|  | Hello friends,
Here is a fresh update from the Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade Historical Society
website: mpnod.org • Facebook: facebook.com/MPNOD/ |
| | | a special invitation to all our friends in South Florida historical organizations... |
| December 9th at the Museum| If anyone needs a ride to the meeting, please let Seth know. |
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| A Holiday Celebration with Friends | Please mark your calendars for Sunday, December 9th at 2pm, for our Holiday Party at the Coral Gables Museum.
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| The Miami Pioneers, the Natives of Dade and the Miami Memorabilia Collectors Club will host a pot luck celebration and feast to celebrate the holiday season. |
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| All our friends in South Florida historical organizations are welcome to join the celebration and social time.
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We ask that each member bring a covered dish or a “pot luck” item or just a simple snack. In order to properly coordinate the get-together, please contact Phil Spool, our food coordinator, to let him know what you are bringing. Email Phil at pgspool@bellsouth.net
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Phil and Loucee will provide a wonderful baked turkey for the meeting. We'll be adding addition tables in the back of the room for refreshments so there is plenty of room for all the wonderful items brought by members and friends.
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| You're welcome to bring family and friends along. If you can't bring some food or drink to the event, you can make a $10 donation to help cover costs. |
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| |  | | We enjoyed a terrific November meeting for the Miami Pioneers and Natives of Dade, along with Miami Memorabilia Collectors Club, at the Gables Museum. |
Thanks to all members for help and assistance in making the location transition a good bit smoother than I thought it might be. Rob, Mary, Ed English and past Presidents Jim Hartnett and Caesar Philips are all very appreciative of the help we received from so many of our members. Frankly, “Couldn’t uh done it without you!”
Have a wonderful, happy and safe Thanksgiving. Stay well. We’re looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, December 9th at 2pm at the museum.
With all good wishes... |
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| | Remembering Our Miami Pioneer Charter Members |
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|  | Miami Pioneers Charter Member: J. E. Lummus | by Miami Pioneer Historian Darlene Crum
additional information provided by Seth Bramson |
| John Edgar Lummus was one of the original 14 charter members of the Miami Pioneers historical society.
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J. E. Lummus was born in 1867 in Marion County, Florida. A civil engineer, he arrived in Miami to fulfill a contract with the Florida East Coast Railway in connection with building the extension to Miami. After moving to Miami, he and his brother, James Newton Lummus opened a dry goods (now known as a department store) often referred to as "Miami's first store."
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A great civic booster, he served as mayor of what would shortly become "The Magic City" from 1901 till 1903.
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The Lummus brothers played a prominent role in the development of the Miami Beach, which was first incorporated as a town in 1915. The "birth" of Miami Beach is inextricably tied in with J. E. and J. N. among other notable historic figures.
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In 1912 the brothers purchased 605 acres of swamp land from what would become Lincoln Road south to Government Cut on the south end. The development of the mangrove sandbar island on the east side of Biscayne Bay, eventually in concert with John S. Collins, Thomas J. Pancoast and Carl G. Fisher, would lead to the use of several names for what would become Miami Beach, including "Ocean Beach," "Alton Beach" and "East Miami."
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In concert with Avery Smith and Jim Warr, who owned and operated Smith's Casino on the south end of the beach, the Lummus brothers operated small passenger boats from the foot of 12th Street (later Flagler Street) across Biscayne Bay to a pier on the west side of the beach for visitors. The ticket price was five cents each way.
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It is certainly both inspirational and historically important to know that those men saw promise in the early years of the development of Miami Beach. They clearly foresaw the possibilities of a resort city and ably assisted each other financially to keep the dream alive.
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J. E. Lummus became president of the Bank of Bay Biscayne while J. N. would become president of Southern Bank and Trust Co.
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J. E. had an impeccable reputation and with his tremendous energy and perseverance, was diligent about completing every task he undertook.
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An honest and hard working man, he eventually retired from banking and partnered with his brother in "The Ocean Beach Reality Company," which built Lummus Park for public use in 1909 on the Miami side.
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Today Historic Lummus Park, named for the brothers, is located at 404 N.W. Third Street in Miami.
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In addition, J. E. and his brother turned over the beachfront on the Miami Beach side which today runs from 4th St. and Ocean Drive to 14th Terrace to the town for an extremely modest price, a very small down payment and only a few thousand dollars a year for twenty years. It was possibly the best deal that any municipality has ever made.
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| Although J. E. died in 1955 his legacy lives on through his only living grandnephew, Walter Metz, who lives in Boynton Beach and is a close friend of our Club president, Seth Bramson. |
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| |  | | As always, let's share the love of local history with family and friends. Bring a friend, a neighbor or a family member to the next meeting. |
| |  | Your officers and board of directors are always eager to hear your suggestions, comments and feedback on matters of importance to you.
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| | Volunteer| Every member is encouraged to contribute to the historical society by serving on the board of directors, helping with refreshments, the telephone and mail committees, programs and more. Let us know how you can help. |
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 | | Corresponding Secretary Mary Pyle leads the telephone committee, along with Pat Ware and Janet English. Please share your thoughts and feedback with them when they call. If you have any questions about the telephone committee, contact Mary via email: mary.pyle@att.net |
| |  | | After our meetings, our group traditionally enjoys refreshments and social time. If you’re able to contribute to this effort, please bring some small snacks, fresh fruit, cookies, brownies, chips and dip, or a similar item that you’d like to share with your friends. |
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| | | Miami Pioneers and
Natives of Dade Historical Society |
PO Box 144353
Coral Gables, FL 33114-4353 |
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