Week in History: July 8 - 14

Events that occurred during the week of July 8th through the 15th in South Florida's history.

OTD: July 9, 1912 - First Plat Filed on Miami Beach

Figure 1: Composite of Lummus brothers along with an aerial of Miami Beach in 1915. James E. Lummus is on the right, and John N. Lummus is on the right. Courtesy of Casey M. Piket.

On July 9, 1912, the Lummus brothers filed the first plat to develop land on Miami Beach. The brothers founded the Ocean Beach Realty Company which was the entity that filed that first plat on the future Miami Beach. The Town of Miami beach was incorporated on March 26, 1915, and James N. Lummus was elected the town’s first mayor (1915 - 1918). Two years later, on May 1, 1917, the town reincorporated as the City of Miami Beach.

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Format Change for Miami History Digest

Figure 2: Miami skyline in the 1920s. Courtesy of Miami-Dade Public Library, Romer Collection. Photographer was Richard B. Hoit.

If you have been a subscriber to the Miami History Digest for a while, you may notice a slight change to the layout and format of not only the e-mail, but also to the overall website. This change has been explained in a post describing the change and the reasons for the change.

If you are interested in learning more about this change, click on the ‘Read More’ button below.

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OTD: July 10, 1896 - Call for Assembly to Incorporate Miami

Figure 3: The Lobby pool hall where incorporation proceedings occurred on July 28, 1896. Courtesy of Florida State Archives.

On July 10, 1896, the Miami Metropolis called all eligible parties to an assembly scheduled for July 28 for selecting officers and organizing a municipal government. This was the beginning of the process to incorporate of the city of Miami. The notice went on to state that the vote would take place at "the room over the 'The Lobby' which is situated on Avenue D".

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OTD: July 10, 1896 - Miami Metropolis Reports Change of Management for Hotel Miami

Figure 4: The excerpt from the Miami Metropolis on July 10, 1896, and a group of hotel guests on the patio of Hotel Miami in 1896. Courtesy of the Miami News and Florida State Archives.

On July 10, 1896, it was reported in the Miami Metropolis that Salem Graham became the proprietor of The Hotel Miami, taking over title and development from the Tuttle family. Salem Graham opened the first land based hostelry in 1896 in a house leased from William Brickell.

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OTD: July 10, 1972 - Democratic National Convention Began on Miami Beach

Figure 5: First day of the Democratic National Convention at the Miami Beach Convention Center on July 10, 1972.

On July 10, 1972 the Democratic National Convention began at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Miami Beach. The convention took place over four days where George McGovern became the nominee for the party.

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OTD: July 11, 1979 - Shooting at the Dadeland Mall

Figure 6: Headline in the Miami News on July 12, 1979. Courtesy of the Miami News Archive.

On July 11, 1979, the Dadeland Mall shooting began the Cocaine Cowboy era in Miami.

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OTD: July 11, 1991 - Remembering WTVJ Legend Ralph Renick

Figure 7: Ralph Renick moderating a debate between Senator Estes Kefauver and Florida Governor Fuller Warren on May 6, 1952. Courtesy of Casey M. Piket.

Remembering television pioneer Ralph Renick on the anniversary of his death. Renick was the face of WTVJ from 1949 until he left the station in 1985.

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OTD: July 12, 1921 - City of Miami Held a Special Election to Re-charter

Figure 8: Front page of the Miami Metropolis on Thursday, July 28, 1921, showcasing the first Miami City Commission.

On July 12, 1921, the City of Miami held a special election following the ratification of a new city charter which was organized to be governed by five elected commissioners. The results of the polling led to Miami's first city commission which was known as the 'bankers commission' given that all five commissioners were banking executives in addition to becoming city commissioners.

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OTD: July 13, 1927 - Illegal Contraband Seized

Figure 9: Headline in the Miami Daily News on July 13, 1927, along with a seizure of rum during Prohibition. Courtesy of the Miami News Archive and Sally Jing for photo.

On July 13, 1927, a Miami Daily News headline reported that a seizure of $250,000 in illegal contraband was poured into the gulfstream as part of a crackdown during prohibition.