre-dated World War II, likely would never have made it off the ground due to the cumulative weight of the cargo. Each crate loaded onto the aircraft bore a single, telling label: “Fidel.”

Sources:

• Miami Herald: “Arms-Laden Bomber, 22 Cubans Captured In Broward Gunfire”, November 11, 1958.

This is a video of the preparation and implosion of the Mandarin Oriental in Brickell Key on Claughton Island on April 12, 2026. The first photo in the video is of the island a decade ago in 2016, and the second photo is of the five-star hotel in May 2024.

The filming of the implosion was taken from the 35th Floor in the north tower of the Plaza on Brickell condominium building directly across from the former hotel building. Parts of the video are time-lapsed, but the implosion was filmed live.

The video was shot by me, Casey Piket, and special thanks goes to Miami History Substack subscriber Stephen Macchiaverna for providing his balcony for this event.

On April 9, 1924, the second SW Second Avenue bridge opened across the Miami River. This was the second bridge at the overpass of SW Second Avenue, formerly called Avenue G, with the first being a wooden bridge with a sliding draw that opened in December of 1896, and was removed after the construction of the Avenue D, now named South Miami Avenue, steel bridge in 1903.

OTD: April 9, 1930 - Watson Renamed Miami Colonial Hotel

On April 9, 1930, the Watson Hotel at 146 Biscayne Boulevard was acquired and renamed to the Miami Colonial Hotel. This building still stands today and operates as the YVE Hotel.

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OTD: April 10, 1941 - Carl G. Fisher Memorial Dedicated

On April 10, 1941, Miami Beach citizens dedicated a memorial that commemorates the accomplishments of Carl G. Fisher. The statue features a bronze bust of Fisher, wearing his floppy hat and smiling. The inscription reads: "Carl Graham Fisher - he carved a great city out of a jungle". The memorial is located at the corner of Alton Road and Lakeview Drive.

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OTD: April 10, 1985 - Ralph Renick Leaves WTVJ

On April 10, 1985, marked the end of an era when Ralph Renick stepped down as vice president and news director of WTVJ. Within six weeks of this decision, Renick announced his candidacy for Governor of Florida. Although he spent $100,000 of his own money on the campaign, he ended his bid to become governor six months after his announced candidacy.

OTD: April 11, 1986 - Deadly FBI Shootout in South Dade

On April 11, 1986, a confrontation with two suspected bank robbers resulted in the deadliest shootout in FBI history. Two FBI agents were killed and five other agents were injured when they stopped the suspects in Kendall triggering a shootout on a residential street. Both suspects were killed in the gun battle. Many of the witnesses thought the confrontation was either the filming of an episode of Miami Vice or a battle between two rival drug cartels, which was common during this era.

OTD: April 12, 1897 - Frances Tuttle Gets Married

On April 12, 1897, Frances, daughter of Julia Tuttle, married Charles Conrad Saunders in the old Fort Dallas Barracks building next to the Tuttle residence in today's downtown Miami. The ceremony was officiated by the Reverend E.V. Blackman.

OTD: April 12, 1915 - Tree Planted by World-Renowned Poet James Whitcomb Riley

On April 12, 1915, world-renowned Indiana Poet James Whitcomb Riley planted a Ficus Benghalensis tree in a median on Lincoln Road, just west of Collins Avenue, to commemorate the completion of the road. The tree was dedicated on this day when Riley read a brief poem called "The Planting of a Tree" and the ceremony was attended by a large audience of local and national reporters, photographers, and even a News Reel’s videographer. When the tree was toppled in 1926, the city did its best to replant and save the tree. However, by 1928, the Ficus had to be replaced, and then another replanted shortly after the first replacement tree died. The second replacement tree stood in the median for another decade until it was moved in November of 1939 from Lincoln Road to the Carl G. Fisher Memorial Park on Alton Road and Lakeview Drive.

OTD: April 12, 1968 - Sunshine State Parkway Renamed to Florida Turnpike

On April 12, 1968, the Sunshine State Parkway was renamed to the Florida Turnpike.

OTD: April 13, 1896 - First Train Arrives in Miami

On April 13, 1896, the first FEC locomotive arrived at the terminus of Avenue D in downtown Miami. This represented the completion of the FEC extension to Miami and provided Henry Flagler, as well as other FEC dignitaries the opportunity to travel by train to what would become the City of Miami on July 28, 1896. The train mostly carried supplies and was followed by the first passenger train a little more than a week later.

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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.

Purchase Your Signed Copy

A modest two-story building tucked within the ever-evolving Brickell neighborhood has long sparked curiosity: what was it, and how has it endured as the area transformed into what many now call the “Manhattan of the South”? Constructed when Brickell was still primarily residential, the structure has occupied the corner of SE Tenth Street and South Miami Avenue for more than ninety years, quietly bearing witness to the neighborhood’s dramatic evolution.

Over the course of its lifetime, the building has housed a variety of tenants, though it has consistently served a few core roles within the community. During its first half-century, the structure operated as a neighborhood meat market and grocery store, with the proprietors living above the shop on the second floor, a classic “mom-and-pop” arrangement. In the past thirty years, it transitioned into a series of restaurant concepts before ultimately returning to its retail roots, most recently serving as a liquor store catering to Brickell’s growing population.

The Gillespie Building stands on land once owned by the developers of the Martina Apartments, located directly across the street. After the apartment building fell into bankruptcy in 1924, C. F. Turner of Dixie Development acquired both the apartment complex and the parcel across the street. Several years later, in 1932, a modest two-story building rose on the site, designed with retail space on the ground floor and residential units above. The property was originally addressed as 1044 South Miami Avenue.

The building’s first tenant was Martina Pressing and Cleaning, though the business lasted only a few years. In 1934, Jack Gillespie opened a neighborhood grocery store at the location, operating it until 1941. Following his tenure, the market continued under a succession of owners and names, including Ungar’s Food Market (1941–1949) and Southside Market (1950 through the early 1980s). After 1982, the historical record grows less clearly, with no mentions in local newspapers until a restaurant occupied the ground floor in 1996. At was at this time the building’s address was also changed from 1044 to 1040 South Miami Avenue.

In March 1996, the Gillespie Building welcomed Piccolo Paradiso, an Italian restaurant that opened to strong reviews. Kendall Hamersly, dining critic for the Miami Herald, praised it as “upscale Italian without primo prices.” At a time when Brickell offered few dining options compared to today, the modest establishment provided a welcome addition to the neighborhood’s limited culinary scene. Despite the favorable press, however, Piccolo Paradiso closed after just two years.

