MIAMI SPRINGS and VIRGINIA GARDENS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view Photo Gallery by Don Boyd at pbase.com

MIAMI SPRINGS and VIRGINIA GARDENS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view

Miami Springs was one of three Dade County cities (Hialeah and Opa-locka) developed or co-developed by famed aviator and aircraft manufacturer Glenn Hammond Curtiss. Its close proximity to Pan American Field, later Miami International Airport, made it a favorite location to live for airline employees. Since Virginia Gardens is immediately adjacent to Miami Springs and many folks grew up together and went to the same schools, I'm adding Virginia Gardens to this gallery.

The Miami Springs Historical Museum is located at 26 Westward Drive, Miami Springs, just a couple of stores from the Circle, and is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for seniors and children. Call 305-888-4849 for more information.

Thank you to the Miami Springs Historical Museum, George "Gar" Schloetzer, Martha Pierson, Raymond Mills Jr., Rose Farrell Taylor and Jim Reichert for contributing images in this gallery. In regards to the photos inside the museum, I only have copyrights on the photos that I took inside and no rights whatsoever to their photos and exhibits that retain the original copyrights if any. I apologize for any misunderstanding that the blanket copyright statement has caused to folks.

For those of you who are new to computing and/or surfing the internet, this is just one page of many pages of photos on this site. The home page for our Old Hialeah/Old Miami galleries is at < https://pbase.com/donboyd/memories and all the oldie galleries spin off from that page. You can also click on the yellow colored >>Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries << at top of any page to get back to the main oldies page to search other galleries.

