the rec center
1950
In the early 1950s, the building at 401 Westward Drive served as the Miami Springs Recreation Center, a bustling community hub for everything from teen dances and classes to club meetings and even a voting precinct. Locals fondly remember summer days spent on its unique stilts and playing tetherball. In 1952, tennis and shuffleboard courts were added to further energize the space. Then, in 1955, after a new pool and gym opened farther west, the building transformed into the Miami Springs Library. Basketball games were a common sight on the courts behind the building into the 1960s, until those courts were replaced with additional tennis and a racquetball court. In 1965, the library officially became part of the Dade County Library System, cementing its role as a cherished community landmark.
1955
The Most Dramatic
Demolition
In 1955, the Miami Springs Country Club clubhouse, a landmark since 1926, had a serious termite problem. The solution? An unforgettable, fiery training exercise! On June 10th, firemen from five different departments strategically burned the building down, gaining crucial experience while giving the old clubhouse a dramatic, if not entirely conventional, send-off. Talk about an explosive way to go!
1956
a pit stop!
Who knew Ernest Hemingway was a fan of Miami Springs steaks? On April 19, 1956, the legendary author popped into what was then Art Bruns' Miami Springs Villas (part of the Curtiss Mansion grounds today!). He was in route from Cuba to Peru to work on the Spencer Tracy film The Old Man And The Sea. But his visit wasn't just about travel; Hemingway and his wife Mary loved the steaks so much, they had a whopping 90 pounds shipped to Peru for their 32-day trip! This sparked an epic customs feud with the Peruvian government, who weren't keen on letting his beef through. Ever the adventurer, Hemingway still managed to reel in a 750-pound Black Marlin, cabling Villas manager Art Bruns a hilarious offer: enough Marlin for the menu for the rest of the year! He even signed a photo to local Town Judge Warren Bishop, a director of the Executive Club at the Villas. Now that's a Miami Springs story!
1957
Before Your Latte: The Fashion Hub of The Circle!
Next time you grab a coffee at Starbucks on the Miami Springs Circle (52 Curtiss Parkway), imagine this: In 1957, this was the stylish home of Poole's Men's Wear, owned and operated by Harold Poole! Fast forward to the 1960s, and it transformed into the legendary, some might say "infamous," Frank Traina's Klothes Kloset. From dapper suits to daring trends, this spot has always been about making a statement!
From Westward Dr and Cross st.
1959
Banking on History
Next time you pass Wells Fargo or the EB Hotel at 4299 NW 36th Street, imagine this: it was once the brand-new home of the Curtiss National Bank! This crucial financial hub moved to this bustling intersection in 1959, leaving its former spot at 101 Westward Drive behind. It's a neat reminder of how our town's business landscape has shifted and grown, always keeping pace with the times.
to NW 36 ST.
