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 | Hello MPNOD member,
Here is a fresh update from the Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade Historical Society
website: mpnod.org • Facebook: facebook.com/MPNOD/ |
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Please Note Our Change Of Day and Venue |
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MPNOD monthly meetings now take place at the Pinecrest Branch Library, adjacent to Pinecrest Gardens on the second Saturday of each month at 2pm.
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| The address is 5835 SW 111th St, Pinecrest, FL 33156. The phone is 305-668-4571. When you enter the library, keep to the right to find the community meeting room. |
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Save The Date - Saturday, May 14 at 2pmOur May 2022 Meeting at 2pm will take place at the Pinecrest Branch Library in person, as well as on Zoom for those joining online. |
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Let's gather at the library for another meeting of Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade members and friends. |
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| Invite a friend who enjoys local history to join our meeting. It's always fun to share your appreciation for local history with a friend, family member or neighbor. |
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Saturday, May 14 at 2pmGaston Drake and Princeton |
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| The Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade historical society invites one and all to attend a monthly meeting on Saturday, May 14 at the Pinecrest Branch Library at 2pm to hear guest speaker Daniel Patrick O'Connell give a presentation on an influential pioneer of South Florida -- Gaston Drake. |
|  | Miami Pioneer Gaston Drake (1871-1955) was born in his maternal grandparents' mansion in St. Louis, brought to the family orange groves in Yalaha on Lake Harris as an infant and educated at Princeton University. He came to Miami at the turn of the 20th century, and for over 50 years was a fixture in the Magic City's business and social life.
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His Drake Produce company shipped fresh fruits and vegetables north. He raised money from his Princeton classmates and created Drake Lumber, based in Princeton -- the town in South Dade he named after his alma mater. Drake Lumber was a major supplier of timber for Henry Flagler's Over-Sea Extension to Key West and John Collins' wooden bridge that connected Miami Beach with Miami.
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Drake was one of Miami's first commuters, traveling every week on the Florida East Coast Railway from his Buena Vista home on Biscayne Bay to the lumber mills in Princeton.
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Gaston and his wife Mary frequently appeared in Miami's newspapers (Miami Herald publisher Frank Shutts and his bride stayed with Gaston and Mary when the newlyweds first came to Miami), and the Drakes were guests at the opening of James Deering's Vizcaya in 1916.
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After the mills closed in Princeton, Drake moved his mill to Kelsey City in Palm Beach County, partnered with Marcus Milam in a hardware business, drilled for oil at 40-Mile Bend on the Tamiami Trail and worked briefly as a Prohibition agent in Miami.
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| When he was 83, he shot his last wild turkey on the Drake family ranch in central Florida, and when he died, the Miami Herald editorialized, "Gaston Drake was a pioneer of pioneers. This great metropolitan area grew out of the living and the vision of such men... His name looms large in the history of Dade county." |
| | | | Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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Topic: MPNOD - May 14 - Miami Pioneer Gaston Drake by Pat O'Connell
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2022
Time: 2pm Eastern Time
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Meeting ID: 862 0636 7119
Passcode: history |
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The Elia Cafe at Pinecrest Gardens| A note about refreshments: it's been a tradition for The Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade members to share snacks and refreshments after meetings with social interaction. That's become a challenge, so we're recommending that friends gather next door to the Pinecrest library at the Elia Cafe for coffee and a snack or ice cream before or after the meeting. |
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 | 5855 SW 111 Street
Pinecrest Community Center
305-639-8286
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Next to the Pinecrest Library, the Elia Cafe offers "fresh food made with Greek tendencies" featuring a delightful selection of wraps and sandwiches, salads, spreads, healthy bowls, pizza, Greek pies, delicious desserts (baklava) and pastries, as well as breakfast favorites.
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The fresh coffee, cappuccino and fruit smoothies are especially good.
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| If your schedule permits, you may wish to arrive early to enjoy a snack, a sandwich or a quick bite before the 2pm meeting on Saturday. |
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Do you have the latest version of Zoom installed? |
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Here's a link to help you get started with Zoom and to stay up to date with the latest version.
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Edward EnglishMay 2, 1929 - April 17, 2022 Edward W. English was a long-time member of the Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade historical society. He enjoyed leading the group in the singing of God Bless America at the opening of the monthly meetings for many years. He served a term as president and served as a member of the board for decades.
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| Ed was born in Grand Rapids Michigan on May 2nd, 1929 but soon became a life long resident of Coral Gables, FL. He graduated from Ponce De Leon High School in 1947, then enlisted in the United States Air force from 1949 through 1950 where he was honorably discharged. Edward went on to earn his BA from the University of Miami on 1953, then finished seminary at the University of the South (Sewanee) in 1955. |
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Edward was a staple at St Philips Episcopal church where he was a Deacon and an active member of the choir. Edward and his wife Janet enjoyed being poll workers during election time along with volunteering together at Montgomery Gardens. In recent years Edward was appointed as the chaplain for the American Legion Post 98. Edward truly enjoyed the work he did there as it embodied two important areas of his life which were God and Country.
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Edward is survived by his wife of over 40 years Janet (Stanley-Johnson) English and children Edward English II, Howard English, Michael English (wife Karin), Erica Willey (husband Jack), Vassna Faraldo (husband Alex), Jeffrey Johnson, Kimberlee (husband Marcus) Dodson.
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Edward is also survived by his grandchildren Rachel English, Hunter English, Jenna English, Michael English, Hannah Willey, Sarah Willey, Jesus (Chuchi) Rodriguez, Maggie Dodson, Jeremy Dodson, and Emilee Dodson.
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| A service for Edward was held on May 2nd, 2022 at 6pm at St Philip's Episcopal Church in Coral Gables. The reception was held onsite the church campus at Swanee Hall immediately following the service. |
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 | Did You Miss A Meeting?| View and share some of our previously recorded Zoom interacting online historic programs on YouTube. Use this link to visit the page with all recorded programs. |
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 | Membership Is Open To All| Join our historical society and support our monthly programs for only $20 a year. Use the Membership Application online, or request one in the mail from our treasurer. |
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| We accept online payments via Pay Pal or credit card, or mail your check made to MP/NOD to our Treasurer: |
Marlene B. Carlin
MP/NOD Treasurer
14900 SW 71 Ave.
Miami, FL 33158 |
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 | $20 Membership Dues |  |
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| A Big Thank You! To all our paid members, and to all the new members joining. Your contributions to support our programs and services to the community are greatly appreciated. |
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| The Miami Pioneers is Dade County’s legacy historical organization, originally founded in 1936 by prominent pioneer settlers and business leaders who arrived in Miami before the year 1900. The Natives of Dade was incorporated in 1986 by a group of local history enthusiasts born in Dade County. The groups merged on July 8, 2002. |
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| Miami Pioneers and
Natives of Dade Historical Society |
PO Box 144353
Coral Gables, FL 33114-4353 |
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