Miami in the Immediate Aftermath of Incorporation

Paul S. George, Ph.D
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In this essay, we will pick up from a couple of columns ago to explore what it was like in the hours, days and weeks after Miami became an incorporated entity in July 1896.

We have already discussed railroad baron Henry M. Flagler’s congratulatory telegram to Joseph A. McDonald, who was overseeing the incorporation meeting for the Flagler interests.  Clearly, the elections had gone Flagler’s way, with his slate of candidates gaining office.

The weekly edition of the Miami Metropolis appeared soon after the incorporation meeting.  The journal, which possessed a strong Flagler slant, expressed delight with the results of the meeting, noting it “was remarkable in many respects, for the large number of votes polled, for its unruffled harmony and for the expeditious manner in which all business was handled.  What other city in the State of Florida ever sprung into existence with a list of 400 registered voters, and its meeting for the purpose of incorporating polled 344 vote?”

The Metropolis reminded its readers that “the site of the present city was a tract of uncleared, wild land less than six months ago, and that the railroad only reached here on April 15th (sic).  Miami has made a most marvelous growth in the past few months. May she continue to grow with the same rapidity for many more to come.”

The Metropolis also informed readers that “It was the sincere desire of a majority of the voters at the city election last Tuesday to vote for the name of Flagler for the new city, but when it was ascertained that such a course was strongly objected to by Mr. Flagler, everybody was willing to respect his wish.  This sentiment was so strong that the name of Miami was adopted.”

The new city had, thusly, been launched.  In the eventful period following incorporation, the city began to fill in the gaps, providing for many critical municipal services.  For instance, at the end of July 1896, the businessmen of the city employed a night watchman (a police official) “until such time as the city places policemen upon the streets at night.”

Since the nascent city did not possess even a rudimentary fire fighting force, its business community, in late July, placed barrels of water at short distances “all over the business center in the rear of the buildings.”  Moreover, “buckets (were) purchased and ladders will be provided.”  Additionally, city leaders made arrangements with Joseph McDonald for the use of the water hose at the Royal Palm Hotel as well as for the pressure furnished by the water tank that now sat near Avenue D and on the north bank of the Miami River and hovered over portions of the community.

Work continued to progress on Flagler’s grand Royal Palm Hotel, which was rising a couple of blocks east of the city’s most important street, Avenue D, today’s South Miami Avenue. The building’s five story eastern side was completed by the beginning of August 1896.  The hostelry’s distinctive mansard roof, popularized in Paris and other cities in France and Europe of that era, was already in place.  The main cornice was also completed by then and ready for plastering.  Observing the progress of the Royal Palm Hotel, the journal of the Florida Farmers and Fruit Growers announced that “Unless some unforeseen (sic) or serious obstacles arise to interfere with the work, the building will be finished by January 1st.”

In the next installment of this history column, we will explore further the early days following the incorporation of the City of Miami in 1896.

 

Paul S. George, Ph.D., serves as Resident Historian, HistoryMiami Museum.  He conducts history tours throughout the county and even beyond for HistoryMiami. Additionally, he teaches classes in Miami/S. Florida and Florida history for the Museum. Dr. George has also led, since 2002, tours of Little Havana as part of Viernes Culturales, a monthly celebration, held every third Friday, of the culture and history of that quarter. The tours are open to all and are free!


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