Week in History: March 14 - 19
Events that occurred during the week of March 14th through March 19th in South Florida's history.
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.
OTD: March 15, 1896 - Ground breaking for the Royal Palm Hotel
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.
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.
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.
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.