Miami History Podcast

Brickells in Australia Mar 12, 2021

The name Brickell has become synonymous with the upscale financial district located on the southside of the Miami River. However, long before the name became a brand for an important quarter near downtown Miami, it was the surname of a prominent family that settled southside when the area was a sparsely populated outpost and long before it became what it is today.

Those who are familiar with the story of the Brickell family may know their role in the formation of the city of Miami but may not be familiar with their story prior to arriving in Miami. It was a serendipitous journey to Australia that led William Brickell into great wealth, but also led him to find his wife. While Mary and Bill Brickell met and married in Australia, it was ultimately their journey to the wilderness along the Miami River that cast the family in a leading role in the formation of the Magic City.

Greater Miami During WWII Feb 14, 2021

This podcast episode describes the transformation of the greater Miami area after the United States entered World War II. The area became the training facility for the armed forces. Downtown Miami was converted into the southern command and training facility for the Navy, and Miami Beach became the training grounds for the Army Air Corp. The focus of the entire metropolitan area was the war effort.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Wynwood’s Little San Juan Jun 28, 2020

The conclusion of World War II marked a time period of hope and change for America. The return of soldiers from fighting in two theaters of war triggered rapid change throughout the country, but particularly in South Florida. That was especially true for the Wynwood neighborhood, located in the heart of the City of Miami.

When the Martinez family relocated to Wynwood in 1945, it began a trend that transformed the neighborhood. Other Puerto Rican families began to identify Wynwood as a place to build a common bond based on similar customs and culture. In this episode of the Miami History Podcast, David Martinez shares his memories of living in Miami during his formative years. This is the story of Little San Juan in the Wynwood neighborhood from 1945 – 1957.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Pioneer Aviator Hugh Robinson Apr 26, 2020

When Hugh Robinson met Glenn Curtiss, it was more than just a chance meeting. It was the beginning of a friendship and partnership that had a lasting impact on early aviation. Curtiss was the visionary and Robinson was the engineer who brought Curtiss’ vision to life. The innovations and advancements made by these two men were consequential and lasting.

In addition to their contributions to aviation, both men contributed to the development of South Florida as well. Curtiss was a very wealthy man when he arrived in South Florida and co-founded the cities of Miami Springs, Hialeah and Opa Locka. Robinson joined Curtiss the in the creation and development of the city of Opa Locka.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Short History of Silver Bluff Apr 05, 2020

Platted in 1911 and incorporated in 1921, the town of Silver Bluff was independent for a short period of time. It was one of several municipalities that was annexed by the city of Miami in 1925. Nestled between the Miami’s original southern boundary and the town of Coconut Grove, Silver Bluff was named for the bluff, located along the eastern edge of the quarter, that appears silver when touched by morning sunlight.

Although the community was split on the decision to become part of the city of Miami in 1925, it has maintained a character all its own since the annexation. It is still a single-family residential community and hopes to maintain its charm from its days as a town (1921 – 1925).

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

George Merrick & Coral Gables Mar 15, 2020

Coral Gables was more than just a master planned development erected during the building boom of the 1920s, it was where its founder, George Merrick, found the perfect intersection of poetry and progress. Merrick was both a pragmatist and a dreamer. He studied the City Beautiful movement very closely to the point where he envisioned Coral Gables before the first shovel was planted in the ground of the family plantation. He even nicknamed his new municipality “The City Beautiful” after the movement he studied.

George was an eternal optimist who was not deterred after the devastation of the 1926 Hurricane. While this great storm may have ended the dreams of many of the land speculators who converged on Miami in the 1920s, Merrick kept building. However, he wasn’t able to overcome the setback presented by the stock market crash of 1929.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Super Bowls Hosted in South Florida Jan 25, 2020

As Miami prepares to host Super Bowl LIV, this podcast episode will reflect on the ten prior Super Bowls played in Miami. While this year’s Super Bowl will be the sixth hosted at Joe Robbie, now called Hard Rock, stadium, five of the first ten Super Bowls were played at the iconic Orange Bowl. The games featured a repeat champion, an unlikely upset, a last-minute victory and a rematch of two storied franchises.