Miami Springs Historical Museum - operating hours and days, cost, phone number	2008 - Mary Ann Goodlett-Taylor, Museum Curator at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - a display at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - a display at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - a display at the Miami Springs Historical Museum
2008 - a display at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - a display at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - a display at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - Mel Johnson (HHS '65) and an Eastern Flight Attendant at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - Town of Country Club Estates and City of Miami Springs Seals at the Historical Museum
2008 - a seat from an Eastern Air Lines Curtiss Condor at the Miami Springs Historical Museum	2008 - the Glenn H. Curtiss AEROCAR exhibit at the Miami Springs Historical Museum #0460	2008 - 1995 photo of Mary Ann Goodlett-Taylor in Glenn Curtiss AEROCAR	Miami Springs Rexall Drug Store on the Circle in Miami Springs - 65th Anniversary on October 15, 2011	1920s - Glenn Curtiss on motorbike that set the world's record for one-mile speed on Ormond Beach, Florida
Late 1920's - Miami Springs developer Glenn Curtiss demonstrating archery golf	1927 - Miami Battle Creek Sanitorium on Curtiss Parkway in Miami Springs	1938 - aerial view of Miami Springs and part of Hialeah, Florida	1942 - Miami Springs residents directory	1942 - map of Miami Springs, developed by Glenn H. Curtiss
1945 - Article about the ATC Transient Hotel Getting Its Discharge after World War II	Health and Happiness at the Miami Battle Creek Sanitorium on Curtiss Parkway in Miami Springs, Florida	1947 - Miami Springs Pharmacy on the Circle in Miami Springs after the 1947 Flood caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - The Circle and Miami Springs Pharmacy after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - Miami Springs Pharmacy after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI
1947 - the Circle and Miami Springs Pharmacy from the bridge after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - residential street in Miami Springs after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - residential area of Miami Springs after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - Miami Springs neighborhood after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - Hammond Drive in Miami Springs, Florida, after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI
1947 - home and residents of 32 Hammond Drive, Miami Springs, after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - Miami Springs residential street after the Flood of 1947 caused by Hurricane VI	1947 - Miami Springs roadway after the Flood of 1947 was receding	1947 - the Frank Carey family in a raft in Miami Springs enroute to get typhoid shots during the flood of 1947	1952 - Miami Springs and Hialeah
1952 - portions of Miami Springs and Hialeah, Florida	1954 - the Miami Sanitorium on Curtiss Parkway in Miami Springs	1954 - Miami Springs Elementary students Eddie O'Rourke, Barbara Blews, Rachel Hackler and others at Fairyland Park Day	1954-1955 - Miss Wilson's 2nd grade class at Miami Springs Elementary School	1956 - advertisement in the Hialeah High Record for Quinty's Italian & American Restaurant in Miami Springs
1957-1958 - Miss Ruth Ban's 5th grade class at Springview Elementary School (entire photo)	1957-1958 - Miss Ruth Ban's 5th grade class at Springview Elementary School (left half)	1957-1958 - Miss Ruth Ban's 5th grade class at Springview Elementary School (right half)	1958-1959 - Mr. Korkose's 6th grade class at Glenn H. Curtiss Elementary School	1958-1959 - Mr. William R. Hall's 6th grade class at Springview Elementary School
1958-1959 - Mr. William R. Hall's 6th grade class at Springview Elementary School (left half)	1958-1959 - Mr. William R. Hall's 6th grade class at Springview Elementary School (right half)	1958-59 - the first grade class at Blessed Trinity Catholic School in Miami Springs	1960 - Miami Springs, featuring the Vagabond Acres neighborhood	1960 - Miami Springs aerial view
1962 - Dade County Champion Basketball Team 15 and under from Miami Springs Recreation Center (names below)	1963 - Flamingos at the Miami Springs Villas	1963 - the 5th grade class at Glenn Curtiss Elementary School with teacher Mr. Maginnis and principal Miss L. Foulks	1963 Miami Springs Junior High Eagle's Nest Photo Gallery - click on image to view	1964 - Eastern Air Lines ad congratulating the Home News on their 20th Anniversary of serving Hialeah and Miami Springs
1964 - the Glenn H. Curtiss Elementary School Yearbook cover	1964 - Miss Austin's and Mrs. Mary Badgley's first grade classes at Glenn H. Curtiss Elementary School in Miami Springs	1964 - the PTA at Glenn H. Curtiss Elementary School in Miami Springs	1964 - the Student Council at Glenn H. Curtiss Elementary School in Miami Springs	1968 - Kwik Chek (left) on LeJeune between NW 36 Street and South Royal Poinciana Boulevard in Miami Springs
1968 - NW 36 Street north of Pan Am's hangars, and the Kings Inn in Miami Springs	1977 - advertisement for the two Bodega restaurants in Dade County, one in Virginia Gardens and one in Miami	1988 - ad for the Victoria Station restaurant on NW 36th Street in Virginia Gardens	1980's-90's - the great Cisco's Cafe on NW 36th Street in Virginia Gardens	1980's-90's - the great Cisco's Cafe on NW 36th Street in Virginia Gardens
Eddie Rhodes Riverside Grille, Miami Springs (CLOSED in June 2012) - click on image to view more	1990's - ad for Cisco's Cafe on NW 36th Street in Virginia Gardens	2011 - historic lift bridge northbound into Hialeah from Miami Springs	2011 - the historic Miami Springs Pharmacy owned and operated by the Stadnick family on the Circle	2012 - the Haunted Mansion Tour at the Curtiss Mansion, October 25th through 28th, 2012

comment |

Bill Moore		20-Aug-2019 03:12
Hi Nancy, Hope you get this as I have had some computer trouble of late.I saw your post of 2017 on the "Old MiamiSprings" site by Don Boyd. I was one of the old crew at Beaver's Academy with Joann Kuhn, Greg France , Fred Swearingen and Ray Williams. I now live in Asheville, NC but have been back to MS several times over the years. My dad was also a Captain with National Airlines. Hope to hear from you--Bill Moore

Nancy McDonald Siegel		21-Nov-2017 16:51
Hi my name is Nancy McDonald and we lived on Minola Dr. in Miami Springs. My dad was a captain for national airlines and I later flew as flight attendant for National (1972-1979). I have a sister, Glenda and twin brothers, Ronnie and Ricky. After my dad died in 1960 (air crash in costa rica) we moved to our farm in Arcadia, Fl. my sister and brothers still live there and I live in Sarasota. I remember Mike Ferguson, his father was a capt. for national also. Gene Beck, I use to play with Mike and Gene. the Carnell's who lived next street over La Villa. Joan, Kip, Ted and Gary. Janice Nolan and a few others nearby . I wish we could have another miami springs reunion where everyone who lived in the springs could get together. This happend approximately 5-8 years ago. not really sure but we all met at a hotel in miami springs and gathered together for a few days. there was also something going on around the circle at that time. I remember Barrys cleaners and the Food Palace where we use to shop. So many things and the best of times in Miami Springs.

