Newsletter #1…May 2007
Key
Biscayne Historical and Heritage Society, Inc.
(click
here for the latest)
1st Meeting
Our 1st organizational meeting was held
on April 11th. in the Community Room of the Administration Bldg.
It was well attended with about 50 members
and guests.
Ed Meyer kicked off
the meeting, referring to all attendees as “historians and “contributors.
” The agenda covered the origins of KBHS
and Mission Statement… Our colorful past history and the opportunity to
“Make History”…
The organizational process…Committees…Newsletter
Grants & Fund Raising…Community Outreach…
and work to do by our “contributors.”
A labor of love, of course…Dr. Bob Maggs gave an update covering our organizational
process,
including filing for tax-exempt status,
expected by year’s end. And grant and fund raising possibilities. Dr. Maggs
also briefed the
group on what’s coming up in the near
future.
Bob Bristol, as always,
did a great job of displaying historical photos, along with a tape that
ran on TV-getting a
lot of interest from attendees. Questions
and comments covered the desire to reach out to the younger members of
our
community, the valuable historical resources
offered by members, and, of course, asking for more information on our
next steps.
We’re now involved in putting together
our seven committees. A ballot will be mailed to vote for officers, to
be returned by June 10,
with an installation scheduled for June
20th in the Community Room. Members total 121 and we look forward
to an exciting, fun filled,
coming year…
121 Members strong …
We’ve become a force to be reckoned with,
or so it seems. And most of our members have selected committees with –
35
on the History and Heritage Committee
and 21 choosing Arts, Culture, and Special Events. Our seven committees
should get
underway this summer (see Committee News).
All members joining in ‘07 are “Charter Members.” We have doctors, lawyers,
accountants, curators, librarians, artists,
authors, PhD’s, students, real estate moguls, urban renewal consultants,
architects, developers,
mayors, council members, civic leaders,
business Tycoons and entrepreneurs. Even adventurous wreck divers.
KBHHS Community Outreach…
Celebrating Incorporation Day June 18, 1991
Because of time constraints, we were looking
for a significant, but easy-to-do event. We found one. Armando, the Public
Works Director,
is going to transplant the Silver Buttonwood
Tree on the swale in front of Winn-Dixie to the Lake Park across the street.
This old tree,
with its twisting trunk, has great character.
The trunk and limbs look like distinctive Hawser ropes twisting together
- symbolic of the
nationalities that make up our community.
So, we thought it should be appropriately christened “ The Incorporation
Tree.” And once the tree is
at its new location, the History &
Heritage Committee can name it that, recognize the historic importance
of Key Biscayne’s Incorporation.
Think of it as having “the roots of our
history…”
Yearning for the Calusa Playhouse… Again…
Wonderful memories. What great times we
had in this little theater – now more than 15 years ago. Four productions
a year,
among them…“The Wizard of OZ”, ”Mr.Scrooge”,
”Annie”, ”Catch 22”, ”Chicago”, Dracula.” “Born Yesterday”, “Witness
for the Prosecution”,
”Philadelphia Story.” The list goes on
and on. Some of the old “spotlight gang” are still around today, but, alas,
slowly fading away. We had
so much fun. The Playhouse was not only
a Dade Historic Building (only the lighthouse is older on the Key), but
a community institution with
an attendance of over 2,000 yearly. Why,
even the famed author James A. Michener came to the performance of
“You Can’t Take it With You.” Think
of it, with some effort, and County deal making, it could be brought back
somehow…couldn’t it?
Otherwise, the bleak skeleton of this
Historic Building lies decaying in the weeds – along with our memories.
Maybe it’s a
courageous job for our Arts & Culture
Committee? After all, our Village is not complete without a playhouse.
Is it?
Memorial Day, May 28, 2007
This is always a great and, at times, very
emotional patriotic event, given by Key Biscayne’s American Legion and
its
Auxiliary. Many members of our community
have served, or are serving now, in the Armed Forces of United States of
America.
And, incidentally, 40,000 are non-citizens,
most proudly serving as a way to help achieve their U.S. citizenship.
Speeches will be given, poems read, and
historical stories told. As always, the Memorial Day ceremony will be held
on
the Village Green at the Flags and Memorial
location near Crandon. Please come and join us…you’ll always remember it.
