Everglades National Park Reference Library Page 2 Update/April 1977
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Update HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA VOL. 4 NO. 4 APRIL 1977 EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK REFERENCE LIBRARY PAGE 2 UPDATE/APRIL 1977 CONTENTS ANNUAL BENEFIT HELD OUR READERS 2 Annual Benefit Held AT THE KAMPONG W RITE at The Kampong Our Readers Write 3 The Woman’s Relief Association The HASF Annual Benefit propriately, grouped family My family arrived in Miami Margaret Pace Burton was held on April 16 at The village. Fairchild chose this in September, 1920. My 4 Sociedad Cuba Kampong, the historic home name because several father transferred in his posi Wright Langley of Mrs. Edward Sweeney and buildings were present when tion as a Letter Carrier from 5 A Home For The Working Girl 1877 in 1874 the former estate of the late he purchased the estate and the Bridgeport, Conn. post 6 The Housekeepers’ Club of Dr. David Fairchild. other small buildings were office to the Miami Post Of Coconut Grove This property was added later. fice. I was nine years old at the Gertrude M. Kent homesteaded in 1876 by J.W. After the hurricane in 1926, time. I visited the post office 8 Off the Beaten Path Ewan, the “Duke of Dade”, the original house was moved with my father as a small child Mary C. Napier 9 HASF Officers Selected who came to Miami in 1874 to back deeper into the lot and many times and stood in the 10 Early Charity Not So Sweet manage the property of the carefully repaired. The other work room pictured on the Thelma Peters Biscayne Bay Company. buildings were also carefully cover of the February issue of Seminole/Miccosukee Art Show Ewan owned the Ft. Dallas preserved; some transformed “Update” at approximately 11 I Remember the Red Cross When property prior to Julia Tuttle. into a study and lab and the time this picture was His two story house was a others maintained as guest taken. I later entered the temporary home to several cottages. The present house postal service in Miami in South Florida pioneers in is lovely and open with a stone 1929 leaving when drafted cluding Jack Peacock, Ralph archway into the court that into military service in COVER Munroe, who lived there frames the magnificent view February 1941. I found your briefly in 1881, and the Adam of well-manicured lawns, articles very interesting and Richards family. stately royal palms and commend you on the depth The Woman’s Relief Associa Captain and Mrs. Albion R. shimmering bay. and the manner in which you tion found the greatest need in Dr. Fairchild was widely obtained such authentic Miami was for a day nursery. C. Simmons purchased eight 1935. (Photo from the Woman’s acres of the bayfront land known among plant scientists background data by interview Relief Association Archives.) which is located at 4013 throughout the world. Seeds with those who took part in Douglas Road. Mrs. Simmons of strange plants came to him the postal service develop was Dr. Eleanor Galt Sim from all lands. He landscaped ment in the Miami area. Many mons, Coconut Groves’ The Kampong with a wide of them were my close per famous woman physician. variety of these seeds and sonal friends during my UPDATE The Simmons built a coral made it lush and verdant as it career as a postal clerk. I rock structure near the is today. He was responsible recently retired from the UPDATE, Bi-Monthly Pub bayshore, supposedly using for the organization of the postal service and returned lication of the Historical plans from the Encyclopedia Agriculture Department’s Of from twenty-four years of Association of Southern Bnfannica.Following a fire, fice of Plant Introduction in career service in Washington, Florida. the house was replaced by a Washington, D.C., and was in D.C. to make my home here 3280 South Miami Avenue, frame one. Simmons charge of it from 1904 to his in central Florida. Building B, Miami, Florida developed a thriving guava jel retirement and move to 33129. Phone: 854-3289. ly business on the estate. Coconut Grove in 1928. He Harold R. Ervin “The Jelly Factory” as it came introduced so many varieties Maitland, Florida to be known, was a long of tropical plants to South UPDATE BOARD: building still situated near the Florida which today are com Barbara E. Skigen main gate. The Captain mon in this area because of Editor shipped his products north him. The Fairchild name is MRS. MARGARET GILPIN and even as far as London. In perpetuated now in Fairchild Patsy West Margaret Beard Gilpin, a addition, his guava wine was Tropical Garden. Staff Artist long-time friend and benefac highly