Brock Family Info		18-May-2016 00:06
doing some family research on the BROCK family... Clay, W. B. (Will or Bryan), Emily Candace (aka Candy) and Joseph Clayton (Clay) and their parents Isabel & W. B. , Jr. Does anyone have any memories or details? I believe some some of them live in Miami Springs to this day.

Don Boyd		25-Jan-2016 06:36
Hi Bill, same here on the reunion and I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to the Class of 66's reunion in July for their "Reunion of the 60's." I do not recall seeing Mrs. Reviere's 6th grade class at MS Elementary from 57-58, but I don't recall a lot of other stuff from recent years either, haha. However, people are posting various class photos on Facebook in one or two groups dedicated to old Miami Springs days. My favorite is "MiamiSprings (with the two names together) Memories" and perhaps the coveted photo is in their photos gallery. If you're not on Facebook have a kid or grandkid search that group for you. Thank you for your comments, and best regards! "Militaire" - thank you for your comment and I'm sorry for the delay in responding. Don .

Bill Moore		22-Jan-2016 16:23
Hi Don, It was great to see you at the HHS 50th reunion at Shula's last summer. Have you ever run across a copy of Mrs. Florence Reviere's 6th grade class at Miami Springs Elem. (1957 or 58) Ted Hendricks was in that class as was I. Hope you are well and really enjoy the occasional stroll down memory lane you have so well provided--Bill Moore

militaire		25-Sep-2015 13:07
I appreciate your work

Don Boyd		02-Sep-2015 23:28
Photoshop to lighten faces that are too dark when originally shot. Don .

Catholique		02-Sep-2015 09:09
Very nice work, What type of flash do you use?

gazon		26-Jun-2015 15:39
Great photo:)

Rencontre moto		04-Jun-2015 09:26
It's absolutely beautiful…

Guest		10-May-2015 04:49
Would be great to see picture if the old colorful fountain in the circle.

Barbara		12-Feb-2015 05:29
What a fabulous web site. Didn't know about the museum either. Great work! We could just mention last names and school or area of the Springs/Gardens/Hialeah and it would surely be a connect-the-folks in less than six degrees experience. That might be a cool area to add to this site. Just reading these entries has brought back fond memories of people, faces, and places not seen in decades. I have a memory about a very unique place that I'd love more info about. Sometime between 1963 and 1966 I took a set of swimming lessons at a pool on our end of town in the back yard of a house off of Oakwood Dr. near Glenn H Curtiss elementary, Springs Jr. High, and the Wetmores' house. (There's a start for the "old home town connector" I mentioned.) It had a huge wall of sorts on one side that was natural rock with water flowing and some plants as if it was a natural swimming hole at the bottom of a Caribbean cliff. Seems like the pool was dark too cuz I love water but was scared of that pool - learned to swim in no time. The "wall" was taller than our instructor who looked like a blond Johnny Weissmuller with a Lloyd Bridges Seahunt bather. The Springs/Gardens/Hialeah were a terrific place to grow up.

buster		21-Oct-2014 14:31
wow old memories I lived on lavilla dr (i think in Miami springs actually lived there 2 different times) in 1952 my dad was a motorcyle cop for miami springs and later one for the highway patrol moved to ocala in 1964 but still remember orange blossom hobby shop ,the polar palace ,ted hendricks and jimmy pitichi, .custom car builder down the street, bobby allen sprint driver catchin turtles in "twin lakes" in the springs and selling them to the pet store like most places it was a better place back then sure do miss the old mango tree playing little league baseball and football in vg

