Week in History: April 09 - 16
Events that occurred during the week of April 9th through April 16th in South Florida's history.
OTD: April 9, 1924 - Replacement SW Second Avenue Bridge
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.
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.
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.
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.