In 1998, the space was taken over by another Italian concept, Rosinella Italian Trattoria. Already established on Lincoln Road in South Beach, the owners expanded into Brickell, recognizing the area’s growing residential base and untapped potential. Over the next fifteen years, Rosinella maintained a steady presence in the building, gradually evolving from a traditional restaurant into more of a market-style operation during its tenure.

In January 2012, the Gillespie Building and the adjacent parcel to its west were sold to FX S MIA LLC (Miami Ave Holding Company) for $5 million, a significant increase from the $800,000 paid by the previous owners in 2000.

After Rosinella vacated the space in 2013, the building entered a period of transition, with several restaurant concepts coming and going with limited success. That same year, Sumi Yakitori opened, offering authentic Japanese cuisine. It was a sister concept to the successful Momi Ramen, which had opened next door earlier and remains in operation today. Despite that connection, Sumi Yakitori closed its doors in 2017.

In 2018, another Italian concept, Empanazzio, took over the space but shuttered by the time the COVID-19 pandemic forced widespread business closures in early 2020. Since 2021, A5 Liquors has operated out of the Gillespie Building. However, the site, at the prominent corner of South Miami Avenue and SW 10th Street, is now slated for redevelopment, with plans calling for an eighty-story mixed-use tower that will dramatically transform this long-standing corner of Brickell.

A recent notice announced a preliminary zoning hearing before Miami-Dade County to consider transferring oversight of a proposed development by FX South Miami LLC from the city to the county. The shift is under consideration because the property qualifies for special exceptions under the county’s Metromover Subzone of the Rapid Transit Zone (Section 33C-15). If approved, county oversight would allow the project to bypass certain municipal zoning regulations, including height limits and parking requirements.

The proposed development, currently known as the 1040 South Miami building, would occupy approximately 0.57 acres and rise to 80 stories, reaching about 945 feet. Plans call for a mixed-use tower incorporating residential, hotel, and retail components. The site, previously slated for a Virgin Hotel, lies within a block of a Metromover station, making it eligible for county jurisdiction under the transit-oriented zoning provisions.

A more detailed description of the proposed building was provided by Oscar Nunez published on the Florida Yimby website on May 6, 2026:

“The development is set to include 250 condominium units, 48 condo-hotel units, 100 hotel rooms, approximately 1,900 square feet of restaurant space, and 322 parking spaces. The total gross floor area is estimated at 1,084,278 square feet. ODP Architecture & Design is listed as the architect for the project. Prosper Group, led by Jay Roberts, and Forte Development, led by Marius Fortelni, are co-developing the project under the entity 1040 S Miami Development LLC.”

Residents of Brickell who regularly rely on the Metromover may reasonably question whether the existing system can accommodate the influx of people an 80-story tower would bring. It is hoped that Miami-Dade County will commit to significant upgrades to the area’s rapid transit infrastructure before projects under its jurisdiction begin adding new residents to the neighborhood.

On April 1, 1896, the First Presbyterian Church had its first service in a tent near the Miami River at the terminus of Avenue D in what would become downtown Miami.

OTD: April 1, 1931 - Simpson Park Dedicated

On April 1, 1931, Jungle Park on South Miami Avenue in the Brickell neighborhood was renamed and dedicated to Simpson Park in honor of naturalist and conservationist Charles Torrey Simpson.

OTD: April 1, 1933 - Art Deco Texaco Opens on Biscayne Boulevard

On April 1, 1933, the Texaco station opened on the corner of Biscayne Boulevard and N.E. Sixth Street in downtown Miami. The station featured a Spanish style of architecture and was a mainstay on what was once referred to as "Gasoline Alley" on Biscayne Boulevard during the middle decades of the Twentieth Century.

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OTD: April 1, 1940 - Remembering Miami Pioneer Everest G. Sewell

On April 1, 1940, Miami was stunned by the news that the city's mayor, pioneer Everest Sewell, had suffered a heart attack. He would die at Jackson Memorial Hospital on April 2nd. Everest was the brother of John Sewell, early pioneer merchant and three-time Mayor of Miami: 1927 - 29, 1933 - 35, and 1939 until his passing in 1940 (as part of a recall election).

OTD: April 2, 1924 - Remembering Miami Pioneer Physician Dr. James Jackson

On April 2, 1924, residents of the City of Miami mourned the passing of its pioneer physician, Dr. James Jackson who died at his residence at 1627 Brickell Avenue after battling a lengthy illness.

OTD: April 5, 1925 - Holleman Park Methodist Church Conducts First Service

On April 5, 1925, the Holleman Park Methodist Church, located at Fifteenth Road and SW Twelfth Street in the Brickell neighborhood, opened to the public and conducted its first Sunday service. The congregation would later construct a permanent chapel at 349 SW Twelfth Street in 1925.

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OTD: April 5, 1925 - Tornado Touchdown at White Belt Dairy in Lemon City

On April 5, 1925, a tornado touchdown near the intersection of NW 32nd Avenue and NW 60th Street causing more than $1 million worth of damage to the White Belt Dairy. The twister killed five people along with injuring 35 others, while destroying multiple buildings including milking stations, dormitories for workers, and office buildings.

OTD: April 5, 1993 - Florida Marlins Play First Game

On April 5, 1993, the Florida (now Miami), Marlins played their first regular season game. The Marlins beat the LA Dodgers 6 - 3 in front of a sold out ballpark at Joe Robbie Stadium.

OTD: April 6, 1927 - Remembering the James Luznar

Remembering James Luznar, the person behind "Jimbos" on Virginia Key, on the anniversary of his birthday on April 6, 1927.

OTD: April 7, 1890 - Marjory Stoneman Douglas was Born

On April 7, 1890, Marjory Stoneman Douglas was born. She was a journalist, writer, feminist and environmentalist that spent most of her adult life in Miami. She was a staunch defender of the Everglades opposing drainage in the interest of land development. One of her most popular books was entitled ‘The River of Grass’ which detailed the importance of preserving the Everglades.

OTD: April 7, 1894 - Lemon City Public Library Opened

On April 7, 1894, the Lemon City Public Library opened, which was the first library to open in Dade County. The Coconut Grove Library opened a few years later in 1901. The earliest libraries in the county were established as reading rooms by local women's clubs in their respective communities.