Richard Lee Stevens		18-Jul-2014 06:45
I lived in Miami Springs in a house that my father built in 1946 until about 1955 on Hunting Lodge Drive. We had as horse stables just behind the house which was on the border between Virginia Gardens and Miami Springs. One of my absolute fondest memories of my Miami Springs childhood was me riding bareback on a horse we had called "Silver" out across the enormous amount of open land in Virginia Gardens, which is now the Miami International Airport! I went to Miami Springs Elementary School and later for the starting year at Hialeah High school, which was a long way away. Later I went to Miami High. I have been living in Denmark (in Europe!) since 1969 and when my youngest daughter was 12, in 1997. We contacted the family that presently lived in the house my father built and asked if we could come by so I could show my daughter the house. They were very nice and invited us to eat supper with them. When we arrived they asked me to show "therm and my daughter" around their house! It was a beautiful experience telling about the house and my many memories of the house. I do not have any contact with anyone I knew during my childhood, but I remember some names: Roy Hilliard lived in a house his father built in Virginia Gardens, John Southwood lived right across the street, Bruce Thrasher and Bobby Barnett I remember from elementary school. Sandra Ruprecht lived a few doors away and Nancy Sue Wilson (later a beauty queen at Miami High) was my first girlfriend. I left Miami Springs around the age of 15 in 1955 to attend a private military school in Virginia! I have many fond memories of Miami Springs and especially the dog show in the Circle in Miami Springs. We had a English Bulldog who won the first prize for "the ugliest dog"!

Don Boyd		12-May-2014 16:00
Ronnie, thank you for posting your great memories of Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens. Bruce, thank you for posting also! Don .

Ronnie Safreed		12-May-2014 06:03
My name is Ronnie Safreed&I have lived in Miami Springs all my life except 2 years in South Carolina. My father moved to Miami Springs from Jacksonville when National Airlines moved its headquarters here in 1953. He had worked for them since 1946 after serving in the Navy in the Pacific during WW2.He met my mother who was living with a sister of hers in Hialeah. They had 3 boys&my mother had a son from another marriage. We lived on Lafayette Drive. Our house was a meeting place for other kids in the neighborhood to meet and play. I have always loved the Springs I went to Blessed Trinity.. I graduated MSSH class of 74. In the sixties the Springs was the edge of town because west was the FEC railroad,pasture fields,swamp,brush-land, and some ware-houses,and industry and rock-pits. I remember the Palmetto expressway being 4 lanes and west of it was sawgrass as far as the eye could see in 1965, riding in the family 1961 VW van. Us neighborhood kids would pay 15 cents in the mid-sixties at the pool in the summer to swim and VG kids had to pay a quarter-LOL!!!! I remember parking our bikes at either the rec-center or pool and not having to lock them and most kids didn't. Only like fancy new Schwinn/Huffy/Raleigh/Columbia bikes kids would lock them.I played optimist baseball at the rec center at 12 years of age in 1968.(The Wonder Years)!I remember skate-boarding on Virginia Gardens sidewalks because they were smoother than Miami Springs sidewalks.BTW the skateboards in the mid-sixties were made of wood with metal ball-bearing wheels(before the plastic wheels came out)and they were louder than later skate-boards.In much of my childhood of the sixties my parents usually never locked the doors at night. Crime especially of the main streets was rare. I had a neighbor on Carlisle Drive who moved in the Springs in 1927 and he said back then he would leave on a vacation and never lock the doors. He had goats and milked them for his family and sometimes would kill Diamondback rattlesnakes in his yard.Another neighbor said that back in the thirties as a teen he was in the Boy Scouts and camped in Miami Springs.I found out that the Ludlam Canal was dug in 1941 and the FEC railroad laid track in present day Medley about that time. Another Moorish house on Carlisle was built by a man who was an inventor of the early electric car horn in the twenties. He was paralyzed/wheelchair bound and he committed suicide in the early fifties and a neighbor told me she remembered the morning he shot himself. I never liked that house and me and my brother and 2 cousins had a scary experience playing in the alley in late December 1964 one night 8-9PM We all saw the appearing/disappearing of what were orange fire colored eyes moving from behind some Australian pines bordering the alley in the yard of this house We all screamed and ran out of the alley towards Lafayette Drive standing on the corner talking about what happened.. Later my grandfather visiting came in one night looking startled&said he saw something in the alley. In 1972 my mother answered the phone late at night and saw something red like a cigerette moving in the alley. My father's third wife in the early eighties told my brother she saw something down the alley one night taking the garbage out and said it look like a "gargoyle"My mother in 1969 had a dream of a scorpion looking creature coming into the yard from the alley and it scratched a dining room window with one of its claw and the sound made was "most eerie&hideous and woke her up A younger brother had his own personal experience as a kid seeing those eyes and shared it with me recently!!!