prized by local David Fairchild made The tor of The Historical Associa Rebecca Smith residents. Kampong the heart of his tion of Southern Florida died Robert C. Stafford The Kampong underwent family. It was a place of peace recently at her home in West Contributors considerable change when it amid the hustle and bustle Chester, Pennsylvania. was purchased by Dr. and that lies just outside its walls. Randy F. Nimnicht Her late husband, Vincent Dr. Thelma Peters Mrs. Fairchild. (Mrs. Fairchild The Kampong is truly a Gilpin was the author of The Dr. Charlton Tebeau was the daughter of Alex tribute to the climate, the Good Little Ship and co Editorial Consultants ander Graham Bell) plants, the people and all The K am pon g is a other things that helped bring authored The Commodore’s Samuel J. Boldrick Story with Ralph M. Munroe. Chairperson Japanese word for a group of David Fairchild and all of us to Publications Committee dwellings, or more ap Florida. UPDATE/APRIL 1977 PAGE 3 THE WOMAN’S RELIEF ASSOCIATION by Margaret Pace Burton In Miami’s early days a ed nurse who covered the city goal. The new home opened During the years between group of civic-minded men on foot or bicycle and went February 25, 1918. Later Dr. 1918 and 1923 the Associa and women formed the Relief from Ojus to Homestead. In Jones sold the Association tion had placed nineteen Society and about 1908 es 1911, the first Christmas and adjoining house and this children in homes for there tablished a small hospital, the baskets were filled and the Association turned into a was no adoption agency in Friendly Hospital, in a one- delivered to the needy homes. twelve-bed maternity home Miami and the Association story frame building on Miss Saidee Kolb, then living which was bedly needed in took on this service also. Biscayne Boulevard at on Fifth Street, kept clothing the community until Jackson Civic organizations and Northeast Eighth Street. The to be distributed by the nurse. Memorial Hospital establish merchants began to discuss a project got off to a fumbling Miss Kolb later served as ed a maternity ward. In the Community Chest in 1924 as start and was soon sur president for many years and two and a half years the a means of raising funds to rendered to the City of Miami assist those in need. The and became the City Association agreed to Hospital. The women of the become a member. As the Relief Society withdrew from Community Chest led to the it and in 1911 organized the United Fund and then to the Woman’s Relief Association United Way the Nursery with 260 members. Their con worked closely with each stitution and by-laws were agency. drawn up with the help of Mrs. Helen M. Spitzer, Judge Henry F. Atkinson. widow of William H. Spitzer, Their purpose was to help one of the founders of the women of the community. First National Bank of Miami, Mrs. John Sewell was the willed a part of her estate to first president. Also serving the Woman’s Relief Associa with Mrs. Sewell on the Board tion. This was placed in trust of Directors were: Mrs. P.T. Miss Saidee Kolb (left), and Mrs. Johnson Pace served terms as with the interest to be used by president of the Woman’s Relief Association. Miss Kolb was a founding Skaggs, Mrs. Frank Pepper, the Association for its pro member. Pace Park, a City of Miami park along the bayfront north of Mrs. Charles Brickell, Mrs. the Omni Complex honors Mrs. Pace. (Photos from HASF Collection jects. Frank B. Shutts and Mrs. and Margaret Pace Burton.) In 1941 Mrs. Charles Sul- Isador Cohen. Women from zner, a long-time resident of was then elected president Association ran the maternity the various Protestant Miami, purchased the Z.T. emeritus. home, they cared for 238 Churches were appointed Merritt home in the 100 block As Miami grew, the original maternity cases, at the same chairmen as well as Mrs. Gus of N.E. Forty-First Street for City Hospital gave way to a time maintaining the day Muller of the Catholic Church the use of the Association. new one which later became nursery next door, all with no and Mrs. Cohen representing The Merritt family had come Jackson Memorial Hospital aid from either the City or the the Synagogue. but the new hospital had no County. Mr. James Deering to Miami from Kentucky In 1921 the Woman’s Relief maternity ward at first nor did became interested in their about 1891 and Mr. Z.T. Association was incorporated Merritt had been superinten the City hire a city nurse so work and donated $1,000 by Judge H. Pierre Branning. the Woman’s Relief Associa toward it. Dr. P.T. Skaggs dent of Dade County schools Requesting the charter were tion continued to provide a and Dr.