Once the Super Bowl moved to Miami Gardens for the next five games hosted in South Florida, there were plenty of intriguing story lines that surrounded the games. One of the Super Bowl LIV opponents, the San Francisco 49ers, were featured in the first two games hosted at Joe Robbie Stadium. The third championship hosted in Miami Gardens featured a story book ending to a Hall of Fame career for John Elway. The last two contests pitted Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts against the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints respectively.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

El Jardin in Coconut Grove Dec 28, 2019

Once part of Coconut Grove’s Millionaire Row, El Jardin was originally the home of Pittsburgh industrialist John Bindley. The mansion was later used as a corporate retreat for the Cities Services Corporation, later renamed Citgo, and then finally the campus of the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart beginning in 1961. The residence was designed by renowned architect Pittsburgh-based Richard Kiehnel, principal of the firm Kiehnel and Elliott.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about EL Jardin and the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart. Below are additional resources and articles that tell the story of El Jardin and its different uses from its construction in 1918 until present day.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Annexation of 1925 Nov 11, 2019

The annexation of towns and unincorporated areas of Dade County was a growth strategy for the City of Miami in both 1913 and 1925. The city took advantage of a Florida law in 1905 that changed how annexations would proceed in the state. The 1913 annexation extended the northern and western borders without much incidence.

However, the annexation in 1925, which included the municipalities of Coconut Grove, Silver Bluff, Allapattah, Little River, Buena Vista and Lemon City, was met with reluctance from two of the listed towns. A slight majority of Silver Bluff residents voted for the annexation while most Coconut Grove citizens were strongly opposed. To this day, a lot of the long-time Grovites still feel that they were annexed against their will.

Tune into this week’s podcast episode to hear more about the annexations of 1913 and 1925 and how the Florida state law impacted the results of both special elections. You can access the episode on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud and the Miami-History Blog site (www.miami-history.com/podcasts).

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Pine Tree Drive on Miami Beach Oct 29, 2019

Pine Tree Drive on Miami Beach has been the focus of both city officials and preservationists in recent months. The Australian Pines planted in the median of this thoroughfare served an agricultural purpose long before they provided shade and aesthetics for a busy street on the beach. Originally planted by John Collins, one of the founders of Miami Beach, the trees represent a public safety concern given their age and shallow root system.

Australian Pines are not indigenous to Florida and typically has a lifespan much shorter than the trees that anchor the median on Pine Tree Drive. While they served the purpose of protecting Collin’s crops in the early part of the last century and have provided much needed shade to the road that was designed to incorporate the trees, there is a lot of talk of removing the whole lot given the public safety concern.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Munroes of Coconut Grove Oct 01, 2019

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. Both were close friends but not related to Ralph. 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.

Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com

Downtown Theaters in Mid-Century Miami Sep 01, 2019

In the middle decades of the last century, Miami featured a vibrant downtown that served as the center of activity for daily life for residents of the growing metropolitan area. The central business district was a hub for shopping, dining and entertainment. Although only a few remain, the theaters of downtown Miami were a big part of this core of activity.

The theater district included Flagler Street and the adjacent area and featured theaters from three of the largest theater chains in the country. The Paramount movie studio built and operated the Olympia, Paramount and Florida theaters. Wometco constructed and ran the Capitol, Miami and Town theaters, while the Claughton chain operated the embassy and royal theaters.

Miami History Blog

Miami History Channel

History of Miami News Freedom Tower Jul 01, 2019

The latest episode of the Miami History Podcast will tell the story of the Miami Daily News and the building that it occupied from 1925 until 1957, when the newspaper relocated to a new building near the Miami River. The tower was vacant for nearly five years when it was given a second life. From 1962 until 1974 it became the Ellis Island for newly arriving Cuban refugees.

During its time as the processing and welcome center for Cubans, it was renamed Freedom Tower. The building provided healthcare services and food for the immigrants that were arriving with not much more than the clothing on their backs. Many arriving Cubans fondly remember the reception and services they received at the Freedom Tower.

Miami History Blog

Miami History Channel

History of Fort Dallas Park Jun 02, 2019

This podcast episode features historic Fort Dallas Park in downtown Miami. Once the core of Julia Tuttle’s estate on the north bank of the Miami River, it became a fine upscale residential area following her death. Harry Tuttle, Julia’s only son, platted out property that spanned from NE First Avenue to South Miami Avenue from east to west, and the river to midway between SE Third and SE Second Street from south to north. There were many one to two-story single-family homes in this downtown subdivision of downtown Miami.