Bruce Brockway		26-Jun-2013 07:14
Great to see all of the old pictures of Miami Springs. Truly a great historic neighborhood and somewhat of an enigma as most people in Dade County really didn't know where it was. People who knew where it was were sometimes wary of actually going there because they might get lost and not find their way back out. I found this site while looking for the name of the big amusement park that Metro-Dade County wanted to build in the North Miami area after the Disney organization decided that they would be better off in Orlando. I lived in Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens from 1975 to 1993 and even worked at Miami Springs Senior High for a while.

Don Boyd		08-Feb-2013 15:21
Hi Steven, thank you for posting. I'm sorry that your class is not depicted in this gallery but I only have what is posted. If someone would contribute a scan of your class photo I would be glad to add it. Don .

Steven White		08-Feb-2013 01:47
Correction, the church was a Catholic Church!

Steven White		08-Feb-2013 01:45
Hi Don. I went to GHC in 3-6th grade. I "graduated" in 1964. I'm trying to locate info on my 6th grade teacher, Mr Korchoz (not sure of spelling) and I don't recall his first name. Do you have the 1964 yearbook? I do recall some of the kids in the one 1964 pic you have posted. Thanks for this site, it brings back so many memories of a wonderful place to grow up! Little league baseball and football, playing touch football on the school fields, Graces Delicatessan on Curtiss Parkway, the Circle Theater, etc. my Boy Scout troop was at large Baptist Church on Curtiss Parkway. Anyway, any help you can give, I'd appreciate it! Steven White

Mel Johnson		04-May-2012 17:51
Phil Stanley ! Now THERE is a voice from the past ! I remember hours playing in Phil's pool with Chuck Whittle and some other guys, Sharks and Minnows. Phil was a great guy and when I got a little older he let use the pool with dates, at night, making use of the cabana room adjacent to the pool. Other guys in the neighborhood later lived in that cabana room ! Of course I remember Pam Pinckard, because she was a regular visitor at our house and a good friend to my sister Sandy. sandy lives in Augusta, Ga and is anxiously awaiting her second grandchild in June. Chuck Whittle and I got in mucho trouble delivering The herald in the early mornings before school, roaring across lawns in his Cushman Truckster and frequently running over toys, sprinklers, etc. in the process! Don is doing a public service by hosting this site and the memories it brings back are priceless! thanks, Don!

guest		08-Apr-2012 03:47
I grew up in Miami Springs, We lived on Laurel Way down the street from the Newton family, The Wilson family, and many more. My Papa was H. D. Coppedge and his wife Jean on Melrose Drive, he had all kinds of fruit trees in his yard and had a double lot. We lived at the Miami Springs Pool durning the summer. My mom and dad were Al and Gloria Copeland and brothers Tim and Jimbo.

Rodney Clutter		30-Mar-2012 11:26
Though we lived in South Miami, my dad had his construction office on a corner west of the circle on Westward Drive, early '50s to mid '60s. I remember it had 2 big windows facing Westward, and 2 doors. He also had 2 '50s stationwagons for work with, "CLUTTER CONSTRUCTION, INC." within an Air Foce emblem styled logo on all the front doors of the cars. From that small office he built a million dollar business, and a whole lot of Miami, south florida, Keys, west coast, and even some Georgia commercial projects. He built (at the time) 10% of all the schools in Dade County, a whole alot of the Sunny Isles hotels, Palm Springs Hospital, Ft. Lauderdale Airport, Flamingo (tip of mainland), Diplomat West, U of M Lab, Lutheran Church in Tavenier (Keys), Hillcrest Condos (Washington St., Broward), suburb houses in Homestead (late '40s right after the end of WWII), ect ect :) Notable schools was Driftwood High (Broward), North Miami Bch High, and alot of elementary schools alot of your readers and posters went to. He held a record for the fastest bulit single family home in Homestead, early '50s I believe. It was just under 2 days. The records now are in hours, lol. At one time he was just behind Rooney Const., the leading builder for many years. His last project was 2 of the 3 buildings called "Virginia Plaza", facing the airport Virg. Gardens, 1968 completed. He left me with all the photos and 8mm film, a trunk full, but unfortunately they were all ruined in a terential rainstorm a # of years ago. Both Alvin lederer and I are searching for any shots of that storefront, or the company cars. We also had 2 black '62 Continentals (with the suicide doors), one might have been parked out front. I am proud of his accomplishments, and for helping Miami employment, for many worked or were benefitted from Clutter Const., in it's days. Thank you Don for this site, and ALL your efforts to help us remember 'ol Miama. It WAS a paradise!