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OTD: April 8, 1924 - City Hospital Renamed to Honor Dr. James Jackson

On April 8, 1924, a resolution was passed to change the name of the Miami City Hospital to The James M. Jackson Memorial Hospital. Jackson arrived in Miami in April of 1896 and was the FEC's official physician. Doctor James Jackson passed away six days earlier on April 2, 1924.

OTD: April 8, 1925 - University of Miami was Founded

On April 8, 1925, the University of Miami was born when the institution was granted its charter by Judge H.F. Atkinson. The university was made possible by the very generous donation of land and money by Coral Gables founder George Merrick. In addition to a large monetary donation to facilitate the construction of a campus, Merrick donated a 160-acre site in the heart of The City Beautiful.

The charter provided for a university focused on scientific and classical courses and authorized the institution to own up to $10,000,000 worth of property. The university began classes in 1926, following the great hurricane of that year, in the Anastasia Hotel.

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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.

Purchase Your Signed Copy

On March 26, 1896, the first store on the north side of the Miami River, site of present day downtown Miami, was opened by John and E.G. Sewell. The store was a shoe and men's furnishing store. Within eight hours of the opening of John Sewell & Brother store, J.E. Lummus opened a shoe and merchandise store in a shed as the second retail establishment in what would become downtown Miami.

OTD: March 26, 1915 - Town of Miami Beach was Incorporated

On March 26, 1915, the town of Miami Beach was incorporated when 33 registered voters gathered and cast their votes in the Lummus Building on the northeast corner of Ocean Drive and Biscayne Street. Given the tremendous growth in just two years, the town would re-charter as the City of Miami Beach in 1917.

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OTD: March 26, 1942 - Remembering Coral Gables Founder George Merrick

On March 26 in 1942, George Merrick, planner and developer of Coral Gables, passed away from a heart attack at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Merrick was the visionary and developer of Coral Gables during the building boom of the 1920s.

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OTD: March 29, 1926 - The Miami Realty Board Building Celebrates Grand Opening

On March 29, 1926, the Miami Realty Board Building, at 329 NE First Avenue in downtown Miami, opened and was officially dedicated. More than 3,000 people showed up for the formal opening ceremonies and to tour the building. The building was renamed to the Postal Building in the 1930s, and then renamed again to the Pacific Building in 1945.

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OTD: March 29, 1938 - Oversea Highway Officially Opens

On March 29, 1938, the Oversea Highway, stretching 127.5 miles and carrying US 1 through the keys, opened and was officially dedicated. It was mostly built over the former right-of-way of the Oversea Railway.

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.

Purchase Your Signed Copy

The trailer park once located at 6005 NE Second Avenue in Lemon City traces its origins to the height of South Florida’s great building boom of the 1920s. The site, originally intended for a dairy farm, was repurposed by Dr. John G. Dupuis, who recognized the growing demand for affordable accommodations as waves of newcomers poured into the region.

Known at its opening as a “tourist camp,” the property operated from the mid-1920s until 2015. At its inception, it helped ease the housing shortage brought on by the boom. In later decades, the site, eventually referred to as a trailer park, continued to serve as an important housing alternative for residents on low or fixed incomes. For nearly ninety years, the Magic City Tourist Camp remained a fixture in Lemon City, later known as Little Haiti, reflecting the evolving story of Miami itself.

Origins of the Nickname ‘Magic City’

The nickname ‘Magic City’ is as old as the city it describes. Ironically, the man who gave Miami its timeless moniker had never visited Miami before he described it as magical. As the story goes, E.V. Blackman was working as a freelance writer in Daytona Beach when he was hired by Henry Flagler to write an article about a new city for a new magazine. The magazine was called “The Home Seeker” and Blackman’s article was published in one of the first issues of the magazine.

After he was hired, Flagler sent Blackman a letter with the blueprint for the city and pictures of the area to acquaint him with what he was chartered to illuminate in his report. The article was to describe the beauty and potential of Flagler’s latest stop along the east coast of Florida.

Blackman was already captivated by Flagler’s enthusiasm, but after he reviewed the blueprint and pictures, he immediately saw the possibilities for the city. He told the Miami News in 1925 the following: “In looking over the material, I got so enthusiastic over the possibilities of the city that bordered on the Gulf stream and faced the broad waters of Biscayne Bay, that I referred to it as the ‘Magic City’.” Blackman included the description in his article.

After completing the article for The Home Seeker, he sent a copy to the Jacksonville Times-Union as a form of early syndication. Within weeks after the article was published, other newspapers in the state were reporting on Miami’s progress and adding “The Magic City” to the name of the municipality in their news stories. It didn’t take long for the nickname to stick.

Ownership of Land by Dupuis Family

The land that would later become the tourist camp was part of a 2,000-acre tract purchased by Dr. John G. Dupuis in 1898 for use as a dairy farm. In 1925, a portion of that property was subdivided to establish the Magic City Tourist Camp, later known in official records as Magic City Park.

The boundaries of the carved out portion for the tourist camp were described as follows in the public records of Dade County.

“Beginning 25’ east and 304’6” south of northwest corner of the southwest quarter northeasterly parallel with Lemon Avenue 1266’6” to Railroad Avenue south 210’ southwesterly along Brown Street 1266’6” north to the point of beginning, of the plat of PIERCE’S SUBDIVISION OF LEMON CITY, as recorded in Plat Book B at Page 43 and Plat Book 2 at Page 21.”

The camp remained under the ownership of the Dupuis family until its sale to Magic City Properties, LLC in 2014. While the property was operated by a series of lessees over the years, ownership of the land itself stayed within the family for nearly nine decades.

Following the death of Dr. John G. Dupuis on September 17, 1952, control of the property passed to his wife, Katherine E. Dupuis. On August 1, 1959, the land was placed into the Katherine E. Dupuis Trust. After Katherine’s death on August 20, 1975, trusteeship transferred first to John G. Dupuis Jr., and, after his passing in 1980, to Susan Dupuis. It was ultimately this family trust that finalized the sale of the property to Magic City Properties, LLC.

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In commemoration of Winston Churchill’s vacation in South Florida in 1946, this recorded online webinar shares the places he visited, how he spent his time, and the people he spent time with during his six-week stay. Following his party’s defeat in the July 1945 parliamentary election, Churchill’s doctor recommended that he take time away from politics …

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The Gautier Funeral Home opened on Monday, March 16, 1925, when Robert Allen Gautier and his mother, Mary Louise Gautier, established the business at 514 West Flagler Street in Miami’s Riverside neighborhood. In the 1930s, Robert’s younger brother, John Gautier, joined the family enterprise.