Miami History Blog

Miami History Channel

Meetup: Brickell Family & Neighborhood

History of Coconut Grove & Hotel Mutiny

History of Miami City Cemetery May 26, 2019

This podcast episode features the story of the Miami City Cemetery. Aside from a city’s history museum, there may not be a better way to learn about an area’s past than a walk through its oldest cemetery. The city cemetery on NE Second Avenue certainly tells the story of early Miami.

Miami’s signature graveyard has interred many of the city’s most important pioneers. From railroad men who were dispatched by Henry Flagler to the Miami River to develop the north bank, to opportunists that crafted their legacy during the early years of the city, many of Miami’s founders and contributors are buried in the city cemetery.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

History of the Wynwood Neighborhood Apr 29, 2019

The Wynwood neighborhood has received a lot of attention over the last couple of decades. However, its history is more than a hundred years. The neighborhood was originally named Wyndwood Park. Later the name would drop the park from the name and the ‘D’ from the spelling of Wynwood.

The area was mostly occupied by working class residents. It featured companies such as the Coca Cola bottling plant, as well as, the American Bakeries. Northwest Fifth Avenue developed into a garment district.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

History of Miami River – Part 2 of 2 Feb 24, 2019

The second part of the history of the Miami River describes the evolution of the river from the mid-1800s through modern times. Prior to the Brickells arriving to the area, the big cash crop in the area was the cultivation and processing of the cyad plant, known as Coontie. It was one of the few industries that provided trade for the area.

After the Tuttles and Brickells came to an agreement with Henry Flagler, the river changed dramatically. The news of Flagler extending his railway to what would become the city of Miami attracted a lot of new people. The first port of Miami was setup along the north bank of the river near today’s Miami Avenue as a result of the influx of civilization to a once desolate paradise.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

History of Miami River – Part 1 of 2 Feb 09, 2019

The Miami River is the serpentine tributary that separates downtown Miami from today’s Brickell neighborhood. The history of the area has centered around this waterway as the regions earliest inhabitants found refuge, food and security along the banks of the river. Juan Ponce De Leon named the indigenous people found along the river as “Tequesta” during a voyage on Biscayne Bay in 1513.

The river was also the location of several Spanish missions, a military fort, a blockade by the navy during the Civil War and a trading post run by the Brickell family along the south bank. The rapids located near the south fork of the river became a processing plant for Miami’s early cash crop: coontie.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Sports in Miami During the Art Deco Age Jan 27, 2019

Sports have been a big part of Miami’s entertainment fabric from the very beginning. In the first couple of decades baseball games were played at Royal Palm Park which was adjacent to the Royal Palm Hotel. Given the access to the ocean, fishing tournaments were a big draw, particularly for conventioneers who traveled to Miami during the winter months.

The Art Deco Age began in the late 1920s and lasted until the start of World War II. During this era, football became more popular and games played at Moore Park and Roddy Burdine Stadium, later renamed to the Orange Bowl, were very well attended and anticipated with great excitement. Dog and horse tracks, golf courses and tennis facilities were built to offer tourists a variety of sporting options during this timeframe.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Perricones in Brickell Jan 06, 2019

As Steve Perricone prepares to move his namesake Brickell restaurant and marketplace to a new location, he sat down for an interview with the Miami History Podcast to share his personal story and what led him to Brickell.

Steve began his career as a party promoter in New York. Circumstances led him into the restaurant business and his early ventures provided valuable lessons that he now applies to his successful business in Miami. His journey to South Florida did not begin in Brickell but began with a restaurant concept called Stefanos on Washington Avenue on Miami Beach.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 17 Dec 31, 2018

As December approached in the year of 1896, the recently incorporated city of Miami was winding down a very eventful year. The extension of the FEC Railway to the banks of the Miami River was completed, construction of Flagler’s Royal Palm Hotel was nearing completion and the residents of the new city were preparing for their very first Christmas.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 16 Dec 22, 2018

This podcast episode features the structures that held the distinction of being the tallest buildings in Miami from 1912 through the present. From the time that Roddy Burdine decided to build the five-story retail and office building until the recent completion of the Panorama Tower, Miami has had several buildings that have held the distinction being considered Miami’s tallest edifice.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 15 Nov 12, 2018

This podcast episode discusses the history of a unique street in downtown Miami that was given the nickname of Short Street by early Miami pioneers. Its formal name was originally Avenue A, but given its span of only two-blocks, it was much shorter than the other avenues that were laid out during the incorporation of the city of Miami.