Don Boyd		13-Jul-2011 02:09
Annette, I used to see your dad a lot in the 80's and 90's when I had a lot of photos being developed and printed at Coral Color which was in the same building but facing 36th Street. I used to park in front of his shop sometimes. A long-time colleague of mine had your dad cut his hair every few weeks, mostly while on airport time, but he said that it grew on airport time so it was getting cut on airport time. He really liked your dad and he was always telling us something funny that your dad had said to him. I had my hair cut there a few times too whenever my regular barber in Hollywood was on vacation or I didn't have time to get up there before my monthly CG Reserve drill weekends. Your dad was good people from what I remember and I am sorry to hear that he passed but he had far more years of life than most of the people out there. Thank you for posting and for the update on your dad. Don

Annette Garrido		13-Jul-2011 01:41
My father owned Jimmy's Barber Shop on the corner of 36th and South drive, across from the old PanAm Hanger. He was there for almost 50 years. He passed in July of 09 (he was 96), and up until the last three years of his life, he would visit "his" shop just about every weekday. These are great pictures, thank you for posting them.

Don Boyd		09-May-2011 06:31
Philip, thank you for writing in and I really think the vast majority of Springs kids would say it was a great place to grow up back in the 50's and 60's. Lucky, thanks for your words you lucky guy! Don

Guest		07-May-2011 02:04
Hi. My name is Philip Stanley and I lived on the corner of Hammond Drive and Swan Ave. I moved to the Springs as a 3 three year old. My dad Louie Stanley said he put me in a wheel barrow to go thru the 1947 flood to the house he was building. I went to Springs Elementary and Junior High. I opted to go to Jackson High than on to the U of M. I got my doctorate at Georgetown University. I am now retired and live on a mountain top in western NC. The Springs was a great place to be a kid.

Natures Exotic Beauty Photography		13-Apr-2011 18:46
Hi Don, it's been a while. Just wanted to catch up on whats new in your Miami Springs gallery. Thanks for keeping it going for all of us. Keep up the great work my friend. Lucky Cole

Mel Johnson		13-Sep-2010 02:48
Those who are interested in contacting Margaret Watts, she is still a real estate person and lives close to the tennis courts. Her son Joel ran the courts for years and only retired a couple years ago. The new city website is supposed to have a Virtual Tour of miami Springs and would like any old family pictures that are available to include in that project. Contact Carol Foster at the City if you have any old family pictures you would like included. Don Boyd is doing the City a huge favor by posting these pictures and written memories here. I used to go the circle theater every saturday morning where I could watch a newsreel, cartoons, and a movie for, I think, a quarter. I went to Springview Elementary, MS junior high, and hialeah High. I graduated from FSU in 1975, went to Barry for a while, and then got a masters at FIU and a Doctorate in 1997. I am currently working part-time for the School Board and enjoying it a lot. I was retired for five years before returning to work at the School Board. I still live in the Springs and own a house across from the junior high. The River Cities festival is held every year on the circle and I have a blast touching base with old friends in April of every year.