The Gautier family had deep roots in Miami’s early civic life. Robert and John’s father, William J. Gautier, was the son of Thomas N. Gautier, who served as Miami’s first tax collector. Within about a decade of opening, the funeral home relocated from its original site at 514 West Flagler Street to a larger location at 779 West Flagler Street, further west along the same thoroughfare.

In 1951, the Gautier family sold the business to Henry Reed, and the establishment was subsequently renamed the Reed-Gautier Funeral Home. After the sale, John Gautier pursued public service, following the path of his grandfather. He served as Dade County’s chief tax official from 1953 to 1961.

Today, the building that once housed the funeral home at 779 West Flagler Street has been demolished, and the site is now vacant. However, the original structure at 514 West Flagler Street appears to have survived. Although its appearance has been altered over time, Miami-Dade property records indicate that the residential-style building shown in the cover photograph is still standing as of today.

Resources:

• Miami Herald: “Gautier Funeral Chapel to Open”, March 15, 1925.

• Miami News: “Gautier Builds Model Funeral Home in Miami”, March 23, 1925.

• Miami Herald: “Henry Lafayette Reed Obituary”, August 29, 1984.

• Miami Herald: “John Gautier Obituary”, November 11, 1991.

On March 15, 1896, Reverend A.W. Brown turned the first shovel of dirt for the ground breaking for the building of the Royal Palm Hotel. Reverend Brown was one of 12 men who was part of John Sewell's crew of workers responsible for clearing the grounds for Miami's first grand hotel.

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OTD: March 15, 1981 - Clyde Court Apartments were Razed

On March 15, 1981, the Clyde Court Apartments were razed to make room for a parking lot along SE Second Street in downtown Miami. The apartment building was designed by August Geiger and constructed at 68 SE Second Street in 1918. The project was financed by the Sailor Brothers development company.

OTD: March 16, 1925 - Gautier Funeral Home Celebrates Grand Opening

On March 16, 1925, the Gautier Funeral Home celebrated its grand opening at 514 West Flagler Street in Miami.

OTD: March 16, 1958 - Dupont Plaza Center Dedication

On March 16, 1958, the Dupont Plaza Center officially opened when 2000 people attended the dedication ceremony. A smaller group witnessed the ribbon cutting ceremony which took place at the top-floor Sky Room of the DuPont Tarlton Hotel.

OTD: March 17, 1916 - McAllister Hotel Broke Ground

On March 17, 1916, construction began for the McAllister Hotel on the corner of Twelfth Street and the Boulevard, known today as Flagler Street and Biscayne Boulevard. This date represented the official groundbreaking for a project that would take close to four years to complete. When the hotel opened on January 1, 1920, at 50 Biscayne Boulevard, it was the tallest building in Miami. It would be eclipsed by the Dade County Courthouse when it opened in 1928.

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OTD: March 18, 1904 - Halcyon Hall Hotel Broke Ground

On March 18, 1904, the Halcyon Hall Hotel broke ground on the northwest corner of Twelfth Street and Avenue B, which is today's Flagler Street and East Second Avenue. The hotel was designed and financed by Salem and Emily Graham, and after several delays in the construction schedule, finally opened on January 20, 1906. The hotel was razed in 1937 to make room for the Alfred I Dupont building which still stands today at 169 East Flagler Street.

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OTD: March 20, 1933 - Zangara Electrocuted at Raiford

On March 20, 1933, Giuseppe Zangara was electrocuted at Raiford for the murder of Anton Cermak in his assassination attempt of FDR in Bayfront Park. The photograph above is of Zangara at Raiford prison, and the one below is of the assassin during his sentencing at the Dade County Courthouse.

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OTD: March 21, 1949 - WTVJ Went on the Air

WTVJ went on the air for the first time on March 21, 1949. It was Florida’s first television station and the 16th in the country. Originally broadcasting on channel 4, WTVJ was owned by Wometco Enterprises, a national movie theater chain headquartered in Miami. The original studio was located in the former Capitol Theater in Downtown Miami.

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OTD: March 23, 1963 - Miami Herald Moved into New Building

On March 23, 1963, the Miami Herald began moving into their new building at One Herald Plaza, adjacent to Biscayne Bay, without disruption in the publication of their daily newspaper. The move took two days and was completed on March 24th. The MIMO (Miami Modern), building at One Herald Plaza was sold to the Genting Group in 2011, and then razed beginning in 2014.

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.

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A headline on the front page of the Miami Herald on March 12, 1922, proclaimed: “Tunnels Lead Liquor Raiders to Big Saloon.” By that time, the nationwide campaign to eliminate the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcohol, set in motion by the Prohibition in the United States, had been underway for two years. As enforcement tightened, bootleggers became increasingly inventive in how they transported and concealed their illicit liquor.

Although Miami had developed a reputation as one of the most porous cities in the country during Prohibition, those involved in the illegal trade still relied on discretion and careful planning. Federal agents and local authorities regularly patrolled the waterfront, hoping to intercept gunny sacks filled with liquor arriving by boat from the Bahamas and other nearby sources.

One such investigation focused on a fish company located near the city’s municipal docks along downtown Miami’s North Bayshore Drive, today known as Biscayne Boulevard. Miami’s Prohibition director, Tom Foreman, joined Joe Byrd after receiving a tip that the warehouse might conceal more than seafood.

Inside the fish house, investigators uncovered a trapdoor hidden beneath a large pile of sawdust. When they lifted the hatch and descended a stairway roughly six feet below ground level, they discovered a surprisingly elaborate underground chamber. The room was brightly illuminated and connected to six tunnels that stretched out in different directions, each corridor lit well enough for the raiding party to explore.

At the end of the passageways, the officers found caches of liquor carefully stored along the routes. Altogether, the raid yielded 35 cases of alcohol. No arrests were made, but authorities believed they had uncovered an unusually sophisticated system for smuggling and storing contraband, one that had clearly been constructed with considerable planning and expense.

The newspaper described the discovery in dramatic terms:

“Half a dozen tunnels, far underground, with each passageway brilliantly lighted with attractive electric light bulbs, and a different brand of liquor at the end of each avenue, was the discovery made during Friday night by a prohibition raiding party.”