Short Street was the centerpiece of Miami’s first upscale residential area. Many early Miami pioneers built fine homes along the avenue and adjacent streets. However, by the mid-1910s, the area around Short Street began a slow conversion to a hotel and commercial center. The homes began to disappear slowly over time and the once prominent residential street was forgotten.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 14 Nov 03, 2018

This podcast episode features Miami’s Ball & Chain. Within the confines of Little Havana stands an institution that has lived a couple of lives. Within the walls of a building that was constructed in 1930 is an entertainment venue that provides libations, live music and dancing in the heart of the Tamiami Trail.

In its first incarnation, the night spot provided live music and dancing beginning in the 1935. By the late 1940s, the entertainment lineup included live Jazz and burlesque shows. When Henry and Ray Miller bought the establishment in the early 1950s, they began booking well-known black entertainers such as Count Basie and Billie Holliday, and a very talented but troubled white entertainer by the name of Chet Baker.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 13 Sep 30, 2018

This podcast episode will tell the story of Little Havana. Prior to the neighborhood taking a new name in the 1960s, it was known as two different neighborhoods. The Riverside neighborhood was located north of SW Eighth Street and was created by a lot of different developers during the first half of the Twentieth Century. The Shenandoah neighborhood developed south of SW Eighth Street and was named for its resemblance to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

Everything changed after Castro took over Cuba in 1959. Refugees migrated into Miami and ultimately settled into the area around the Tower Theater. Many of the institutions in the old neighborhood evolved with the changing demographics. Beginning in the 1970s, many other Spanish speaking people from Central American began to migrate into Little Havana as well.

Miami History Podcast - Episode 12 Sep 23, 2018

This podcast episode features the history of Coconut Grove. From its inception, ‘The Grove’ was a place that attracted characters and developed on its own terms. Long before Henry Flagler decided to extend his railway to the banks of the Miami River, Coconut Grove was an active community that was much larger than what would become the core of downtown Miami.

The community attracted counts, authors, painters and anyone who appreciated the organic and pristine beauty of South Florida before the extension of the railway. Through the Twentieth Century, it never lost its beatnik vibe. Although it has been area that has changed a lot in the last couple of building booms, ‘The Grove’ still maintains its own charm and identity that so many South Florida residents find appealing.

Miami History Podcast - Episode 11 Sep 08, 2018

This podcast episode features the father of Miami Beach, Carl Fisher and one of his most notable hotels. Carl Fisher was a serial entrepreneur who made his fortune marketing technology to provide headlamps for early automobiles. After he and his partner, James Allison, sold Prest-O-Lite to Union Carbide, Fisher was in search for his next project.

As fate would work its magic, Fisher ended up “retiring” in Miami at home he bought sight unseen in Miami’s upscale Southside neighborhood. Southside is now referred to as the Brickell neighborhood. After meeting John Collins and agreeing to help him finish a wooden bridge to an unnamed barrier island, Fisher found his next project. Fisher was given land on the island as part of the agreement with Collins.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 10 Aug 26, 2018

This podcast episode features Miami’s first luxury hotel. As part of his agreement with Julia Tuttle, Henry Flagler built the Royal Palm Hotel on the north bank of the Miami River in an area that became downtown a few decades later. Shortly after the signing of the agreement between Tuttle and Flagler, Joseph A. McDonald and John Sewell got to work to build the iconic hotel.

The structure was a five-story, wood-frame building with an observation tower at the top and a wrap-around veranda on the first level. The hotel was painted in the customary Flagler yellow. For the better part of thirty-three years, the place was the focal point of social activities and celebrity sightings during the winter months. During the summer, local-residents got to enjoy the pool attached to the hotel.

Miami History Podcast - Episode 9 Aug 20, 2018

This podcast episode focuses on Miami’s pioneer physician. Dr. James Jackson was the son of a doctor who grew up in Bronson, Florida. Although his father wanted him to manage the family orange grove business, James wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps as a doctor.

He got his medical degree from Bellevue Hospital in New York City and joined his father to practice medicine back in Bronson. However, the freezes of 1894 completely changed his fate when he had to leave Bronson to continue practicing medicine. A chance meeting with an FEC executive led to a job offer in what would become Miami.

