The Barnacle

Update VVJ.XX THE BARNACLE Ih h i m i m h h h h ] j|)HIUtHHtMIH| HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA VOL. 4, NO. 5 JUNE 1977 PAGE 2 UPDATE/JUNE 1977 CONTENTS THE COMMODORE by Arva Moore Parks 2 The Commodore Arva Moore Parks Ralph Middleton Munroe Ralph Munroe spent many Remembering the healing 4 Growing Up At The Barnacle took great pride in the ac- boyhood summers in Con warmth of the tropical fron Patty Munroe Catlow as told to complishments of his cord visiting his grandfather tier of South Florida, Munroe Jean C. Taylor ancestors. His fourth great William Munroe who en sold his business and took his 7 Ned Beasley and Coconut wife to Biscayne Bay. This Grove grandfather, William Munroe, couraged his natural artistic Arva Moore Parks owned the Munroe Tavem in and mechanical talents. would not be a happy journey. 9 The BBYC and The Barnacle Lexington, Massachusetts William Munroe was a friend Soon after their departure, William M. Straight, M.D. that is now a Revolutionary of Emerson and the other their daughter, Edith, who 10 The Good Ship Micco War museum. William “Concord Wits” and a had been left with her grand Arva Moore Parks Munroe’s son, Jedediah was member of the prestigious mother became ill and died. 11 Book Reviews killed in the Battle of Lex “Social Circle.” Ralph was Poor Eva fared no better. She 12 Wirth Munroe and The Comanche. ington and Jedediah’s son greatly influenced by these died at their camp on the Daniel married the daughter people and their philosophy Miami River on April 2, 1882 of Revolutionary War hero of self-reliance, the love of and was buried nearby. Jonathan Parker. Their son nature and devotion to the Cast adrift by this dramatic COVER William moved to Concord, simple life. change in his life’s direction, Massachusetts where he The young Ralph was sent Munroe soon lost interest in bacame the first manufac away to school to receive the The Barnacle, Ralph Middle his northern affairs. He wrote ton Munroe’s Coconut Grove turer of lead pencils in the Un proper education for a young to Charles Peacock, whom he home , as it appears today. ited States. man of his station. It was not a had met while in South Ralph Munroe’s father, happy experience, however, Florida, and suggested that Thomas Munroe, was bom in because as he wrote “it was he build a hotel south of the Concord and married Lon not pickled in brine and for Miami River in what is now UPDATE doner Ellen Middleton, that time to this the sea and Coconut Grove, so visitors daughter of Ralph Middleton, those about it claimed much would have a place to stay. UPDATE, Copyright, June, a wealthy manufacturer and of my attention.” When Munroe arrived in late 1977, by the Historical Associa ship owner. After living in In order to please his fami 1882, the “Bay View House”, tion of Southern Florida. ly, Munroe pursued several UPDATE is published bi London for several years, which was located in what is monthly by the Historical Thomas and Ellen Munroe traditional business ventures now Peacock Park was Association of Southern Florida. returned to New York where but spent all his spare time almost completed. All rights reserved. Reprint of Ralph was bom in 1851. The sailing and eventually design materials is encouraged following After that Munroe returned family soon moved to Staten ing sailboats as a hobby. In the obtaining of written permis to South Florida each winter sion from the Association. Com Island where young Ralph 1877 he jumped at achance to and brought many of his munications should be addressed spent many happy hours come to South Florida, after to The Editor, Update, Historical northern friends with him. In watching ships pass in the hearing stories told by a Association of Southern Florida, 1889 he built a boat house on 3280 South Miami Avenue, Narrows. “wrecker”, Ned Pent, who Building B, Miami, Florida 33129. was visiting in New York. property he had purchased The Association does not assume Arva Moore Parks is a former from John Frow and made responsibility for statements of This, plus a chance meeting president of HASF. She is the with William Brickell, made the decision to “cast his lot” fact or opinions made by con author of The Forgotten Fron tributors. permanently with South tier, to be published this fall. Munroe anxious to visit this “legend haunted” unknown Florida. sailor’s paradise. Munroe was interested in The authors and editors Munroe fell in love with everything — especially the UPDATE BOARD: wish to thank the members Biscayne Bay but returned to new world he found in the of the Munroe family for New York after a brief visit. In tropics. Unlike many other