Resources:

• Miami Herald: “Tunnels Lead Liquor Raiders to Big Saloon”, March 12, 1922.

On March 10, 1922, a raid on a fish house near Miami's city docks discovered an intricate set of tunnels used to store and hide illegal booze during prohibition. One of the headlines on the front page of the Miami Herald on March 12, 1922, read “Tunnels Lead Liquor Raiders to Big Saloon”. At the time of this raid, the two-year old campaign to rid the country of the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of liquor was forcing bootleggers to get creative in how they transported and stored their illegal contraband.

While Miami was considered one of the leakiest places in America during prohibition, it still required a level of discretion and planning. Prohibition officers and local law enforcement were present and looking to curtail the traffic of gunny sacks of booze arriving from the Bahamas and elsewhere.

OTD: March 11, 1948 - Elks Club Buys Brickell Point Property

On March 11, 1948, the Elks Club purchased the five-acre estate known as Brickell Point from Maude Brickell for $250,000. The Brickell Point property included a frontage of 280 feet on Brickell Avenue, a depth of 540 feet, and a bay and river frontage of 500 feet.

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OTD: March 12, 1896 - Greater Bethel AME Organized

On March 12, 1896, the Miami Greater Bethel AME was organized at the home of Alexander C. Lightbourn, forming one of the earliest congregations in Miami’s history. Lightbourn became known for giving an inspiring speech about what each of the voters were about to embark during the incorporation proceedings of the City of Miami on July 28, 1896. He was one of 162 black pioneers who cast a vote for incorporation at that meeting, allowing Miami to organize as a city and not a town. The state of Florida required at least 300 men cast a vote for incorporation in order for a municipality to organize as a city.

OTD: March 13, 1816 - Andrew Jackson Invaded Spanish Florida

On March 13, 1816, General Andrew Jackson invaded Spanish Florida, an event which many historians believe marked the beginning of the First Seminole War. Florida would not become a United States territory until 1821. The impetus for the invasion was to curb the flight of slaves escaping captivity from the southern states for safe haven among the Seminole Indians in Florida. Although the conflicts between the army and Seminole Indians would last until the end of the Third Seminole War in 1858, the first conflict, known as the First Seminole War, ended in 1818.

OTD: March 13, 1916 - Point View Residence Bought by President of Father John’s Medicine

On March 13, 1916, the president of Father John's Medicine Company, Aubert Fay, purchased 1402 South Bay Shore Drive in the Point View subdivision of Brickell for $22,500 from Locke Highleyman. The home later became the Commodore Rowing & Sailing Club in 1971.

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OTD: March 13, 2000 - Miami Dolphin’s Legend Dan Marino Retires

On March 13, 2000, Miami Dolphin’s legend and future Hall of Fame quarterback hosts a press conference to announce his retirement. He was a steal in the quarterback rich 1983 NFL draft and provided Dolphin’s fans excitement for 17 seasons. While there will never be another Dan Marino, the Dolphins are still seeking their next franchise quarterback since Marino’s retirement on this day in 2000.

OTD: March 14, 1920 - Miami Beach Congregational Community Church Held First Service in New Chapel

On March 14, 1920, the Miami Beach Congregational Community Church began holding Sunday religious services in a nearly completed chapel at Lincoln Road and Drexel Avenue. The church was designed by Walter DeGarmo and was completed a few weeks after regular church service began. The chapel still stands today at that location.

OTD: March 14, 1938 - Dunbar Branch of Dade County Library Opens

On March 14, 1938, the Dunbar Branch of the Dade County public library system opened in an abandoned store on the property of the founder of the Friendship Garden & Civic Club, Annie Coleman, at 2059 NW Sixth Court in Overtown. This branch later moved into a building constructed on land donated by Dana A. Dorsey. The library was named the Dorsey Memorial Library in honor of Dana’s generosity and contributions to the Overtown community.

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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.

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While researching the Olympia Theater in preparation for its centennial, I found myself drawn to a lingering mystery: what became of the massive vertical sign once mounted on the building’s northeast corner? Installed in 1926 as the final major exterior addition before the grand opening on February 18 of that year, the towering marquee was a defining feature of the façade. Yet by the mid-twentieth century, it had quietly vanished.

As architect John Eberson and the general contractor awaited delivery of the custom-built sign to Miami, the theater’s owners, Paramount Enterprises, anxiously hoped it would be secured in place before opening night. Once installed, the vertical electric display ranked among the largest and most striking theater signs in the South, perhaps even in the nation. This is the story of that immense electrical sign, erected in 1926 and ultimately removed two decades later in 1946.

Installation of Overhanging Sign in 1926

In early February 1926, the long-anticipated components for the exterior sign of the Olympia Theater finally arrived. Because of its extraordinary scale, the contractor charged with its installation had to carefully engineer how it would be secured to the structure. Weighing nearly two tons, the copper sign required anchoring directly into the building’s foundation to support its immense mass. Though monumental in size, it was thoughtfully designed so that its architectural lines complemented the detailing of the theater itself.

For nearly two weeks, curious onlookers lined Flagler Street to watch the installation unfold. When the work was completed on Wednesday, February 11, the city issued the permit for the towering electric display, 55 feet high and 10 feet wide, confirming that the theater’s exterior would be ready for its much-anticipated grand opening.

The sign was said to be the largest theater advertisement in Florida and the largest hanging sign in the South. Composed of 3,500 electric bulbs, it spelled out “Olympia” within a dynamic border of moving lights. Above the “O,” a heraldic crest rendered in colored illumination added a dramatic touch. The brilliant display served as a fittingly grand accessory to a building designed to house one of the region’s most lavish theaters.

Norden Sign Company

On May 1, 1926, the Miami Herald reported that Mortimer Norden, president of the Norden Sign Company, had arrived in Miami to inspect the massive electric sign his firm had designed and fabricated for the Olympia Theater. The company was well known for its association with Famous Players-Lasky, having produced several electric theater displays for the organization across the country.

Norden’s firm had already earned international recognition for its spectacular illuminated signage. Among its most notable projects was the sprawling “Covered Wagon” display erected in New York, London, and Paris. The company also created the enormous “Ten Commandments” sign on Broadway, measuring 200 feet long and 40 feet high at a cost of $57,000. At the time of the Herald’s report, the firm was constructing a sign for Keith’s Palace Theater that would briefly rank as the largest theater sign in the world during the 1920s.