Miami History Podcast - Episode 8 Jul 29, 2018

The eighth episode of the Miami History Podcast discusses the Burdine family and their namesake store. Opportunity brought William Burdine and his family to Miami in 1898. Having heard about the influx of soldiers deployed to Camp Miami during the Spanish American War, William dispatched his son, John, to the two-year old Magic City.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Provide feedback to casey@sfwebnet.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 7 Jul 08, 2018

The seventh episode of the Miami History Podcast discusses the history of Bayfront Park. Built with bay bottom fill in the mid-1920s, the park has been the front porch of the City of Miami since it opened in 1925. It has been a location for many of Miami's most notable events for large gatherings. While it has been considered for conversion from a park to other uses, it has remained the most important green space in downtown Miami.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Provide feedback to casey@sfwebnet.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 6 Jun 24, 2018

The sixth episode of the Miami History Podcast features the story of the iconic Orange Bowl. Long before it was known as the “Orange Bowl” it was a baseball stadium on land provided by the Tatum Brothers. During the early 1930s, several prominent Miami pioneers came up with the idea to have the city host a New Year’s Day football game. In the game’s third year, the same committee of men facilitated the move to what become the Orange Bowl’s permanent home.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Provide feedback to casey@sfwebnet.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 5 Jun 17, 2018

The fifth episode of the Miami History Podcast continues the story of the Brickell family. Part two discusses the Brickell family’s impact on Miami from the turn of the twentieth century to modern day.

Following the death of Bill Brickell in 1908, Mary Brickell assumed the role as leader of the family business. While she was a tough business woman, she was considerably more tactful than her late husband. During her time managing the family’s real estate affairs, Mary sold tracts of land to Miami pioneers and industrial giants alike.

She began a project near and dear to her heart when she platted and sold lots in The Roads neighborhood. However, prior to the completion of the project, Mary passed away. Her daughter Maude and other surviving family members ensured the project got completed.

While there are no known Brickell descendants in the Miami area today, and while there are no family constructed buildings that remain standing, the family legacy is very enduring. Brickell is as much a brand as it is a family surname. The brand is internationally known and property in the neighborhood is always in high demand. This podcast episode concludes with Dr. Paul George discussing the impact of the Brickell family on the development of Miami after more than one hundred forty-eight years after their arrival to the banks of the Miami River.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Provide feedback to casey@sfwebnet.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 4 Jun 10, 2018

The fourth episode of the Miami History Podcast begins the story of the Brickell family. This is a two-part series explains what brought the family to the banks of the Miami River and their impact on the development of the City of Miami. William Brickell was considered a soldier of fortune who traveled the world to find his fortune. During his travels, he met his wife Mary Bulmer. By the time the couple arrived in South Florida, they had six children and added two more after settling along the south bank of the Miami River. The family ran a trading post while accumulating land around South Florida. Listen to part-one of this two-part series to understand what brought the family to the banks of the Miami River and how the family built their land empire when the area was merely a scarcely populated frontier.

Miami History Channel: www.miamihistorychannel.com Miami History Blog: www.miami-history.com

Provide feedback to casey@sfwebnet.com

Miami History Podcast - Episode 3 Jun 02, 2018

The third episode of the Miami History Podcast features the story of Julia Tuttle. She is considered by most the “Mother of Miami”. Although she was unable to cast a vote for the incorporation of the city on July 28. 1896, there was no bigger catalyst for the founding and development of Miami.

Julia was a young woman when she first visited the banks of the Miami River. From the moment that she saw the pristine beauty of the area, she began to envision what it could become. Long before she convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railway and invest in the city, she articulated her dream of the area becoming a “great southern city”.

Although she died only two years after incorporation, she did see the beginning of her vision for Miami. She passed away in September of 1898 and was one of the first interred into the Miami City Cemetery. Please click play to learn more about this fascinating woman.

Miami History Podcast - Episode 2 May 29, 2018

The second installment of the Miami History Podcast continues the story of Henry Flagler's journey through Florida. The hosts discuss Flagler's negotiation with Julia Tuttle and the Brickells. In addition, the podcast tells the story of Flagler's Oversea Railway that terminated in Key West in 1912.

Miami HIstory Podcast - Episode 1 May 17, 2018

The first several episodes of the Miami History Podcast will feature stories of the founders of the City of Miami. The first two episodes will feature Henry Flagler, considered the "Father of Miami".

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