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(Photo credit: R. Benitez)
A group of Coral Gables movers, shakers and Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables society members gathered on a stormy Tuesday afternoon in June at the grand residence of June and Allen Morris to celebrate the fifth annual “Founder’s Day,” a festive event to honor the man who turned a South Florida pioneer village into one of America’s premier garden cities, a city now celebrating the Centennial of its 1925 incorporation.
At this annual Founder’s Day tribute sponsored by the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables, the program not only celebrated George Merrick’s birth anniversary but also highlighted the City of Coral Gables own 100-year-old milestone.
The theme reflected the foundational ties that bind Coral Gables and Spain. The city’s own heritage was founded on Merrick’s admiration for Spain’s cultural and architectural wealth.
Merrick was so enamored with Spain that he used the phrase “Where your Castles in Spain are made real in Coral Gables” to describe his ambitious plans for the city he was creating.
A special bond forged 100 ago continues to this day. Spanish kings have been intertwined with Coral Gables history from the very beginning.
In 1927, King Alfonso XIII decorated George Merrick with the honorary title of “Real Orden de Isabel la Católica” and King Felipe VI recently bestowed the prestigious Spanish civil order to The Honorable Raul Valdes-Fauli.
“Not too many people can boast about that honor and it is a wonderful history that binds both Spain and Coral Gables,” observed Deputy Consul General Gabriel Cremades at the inaugural ceremony in 2021.
In keeping with the Spanish theme, professional Spanish tenor Aurelio Gutierrez sang a powerful operatic rendition of the iconic Spanish anthem Granada to begin the ceremony.
HPACG president Karelia Martinez Carbonell introduced Mayor Vince Lago who welcomed and thanked everyone for loving the city and preserving its heritage. Other special guests included three former mayors: The Hon. Raul Valdes-Fauli, James Cason and Dorothy Thomson. Each shared their own congratulatory words and experiences leading the City Beautiful.
Later, an almond cake was presented with two candles, one for George Merrick and the other for the City of Coral Gables, as everyone joined the tenor in singing a most enthusiastic Happy Birthday. The cake, known as “Tarta de Santiago,” also paid homage to Spain.
Guests enjoyed Sophie Baron champagne and passed hors d’oeuvres that included grilled flank steak on French bread, plum tomatoes skewers with fresh mozzarella, and mini sandwiches.
Among notables in attendance were Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson; Historic Preservation Board members Marlin Ebbert, Michelle Dunaj and husband David Lucking; Michael Maxwell and Valerie DeWitt. Also, Great Gables Guide principals Robert and Robin Burr; Landmark Advisory Board members Alice Goldhagen, Ajit Asrani, and past vice chair Jane Maranos.
Others included Vicki Cerda, Zully Pardo, Jeanette Pressman and Alejandro Nuñez.
The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 1991. The Association promotes the understanding of the importance of historic resources and their preservation. For more information and/or to support the mission of HPACG, please visit www.historiccoralgables.org.
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