Norden’s trip to Miami was not limited to reviewing the Olympia installation. He also conducted a site visit for the Capitol Theater on behalf of the Wolfson-Meyer Theater Company. Plans there called for a grand marquis stretching 100 feet across the façade, paired with a vertical sign rising 100 feet into the skyline, another bold statement in an era defined by theatrical spectacle.

On July 30, 1926, John D. Pike, superintendent for the Norden Sign Company, traveled to Miami to address concerns raised by the City of Miami Fire Department regarding the towering sign at the Olympia Theater. A storm earlier that month had caused the vertical structure to sway noticeably, prompting concern from the fire inspector.

After overseeing repairs, Pike assured city officials that the issue had been resolved. He explained that “the top piece has been fastened in place by a large iron band, which holds it rigid, and supporting cables are strung from both sides. The bottom support, of course, was always secure, amply supporting the weight of the sign, as it is a steel girder in the framework of the building.” With these reinforcements in place, Pike expressed confidence that the sign would withstand future storms.

What he could not have anticipated, however, was the generational hurricane that would put those assurances to the test. Just weeks later, in September 1926, one of the most powerful storms in South Florida’s history would bear down on Miami, challenging both the engineering of the sign and the resilience of the city itself.

Damaged During 1926 Hurricane

On September 17, 1926, Miami was struck by one of the most devastating hurricanes in United States history, the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926. According to the American Red Cross, 372 people lost their lives and more than 6,000 were injured in the greater Miami area. Officials estimated that over 4,700 homes across South Florida were destroyed, leaving approximately 25,000 residents without shelter in the storm’s aftermath.

The hurricane tore directly through the heart of downtown, inflicting heavy damage on buildings throughout the city’s core. Among the most dramatic losses at the Olympia Theater was the destruction of its 55-foot-tall electric vertical sign. One of the largest and heaviest signs in the city, it was ripped from the façade at the height of the storm and crashed to the pavement in sections. Debris from the massive structure scattered for nearly half a block along East Flagler Street, smashing storefront windows on Miami’s main commercial corridor.

In the immediate aftermath, police officers stood guard outside damaged shops where shattered glass had exposed valuable merchandise to the street. Much of the destruction was compounded not only by the impact of the falling steel and metal, but by wind-driven rain that poured through broken windows, streaming past sills and flooding interiors.

In the aftermath of the storm, theater management once again engaged the Norden Sign Company to construct and install a replica of the original vertical sign. Within a year, the restored beacon would once again rise above the Olympia’s façade, this time 63-foot in height, remaining in place until the Miami City Commission moved to regulate what it increasingly viewed as excessive and intrusive signage across the city.

City Ordinance in 1941

In the fall of 1941, the Miami City Planning Board urged the City Commission to adopt an ordinance regulating building-mounted signage. The board felt that there were too many signs affixed to buildings that were designed to overshadow competing interests, particularly in downtown Miami. Although many of these signs were permanently affixed to their buildings, they projected outward and, in numerous cases, contributed to a cluttered and unattractive streetscape.

The proposed measure, known as the Beautification Ordinance, underwent revisions after theater owners objected to its initial restrictions. In response, the final version allowed limited exceptions for signs rising vertically from a theater’s marquee. The City Commission approved the ordinance on Thursday, December 11, 1941.

The law applied retroactively, requiring any existing sign that violated its provisions to be removed within five years. It specifically prohibited vertical signs that formed part of a supporting structure or projected more than four feet from a building’s façade. Theater signs attached directly to a marquee were permitted, provided no additional signs were suspended from them.

Despite the carve-out for theaters, the vertical sign mounted on the northeast corner of the Olympia Building did not qualify for the exemption. Because it was detached from the theater’s marquee, it fell outside the ordinance’s allowance and became noncompliant upon the law’s enactment. As a result, the Olympia Theater’s management was given until July 11, 1945, to dismantle the prominent vertical sign.

Removal of Sign in 1946

A June 25, 1946, an article in the Miami Herald reported that George N. Hoover, manager of Paramount Enterprises, had signed a contract to dismantle the Olympia’s 63-foot electronic sign, still regarded at the time as the largest in Florida. Hoover acknowledged that the structure had to be removed by the July 11 deadline and announced that Hal Pereira, a New York architect associated with the Paramount organization, would arrive within two weeks to begin planning for its removal.

Hoover also outlined plans for a comprehensive redesign of the Olympia’s front façade, including the installation of a new and even larger built-in sign, likely referring to the marquee above the theater’s entrance. He characterized the proposed alterations as “major,” though he did not disclose an estimated cost.

Under the ordinance, property owners who failed to comply faced fines of up to $500. By mid-June 1946, approximately 90 percent of the nonconforming signs had already been taken down. The two most prominent remaining violations were the large signs atop the Olympia Theater and Richard’s department store.

On Sunday, July 7, 1946, workers temporarily closed a portion of Flagler Street as crews began dismantling the Olympia’s towering electric sign. As the 63-foot structure was lowered to the street by derrick, its upper section snapped loose and broke apart. Within a matter of hours, the 20-year-old landmark that had long defined the corner of East Second Avenue and Flagler Street was gone from the streetscape.

In its place, the Olympia undertook a redesign of the theater’s façade, enlarging the marquee above the main entrance to better promote current and upcoming attractions. Although today’s marquee differs from its mid-twentieth-century predecessor, it continues to illuminate Flagler Street, serving as a reminder to modern-day Miamians of more than a century of entertainment inside one of the city’s most iconic venues.

Related Resources:

• Article: Construction of Olympia Theater in 1925

• Article: Olympia Theater Grand Opening in 1926

• Podcast: Olympia Theater in Downtown Miami

• Article: Elvis Performs at Olympia Theater in 1956

Resources:

• Miami Herald: “Big Olympia Sign Hung”, February 12, 1926, page 17.

• Miami Herald: “Sign Executive Inspects Work”, May 1, 1926, page 9.

• Miami Herald: “Interesting Visitors”, July 30, 1926, page 12.

• Miami Herald: “Olympia Sign Blown Down”, September 20, page 3.

• Miami Herald: “Sign Up for Sign Ordinance”, December 7, 1941, page 31.

• Miami Daily News: “Signs Restricted by New Ordinance”, December 12, 1941, page 14.

• Miami Herald: “City Passes Law Sealing Fate of Signs”, December 12, 1941, page 25.

• Miami Daily News: “Ban on Signs to be Enforced”, June 19, 1946, page 15.

