Isabelle Krome was an incredible South Miami-Dade County pioneer woman who put Homestead and Redland on the map for horticulturalists all over the world.
Isabelle married a talented young Florida East Coast Railway construction engineer, William J. Krome; became the mother of his children, and then a world-renowned horticulturalist after his death. Earlier, while her husband was busy completing the construction of the FEC Railway to Key West, Isabelle took over management of the family groves.
The Bea Peskoe Lunchtime Lecture Series will present a free program on Isabelle Krome on Monday, Feb. 3, noon, at the Woman’s Club of Homestead, 17905 SW 292 St.
Katherine L. Fleming has gained great insight into the later life of Isabelle while working as a volunteer at the Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum cataloging articles that Isabelle found interesting and saved for posterity. Fleming has been working as an archivist at universities, museums and historical societies for more than 20 years and is a director of the Society of Florida archivists and a member of the Society of American Archivists.
She has organized and described Isabelle’s “clippings” collection. Hidden among the magazine and newspaper clippings were photographs, correspondence and other documents that give insight into the life of this unforgettable Homestead pioneer woman.
Fleming will highlight Isabelle’s contributions to the local community, her collaboration with notable horticulturalists and her fight to develop and improve our region’s tropical and sub-tropical fruit industry.
An optional simple lunch is available for $10 by calling Barbara at 305-230-9185 before 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31. Or bring a brown bag lunch.
The series is presented with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Council, Mayor and Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners.