Don Boyd		31-May-2010 01:35
Ellen, sorry for delay in responding but some comments slip through without me seeing them for months. I am interested in the old photos that you mentioned. Is there a way for you to scan them and send them to me as e-mail attachments so I can add them to the site? Alfred, the Cavalier name is surely familiar to anyone who knows anything about Miami Springs and I thank you for posting your memories and comments. Don

Alfred Cavalier		31-May-2010 01:19
Don, my family, The Cavaliers, moved to 333 Lafayette Drive in 1945, experienced the 1947 flood and spent a week at the Cavalier Hotel on South Beach til the water subsided. My Dad, John Cavalier was Mayor and operated a garage, Miami Springs Auto Service, on Ludlam Drive. My older brother John was also Mayor after Dad died. I remember Art Bruns, and I taught school with Leon Mahakian at Miami Springs Senior High. Currently live in Ocala where my sister Helen also resides. Brother John, Helen's twin, still lives on Redbird Ave in Miami Springs, down the street from our old homestead 1090 Redbird Avenue. My twin, Albert lives in Dahlonaga, GA. You have a great website, filled with memories, Thanks for the memories.

Ellen		21-Nov-2009 03:08
I moved to Miami Springs in 1947 at the age of 4. The flood occured shortly after we moved into our home. Still standing today. Solid concrete with a flat roof on Falcon Avenue. Survived hurricane Andrew just fine. I have pictures of that flood that is really intresting. Is's of our family of 5 and 2 other neighbors sitting in a large rubber raft with the circle park in the background. We were headed for typhoid shots. Then to the McAllister Hotel in downtown Miami. My dad retired from Eastern 27 years ago. Will be 100 years old on April 12th. He is still able to bet on the horses just like he did years ago at Hialeah Park. I have a picture also of an Eastern Air Lines plane hanging in the hanger. Just thought you might be interested in some of these pictures to post. They are of course all black and white. Those were the best of days for a kid to grow up in. Always outside and we did not have a tv or phone for many years. It sure was a good life. Been back a few times and it brought back so many memories. Ellen

Don Boyd		16-Nov-2009 05:20
Michael, thank you for your kind words and you're welcome. It's a labor of love to preserve those great times that we grew up in. Kids now and in the future will never have the experiences that we had, let alone all the open green spaces and time that we spent outdoors exploring and playing. Don

Michael Shull		16-Nov-2009 01:28
Also I forgot to give a huge Thank You to Don Boyd for the great memories you have given everyone, I sit here and tears well up in my eyes because I remember going there or living here or hey we ate at that place, and it all comes back to you and you say those were some great times. Thanks again Don!!!!!!

Michael Shull		16-Nov-2009 01:22
I lived in an apt. in miami springs in the mid 80's and would walk to the circle and go to the circle theater which is probably not there anymore(what a shame) I remember the piggly wiggly and the drugstore and all the other little shops and the pavillion it was like stepping into another world it was just a neat little town kinda like mayberry I always enjoyed that little walk on a nice day and go and see a couple movies. I miss those days{:-(

Don Boyd		24-Aug-2009 15:07
Allen, thank you for writing in with your memories of the area. It's funny you mention shooting gar because I was talking to a young man at the mall the other day about cane pole fishing in the canals back in the late 50's/early 60's and catching gar galore, which we hated back then. He fishes now and he says there are hardly any gar left, that they cook and love gar when they do catch them. Strange! Don

Allan Rodberg		24-Aug-2009 01:24
just found this website...what a nice surprise...i too, grew up in the springs...moved there just after the flood in 47.. went to miami jackson high school, presby church on westward drive, first home in the springs on payne drive, then south royal poinciana blvd...great memory when the circle theater was built... then the essex in hialeah... great fun shooting gar (fish) in the canal near payne drive .. great friends thru the church and the four miami high schools... onto the univ of miami, the united states airforce, then the airlines...time period.. 1947 thru graduation from the U in 1956...yes, lots of tremendous memories... allan rodberg

cindi		17-Jun-2009 04:36
i remember back in the late 60's to mid-70's they used to have a festival by the circle and bridge and i thought they called it "the miami springs regatta" i don't remember anything except there were micosoukee indians with their wares for sale and i would save my pennies to buy beaded necklaces and dolls. they would also set up their indian "chickies" which people now seem to refer to as tikis. does anybody remember what the regatta may have been about? was it some sort of race down the miami river?

