FEATURE
50 Years of Saving Places
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“WE STARTED OUT DOING GRUNT WORK,” help save the historic Douglas Entrance in Coral Gables, says Villager Dolly MacIntyre. “I remember being on which was going to be torn down to make room for a top of a 12-foot ladder with Spic ’n Span running down grocery store. Determined not to let that happen, a group my arms while I scrubbed the ceiling of the kitchen at of local architects started an effort to save the landmark, Vizcaya.” A charter member who has been active ever and eventually pooled their money with engineers, since, MacIntyre has the best organizational knowledge designers and landscape architects to buy the property. of the group and is a walking, talking, history record of “Initially, some of the wives got together and formed a Miami-Dade. group to help save and restore the building,” MacIntyre Founded in 1966, The Villagers is Miami-Dade County’s says. “Once the project was successfully completed, we oldest historic preservation organization. The hands-on, all looked around at one another and said, ‘Now what?’ We grassroots, all volunteer group was originally formed to then decided to help Vizcaya and the Biltmore.”
38 MARCH 2016 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM
The historic Deering Estate. Top Right: Preserving 6âV>Þ>°"««ÃÌi«>}i\- ivwi` iÃÃiiÕ] Sylver Penney and Dolly MacIntyre.
PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | MARCH 2016 39 The rest, as they say, is history. it to accommodate a modern family and still maintain There is hardly a public landmark in the area has not historic charm. been touched in some way by The Villagers, who have “Being in The Villagers is a great way to get to know given more than $1 million to 60-plus local organizations Miami,” Bessellieu continues. “Even when you are born to fund preservation projects and college scholarships for here, there is so much you don’t know. The meetings the study of historic preservation. are fun, always in different locations, and tours are in There was a gradual transition as the group began different neighborhoods. You really learn about the offering tours of homes and gardens and raising larger history of Miami and our signifi cant sites.” sums of money. “We soon realized we were better at “And friendship,” MacIntyre adds, is another raising money to fund expert renovation than wielding wonderful benefi t. “I value the lifelong friends I have paintbrushes and screwdrivers ourselves,” MacIntyre made through The Villagers.” refl ects. Penney, 21, who will soon graduate from FIU with a Today, she has seen the group grow to more than 220 degree in political science, echoes her grandmother’s men and women in a variety of membership categories. sentiments: “Friendships are very important, and I look The newest category of associate membership has helped up to my grandmother’s friends,” she says. “I’ve been attract younger members like her daughter Sheffi eld away from Miami for seven years and it felt natural to Bessellieu and her granddaughter Sylver Penney. join. Being back, it’s neat to learn more about Miami’s “I was defi nitely impacted by growing up around history. There is still a lot for me to learn.” history,” Bessellieu reminisces. “Mom was always Many people don’t know Dade Heritage Trust was volunteering us kids. I remember working at the Historic started by The Villagers in 1972. As members like Hunt, stationed at the Jockey Club handing out small MacIntyre became more involved and participated in jockey statues so participants could prove they found the preservation conferences on a regional and national right clue.” level, they looked for ways to extend their mission. But MacIntyre and The Villagers’ infl uence was MacIntyre chaired Dade Heritage Trust for its fi rst more than just legacy membership in the volunteer three years and remains active. Members were also group. Bessellieu has an online vintage clothing store infl uential during the establishment of the Florida Trust and rehabs historic properties with her engineer on a state level. husband. “My thing is the 1920s,” she says. “I love to “The Villagers and their success stories are an work on a property, decide what to keep, and restore inspiration in many ways,” says Christine Rupp,
40 MARCH 2016 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM A SAMPLING OF SIGNIFICANT
Opposite page: The Villagers Executive Board PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE VILLAGERS: Below: The Douglas Entrance Actors’ Playhouse: Restoration marque and wood paneling The Alamo/Jackson Memorial Hospital: Restoration work to list on National Register of Historic Places Anderson’s Corner: Work to gain listing on National Register of Historic Places The Barnacle: Boathouse restoration and furnishings Biltmore Hotel: Country club building and fountain Cape Florida Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage: Restoration of museum and theater Carrollton School/El Jardin: Restoration of center courtyard Coral Gables Congregational Church: Lightening protection system Coral Gables Library: Refurbishment of Merrick family furniture Coral Gables Woman’s Club: General restoration building and fountain Curtiss Mansion, Miami Springs: Restoration of entrance gates Dade County Courthouse: Lobby restoration and lighting in Courtroom 6-1 Deering Estate: General restoration and preservation internship Douglas Entrance: Ballrooms and tower, general restoration and awareness executive director of Dade Heritage Trust. Funded Fairchild Tropical “Without their countywide reach and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: Museum generosity for local preservation projects, Hampton House Motel, seed money to restore the depth of Greater Miami’s architectural Hampton House Trust: building heritage would not be what it is today. The Adaptive reuse of limestone barn and Dr. Fairchild’s fact they have accomplished so much as a The Kampong: study grassroots organization with staying power and Restoration of porches and furnishings political power is a testament to the group’s Merrick House: Air-conditioning passion, strategy, community outreach and Miami Springs Woman’s Club: Restoration and air-conditioning of follow-through. When you have that kind of Montgomery Botanical Center: historic residence organizational strength, anything is possible.” Olympia Theater at Gusman Center: Restoration of classical statues, The Villagers don’t plan to rest on their light fi xtures laurels. Preservation efforts never stop. Many Revitalization join MacIntyre in envisioning a future with Overtown: Restoration of the former Parrot Jungle entrance greater advocacy and even more leadership Pinecrest Gardens: One of the gardens incorporates the pool Maintenance and historic marker training for an elected offi ce. Pinewood Cemetery: and stone decking into the design and landscaping. Property MacIntyre feels her greatest contribution, Plymouth Congregational Church/Old Schoolhouse: repairs and displays and that of The Villagers, has been helping Brought elevators to code to qualify for to develop an “ethic of preservation.” “New Scottish Rite Temple: governmental grants members may not have been preservationists Funded replica of marquee when they joined, but they soon are,” she Seminole Theatre: Instillation of historical obelisks explains. “And they expose their families and South Miami/Cambridge Lawns: Documentation and friends, just like I did with mine. Like a pebble Tropical Audubon Society/Audubon House: historic designation in a pond, it’s a ripple effect, spreading the Restoration legacy of preservation.” Williams Jennings Bryan Museums Magnet Elementary: of auditorium The Villagers fund their projects with a Restoration of windows, ADA variety of annual events such as their popular Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove: compliance December Holiday House Tour, Spring Garden Restoration of Casino on the Mound, fl agpoles, statuary and Tour, Historic Hunt and special publications Vizcaya: Hammock Walk such as the “Gardens of Miami” coffee-table book, available soon. Next up: The Villagers To honor the community during their 50th year, The Villagers are Garden Tour, which will be held on Saturday, donating $100,000 to fund programs focusing on the preservation of March 5. buildings, culture and student enrichment. The fi ve anniversary grant For more details about membership recipients are: Barry University, The Barnacle, the Biscayne Park opportunities and the 50-year history of The Foundation, the 1916 Redland Farm Life School and Vizcaya. Villagers, visit: thevillagersinc.org. Q
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