• Miami Herald: “20-Year Old Theater Sign To Come Down”, June 25, 1946, page 17.

• Miami Herald: “Sign of the Times”, July 8, 1946, page 13 (caption).

On March 1, 1969, the Doors performed at a packed Dinner Key Auditorium on a warm evening. The concert is best remembered for when the band's lead singer, Jim Morrison, allegedly exposed himself on stage leading to an early end to the concert when he was knocked off stage and ushered out of the audience by police. Later, after the band left Florida, law enforcement issued six warrants for his arrest for lewd and lascivious behavior.

OTD: March 3, 1845 - Florida Became a State

On March 3, 1845, Florida officially became a state. It was a territory from 1822 until being admitted as the 27th state of the union in 1845. Attached is the announcement of Florida’s statehood in the Philadelphia Public Ledger on March 4, 1845. Although the article indicates that Iowa was added as a state at the same time as Florida, the territory of Iowa was not officially given statehood until December 28, 1846, when it became the 29th state. Texas was admitted as the 28th state on December 29, 1845.

OTD: March 3, 1896 - John Sewell and his Workers Arrived in Miami

On March 3, 1896, John and EG Sewell, along with twelve laborers, arrived in what would later incorporate as the City of Miami to begin clearing the grounds for the Royal Palm Hotel. Click on the button below to read more.

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OTD: March 3, 2015 - Demolition of Miami Herald Building Completed

On March 3, 2015, the demolition of the Miami Herald building at One Herald Plaza in downtown Miami was completed. The building was constructed by the Knight brothers and opened in 1963. The Herald operated out of this building until 2013 when they moved to a smaller facility in Doral. The former newspaper edifice was sold to The Genting Group, a Malaysian casino operator, in 2011 for $236 million, a few years prior to when the new owners began demolition of the building with plans to erect and operate a casino on the property. Due to the inability to get approval for a gambling license, Genting sold the former footprint of the Herald building and the surrounding parking lot to SmartCity Miami for $1.225 billion in 2023.

OTD: March 4, 1898 - Mary Brickell Wins Land Case

On March 4, 1898, Mary Brickell won a land title case that included 640 acres of the Jonathon Lewis grant, which was roughly from today's SE 15th Road to Vizcaya, along Brickell Avenue, including an area known as the "Punch Bowl".

OTD: March 4, 1947 - First Presbyterian Church Leases Downtown Property

On March 4, 1947, First Presbyterian Church leased the southern parcel of their downtown property to the Joshua Corporation for a 99-year term and an annual rental of $27,500, which became the location of the Plaza Building at 245 SE First Street.

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OTD: March 6, 1933 - Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak Dies

On March 6, 1933, Anton Cermak, the Mayor of Chicago, died of complications from a wound he received in the assassination attempt of FDR in Bayfront Park just 19 days earlier.

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OTD: March 7, 1990 - Wayne Huizinga Buys 15% of the Miami Dolphins

On March 7, 1990, Wayne Huizenga, CEO of Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation, announced he purchased 15 percent of the NFL's Miami Dolphins and 50 percent of the Dolphins' home, Joe Robbie Stadium, from the family of team founder Joe Robbie, for an estimated $30 million. In 1994, Huizenga became the sole owner of the team in 1994 for $168 million after persuading the NFL to waive its ban on cross-ownership of teams in other leagues. Huizinga owned the Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers at the time he purchased the Dolphins.

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.

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This podcast episode recounts the story of the Olympia Theater as it marked the 100th anniversary of its grand opening in 1926. Built with extraordinary fanfare, the lavish and distinctive structure quickly became the crown jewel of Miami’s burgeoning entertainment district. The celebrated showplace debuted at the height of the vaudeville era, when live stage acts and silent films captivated audiences, and later adapted to the age of “talkies.” Motion pictures were enhanced by live musical accompaniment, whether from the orchestra in the pit or the majestic organ housed within its chamber.

The grand opening on February 18, 1926, unveiled architect John Eberson’s signature atmospheric design to an enthusiastic public. During the ceremony, the principals of Paramount Enterprises, a partnership between the Leach family and the Famous Players-Lasky organization that financed the project and later evolved into Paramount Pictures, were recognized for their vision. Prominent entertainers of the era and local leaders were also in attendance, lending star power to the debut of what was hailed as one of the most ornate and distinctive theaters in the nation.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about the Olympia Theater. You can download this episode on your favorite podcast platform (iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Spotify) or listen directly on the Miami-History website. Please remember to click on the subscribe button and to provide a rating and comment on any of the platforms where this podcast episode is available.

Related Content:

• Article: Construction of Olympia Theater in 1925

• Article: Olympia Theater Grand Opening in 1926

On February 22, 1819, Spain’s Minister to the United States, Don Luis de Onis, and Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, signed a treaty of cession of Florida to the United States. Florida became a territory until March 3, 1845, when it became the country’s twenty-seventh state.

OTD: February 22, 1917 - Remembering the Duke of Dade

Remembering Miami Pioneer, James Ewan, aka the Duke of Dade, on the anniversary of his passing on February 22, 1917. He was hired as the onsite manager of the Biscayne Bay Company’s real estate interest in South Florida, including the former Fort Dallas property. Learn more by clicking on the button below.

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OTD: February 22, 1926 - Fulford Speedway Only Race

On February 22, 1926, the first and only race took place at the recently completed Fulford-Miami Speedway in Fulford-on-the-Sea in North Dade County. The racetrack was financed by Carl Fisher, Miami Beach developer and co-founder of the Indianapolis 500, and managed by Ray Harroun, who was a retired race car driver who won the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. The racetrack hosted one race because the track was badly damaged by the 1926 Hurricane forcing the facility into foreclosure. Although the speedway cost $100,000 to construct, the grounds and remaining structure were sold for $10,000 in March 1927.

OTD: February 23, 1900 - Miami Board of Trade Founded

On February 23, 1900, the Miami Board of Trade was organized to help promote the young City of Miami. It later merged into the Miami Chamber of Commerce. The Board of Trade met on the second floor of the Miami Bank and Trust building on the corner of NE First Avenue and NE First Street in downtown Miami.

OTD: February 24, 1899 - Miami Telephone Company Began Service

On February 24, 1899, the Miami Telephone Company began service to the three year old City of Miami. The first switchboard operated out of the Red Cross Drugstore, located in the Townley Building, which was in downtown Miami at the corner of today’s Miami Avenue and SW First Street. Learn more by clicking on the button below.