Barbara E. Skigen their cooperation in mak 1879 he married Eva Hewitt, pioneers he was not in Editor ing this issue possible. We built an octagonal house for terested in what it might Dr. lone S. Wright are most grateful for their her on the waterfront at become, but in what it was at Chairperson generous assistance, Great Kills, and embarked on that moment. He wanted to Publications Committee guidance and suggestions. a successful oyster planting share his discoveries with Samuel F. Boldrick The treasured anecdotes, business. He planned to others. In 1883 he brought a Dorothy J. Fields memories and photo spend the rest of his life at camera with him and cap Randy F. Nimnicht graphs they share with us Great Kills with his wife and tured forever the beauty of Arva Moore Parks all serve to enlarge and new daughter who was bom the virgin wilderness he loved. Dr. Thelma Peters enhance our appreciation in 1881, until tragedy struck These “views” as Rebecca Smith and understanding of and changed his plans. Eva photographs were called in Robert C. Stafford Miami’s beginnings. Munroe contracted tuber that day, were more than a Jean C. Taylor V ______________________________ y culosis. priceless historical record, UPDATE/JUNE 1977 PAGE 3 they were artistically com island-builders as “slick a the ground, the four comer nomically profitable. Of all posed and demonstrated his gang of gentlemanly appear rooms were built around an his passions and interests, considerable skill as a ing scoundrels as ever walked octagonal center room, which making money was not one of photographer — at a time the earth.” was the dining room. The them. One of his few when amateur photography He also stopped a plan to center room was open to an successful ventures was itself was blazing new fron build a series of bridges con attic and the peak of which Camp Biscayne that he open tiers. In 1884 he captured and necting the islands that are was a glass clerestory which ed in 1903 as a haven for those killed a huge 14 and a half foot now a part of the Biscayne opened on the south and east who shared his ideas about crocodile at Arch Creek, sent National Monument. He coin to pick up the prevailing the wilderness. He operated it its skin to the American ed the term “safety-valve” in South Florida winds. The until the 1920’s when due to Museum of Natural History in referring to these openings in front and sides of the house his advancing age, he found it New York (where it still the bay. This name still were covered with a wide difficult to continue. He reluc hangs) and wrote up his fin appears on today’s charts. veranda. He was so pleased tantly sold the thirteen acre dings in a scientific publica tract in order to give his family tion, documenting the ex financial security. istence of crocodiles in North After that he retreated America. He became the more and more into the Bar friend of botanist Charles nacle which he was now more Sargent and together they than ever determined to discovered the first known preserve as it was. Driven by Royal Palm growing in the a desire to document the Era wild near Little River. It too of the Bay before the railroad, made the scientific journals. he began working on his Munroe tried to discover a book, The Commodore’s way to make a living that Story, co-authored by Vin would not hurt the environ cent Gilpin, which was ment. He experimented with published in 1933 when he “sponge culture” and tried to was seventy-nine years old. get the State Legislature to support his study. In 1891, he Ralph Munroe was a helped Charles Richard singular individual. He died RALPH MIDDLETON MUNROE Dodge from the U.S. Depart August 20, 1933 at age 82, ment of Agriculture in his He was fascinated by the with his design that in 1908 fifty-six years after he first saw study of sisal growing in tropic climate. He never miss when he needed to enlarge his the bay. While often con South Florida. As early as ed an opportunity to tell new house to accommodate his troversial and frequently mis 1890 he tried to get the U.S. comers that hurricanes must growing children, Patty and understood he was cited in his Government and the State of be taken seriously. In July, Wirth, who were bom after obituary as “among the most Florida to study the fish of 1926, he wrote of a small his marriage to Jessie Wirth in honored and highly esteemed Biscayne Bay and pushed for hurricane “made to order for 1895, he jacked the entire citizens of Dade County.” protective legislation to save me blowing just enough house up on stilts and built a He left his mark on the the then plentiful green turtle.

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