A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words”
The 1926 Hurricane
The 1926 Hurricane hit Key Biscayne Sept.
17-18, lasting an exhausting 17 hours. With waves over 10 ft., ocean water
flooding inland to 5 ft., and winds howling
at 125 mph up to 200. Luckily, only one person was injured - but only a
big white rooster
and small brown hen survived out of a
flock of 200. The Island was clobbered by three hurricanes in 1926.
After the big September storm, the Matheson’s
decided to build a combination boarding house and reinforced shelter for
refuge
during threatening hurricanes. This “safe
house” was put well away from the ocean and was constructed on over fifty-two
pilings made of Australian Pine, driven
down as far as they would go. Each with a steel collar,capped by concrete,
and
reinforced with steel rods that were attached
to the building’s rafters. This small building, constructed of Dade County
Pine
was built to stay, and it was eventually
used as a schoolhouse, church, and what remains today as the Calusa Playhouse.
Still holding its own, but, sadly giving
in to the elements and decaying away...
Story based on, “My Island
Home,” by William Evans Thomas.
The Oldest Lighthouse in Florida
It’s light flickered on for the first time
in 1825…Towering 95 feet, the Cape Florida Lighthouse has been a part of
history for
almost 200 years. Signaling ships on a
collision course with the treacherous Great FloridaReef, six miles offshore…Guiding
runaway slaves escaping to freedom in
the 800 islands of the Bahamas…Target of Seminole Indian rampage… Quietly
overlooking Confederates trying to outwit
Union sailors in control of the seas below…And serving as a beacon for
rum-runners
and lookout tower for scoundrels and reef
salvagers. Maybe, terrible Pirates, too.
The origins of the lighthouse began in
1822; the year Florida became a U.S. Territory. By the end of 1824, Congress
had approved a whopping $24,000 to build
it - and another $225 for three acres of land.
Samuel Lincoln of Boston was hired to
build it, but was, presumed, lost at sea on his way to Key Biscayne. Noah
Humphries took it over and the red brick
construction proceeded quickly, but only to 65 feet. Finished on December
17, 1825,
its light beamed every three seconds out
across the Great Reef and Gulf Stream.
This story will be continued
in the next Newsletter…
Nixon Rang the Bell…
Signaling the end of the Vietnam War, right
here on Key Biscayne. This “historic bell” is in back-lot storage at
Saint Agnes. Assume the story to be true.
Thursday Morning’s Troika
Every Thursday morning at 9:15 am the “Executive
Committee” meets to work on moving the KBHHS ahead in its
organizational process. It’s interesting
work, but rather intensive as we bounce off each other with ideas, counter
proposals,
and musings. A unique blend of skills
in the “Founders”, as they are called. Trying hard to hang onto the
reins of 125
members anxious to get going… Well, anyway,
it’s a very nice office environment.
Committee News
There are seven committees - the cogwheels
moving the KBHHS forward. They are “History & Heritage” (35 members),
“Arts, Culture, and Special Events” (21),
“Business & Finance” (7), “Grants, Fund Raising & Endowments” (11),
“Membership” (5), ”Communications, Community
Outreach and Coordination” (16), and the special “Nomination Committee”
(6).
Of course the numbers could change and
all are in the process of being put together. A demanding workload trying
to determine
likely Chairs and Co-chairs, and pinning
down member agreements to serve and contribute. This should be firmed up
within 30 days
and you’ll be contacted, if you haven’t
been already. Then the organizational meetings will start to take place.
Stay tuned.
Ballot for Officers and Board Members
Be sure and return your mailed Ballot
(Officers & Board Members for the coming year) by June 10th. Installation
is
June 20th in the Community Room located
on the ground floor of the Administration Bldg., 7pm sharp.
Our parting thought until the
next Pelican flies in…
Remember, “Without Some Rain,
There Can Be No Rainbows”….
_______________________________________________________________________________
This prototype Newsletter has been rushed into production to capitalize
on our 1st meeting, as well as including some other things that could be
of interest.
No KBHS funds were used in its production. Any comments, compliments,
complaints, or corrections should be e-mailed
to our address KBHSmeyer@aol.com.
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on the Key
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