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OTD: February 26, 1946 - Winston Churchill Receives Honorary Juris Doctorate from University of Miami

On February 26, 1946, Winston Churchill received an honorary juris doctorate degree from the University of Miami in a ceremony conducted at Roddy Burdine Stadium, which would later be renamed to the Orange Bowl. Read more about Churchill’s visit to South Florida in 1946 by clicking the button below.

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OTD: February 28, 1926 - Venetian Causeway Opens

On February 28, 1926, the Venetian Causeway formally opened in the afternoon. This causeway replaced the Collins Bridge, which was considered the longest wooden bridge in the USA at the time of its opening in 1913.

OTD: February 28, 1927 - Booker T. Washington High School Opened

On February 28, 1927, Booker T. Washington high school opened and became the first black high school in Dade County. The original school building was located at NW Sixth Court and NW Sixth Avenue until it was replaced in 1989 with a new edifice that was constructed next to the original structure. Click on the button below to read about the school’s founding.

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OTD: February 28, 1985 - Jose Marti Park was Dedicated

On January 28, 1985, Jose Marti Park, at 351 SW Fourth Avenue in Little Havana, was formally dedicated.

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.

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As the Olympia Building began welcoming its first office tenants in December 1925, work on the adjoining theater was behind schedule. The principals of Paramount Enterprises had envisioned a single grand opening for both the commercial tower and the theater, but unforeseen delays forced them to abandon that plan.

While businesses settled into their new offices, architect John Eberson supervised the intricate final phases of the auditorium and stage construction. By late January 1926, the theater’s interior and mezzanine were nearing completion. Yet one critical exterior element remained unfinished, preventing the Paramount team from announcing an official opening date. This is the story of the grand opening of the Olympia Theater and Office building on Thursday, February 18, 1926.

Theater’s Orchestra Conductor

As construction of the Olympia Theater neared completion in January 1926, the principals of Paramount Enterprises turned their attention to assembling the team that would operate the new venue. Harry Leach, general manager of the partnership between his family and the Famous Players-Lasky organization that built the theater, faced the task of recruiting stagehands, ushers, parlor attendants, concession workers, and, importantly, a conductor to lead the theater’s orchestra.

The Olympia was opening during the height of the silent film era, when motion pictures relied on live musical accompaniment rather than recorded dialogue. ‘Talkies’ would not arrive until October 1927 with the release of “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson. To heighten drama and provide a musical score, major metropolitan theaters like the Olympia featured full orchestras, while smaller regional houses often relied on a single organist to achieve a similar effect.

For this critical role, Paramount selected a familiar and seasoned conductor, E. Manuel Baer, to direct the 25-piece Olympia Theater Orchestra. Baer brought eight years of experience with Famous Players-Lasky, having conducted at New York City’s Rialto Theatre and Rivoli Theatre. He relocated to Miami in January 1926, quickly settling in and organizing auditions for instrumentalists and vocalists. While the finishing touches were being applied to the auditorium, stage, and orchestra pit, Baer conducted screen tests on the second floor of the adjoining office building.

Baer was very fond of Miami based on a couple of earlier trips to the Magic City prior to accepting the job with the Olympia. He embraced not only the opportunity to lead the Olympia’s orchestra but also the prospect of establishing a conservatory to train aspiring local musicians. During auditions, he made a concerted effort to recruit as many Miami-based performers as possible.

As work on the building continued, Baer finalized his orchestra and began rehearsals for opening night. By early February, management announced that the debut would be postponed until the third week of the month due to delays involving exterior signage deemed essential for the grand unveiling. Though the precise program for the evening had yet to be announced, the orchestra stood ready to make the occasion unforgettable.

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Though they were raised in the same household and bore the same surname, William II and Charles Brickell possessed strikingly different personalities. The men were the two oldest sons of William II and Mary Brickell. Charles was known as a polished, impeccably dressed gentleman who moved comfortably within Miami’s social elite. William III, by contrast, had a gruffer demeanor and preferred a quieter and more private approach. Unafraid to roll up his sleeves, he remained closely involved in the hands-on work of the projects he oversaw along Brickell Avenue.

The contrast in temperament fueled a fierce sibling rivalry. When Charles developed a portion of the family’s land into the upscale Brickell Apartments, William III was determined not to be overshadowed. He responded by constructing a larger and more elaborate building, named the Bulmer Apartments, directly across the street from the Brickell apartment complex. The competition between the brothers was so obvious that neighbors would later reflect on the Bulmer complex as a “spite wall” erected by William III to block the formerly unobstructed northern vistas from the observation deck on the rooftop of Charles’s signature apartment building.

William III Mansion on Brickell Avenue

William and Mary Brickell’s eldest son welcomed his first child in 1910. William III and his wife, Olive, named their daughter Mary in honor of the Brickell family matriarch. Eight years later, William III would pay tribute again, this time by giving his mother’s maiden name to a grand and elegant apartment building he developed.

The year his daughter was born also marked another family milestone. In 1910, William III and Olive constructed a stately family residence at 617 Brickell Avenue. The spacious, white, wood-frame home was set well back from the street, a common design choice along Brickell Avenue that provided privacy and a sense of quiet retreat.

Situated just south of Brickell Point, where William and his siblings had grown up, the house stood in a neighborhood that still felt more like wilderness than suburb. Despite its proximity to downtown Miami, the area remained scenic and tranquil at the time William II completed his home.

A year and a half later, the couple welcomed their second and only other child. William IV was born on October 29, 1911.

By 1918, as Armistice Day signaled the end of World War I, William III was ready for a new endeavor. Although his residence was more than sufficient for his family, his competitive spirit would not allow his brother to remain the only developer of apartments in the Brickell area, especially at a time when rental units were scarce and at a premium. Determined to rival and surpass Charles’s Brickell Apartments, William III set out to build a larger and more impressive apartment complex of his own.

The Bulmer Apartments

As World War I ended, the collective sacrifices of Americans gave way to a strong desire for change. Many Northerners began seeking warmer climates for the winter months, while soldiers who had trained in Miami returned with the intention of making the city their permanent home.

This wave of seasonal visitors and new residents created an urgent demand for housing. Recognizing the opportunity, Charles Brickell moved quickly in 1917 to construct the Brickell Apartments. Although the building was considered impressive, his brother William III was intent on developing something even more striking.

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