Pam Pinckard		20-May-2009 03:47
I recently stumbled across this website by accident. I feel so blessed to have found it. I especially am excited (but also sad) to read the posting from MEL JOHNSON. I am not sure if (little) Mel remembers me, but I spent many hours at the Johnson household. I was good friends with Sandy and so fond of the whole family. I have many great memories of times spent at the Johnson household. Several times I have tried to locate a number to call Doris (mom) and could not find one. Now I know why. I moved to Miami Springs to live with my aunt and uncle after my mom died. I too loved growing up in the Springs. I would so love to hear from Sandy or any of the Johnsons. Sandy and I had many fun times cruising in her Camaro convertible!!! Thank you for this website and all the great pictures!!!!!

Sandy King		15-Jan-2009 02:39
I was born in Miami Beach. My mom and dad (Bud and Jean) lived in Coral Gables when I was born as did my brother, Dennis Paul King. My dad was with the Miami Beach police and my family also had cattle land on Peter Pike Road out of Hialeah. Also had a winter home on 21st street across from Hialeah Race Track. I remember Hubbard's Cuboard and the Royal Castle and Seminole Bar...from my dad...in Hialeah. Worked for Eastern Airlines from 1964 to 1969. How well I remember the movie theatre in Miami Springs. Would cherish hearing from Highsmith's of Hialeah, Steve McElveen, Sonny Howell (Hialeah High) and Bonnie Justane of Justane Market in Hialeah. I well remember the flood of 1947 as my family stayed in tents on the airport runway. On our land on Peter Pike Rd now 49th street in Hialeah the water was over 9 feet. If any of you remember the Kings of Hialeah please email me. Sure wish the world could turn around to what it used to be.

Lynda Cassaday		23-Oct-2008 01:20
I just found this site and what a treat it is!! I grew up in Miami and had numerous relatives in the Hialeah and Miami Springs area. My Aunt, Georgia Hill, owned a dress shop on Curtiss Parkway, it was called Don Ellen's. I remember that quite a few of the flight attendants from Eastern Airlines shopped in her store. One of my uncles, Charles Perkins, was a mechanic for Eastern for a number of years. I had two other aunts that lived in Miami Springs , does anyone remember Jack and Margaret Watts or Carroll and Dorothy Douglas? I remember going to Grace's sub shop for sandwiches whenever we would visit Miami Springs, they were so good. Thank you so much for putting up this site. I moved away from Miami about 27 years ago, and I miss the beautiful place that I grew up in. I was reading the post from Mel Johnson, he said he was born 31 August 1947, what a coincidence, I was born 30 August 1947.

jayjoseph		05-Sep-2008 00:14
I have visited this site in the past, particularly the Hialeah section where I lived for many years amd where I went to High School. I retired 6 years ago as Principal of Adult Education at Hialeah. But I was the Adult Education Principal at Miami Springs for 20 years. I worked with Leon Mahakian all those years. He and Louise were great friends and I am sad hearing of his passing. Both my wife Lois and I have very fond memories of Springs. Lois was a first year teacher when it opened in 1964. Three of our kids went to Springview; Jennifer, Jason and Josh. Our son-in-law is Buddy Dewhurst. Jay Joseph

Don Boyd		20-Jul-2008 16:29
Mr. Leon Mahakian, who I knew from Palm Springs Junior High in the early 60's, passed away on July 16, 2008. According to his obituary he was Vice Principal and Activities Director at Miami Springs Senior High School for 25 years, so I am posting his obituary here for the benefit of Springs kids who might have known him. Don ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leon D. Mahakian MAHAKIAN, LEON D., 85, Zionsville, IN ( formerly of Hialeah, FL), died July 16, 2008. Mr. Mahakian was born in Boston March 2, 1923 to the late John and Terviz (Mourakian) Mahakian. A U. S. Army veteran, he served during WWII with the 26th Combat Corp of Engineers, building bridges in occupied France and Germany. On September 17, 1951 he married Louise Melkonian. Mr. Mahakian, a gifted educator who taught for 55 years, remained in contact with many former students whose lives he influenced. For 25 years he was Vice- principal and Activities Director for Miami Springs Senior High School. He found great joy and satisfaction in his involvement with his students. He was a member of the Rotary Club, a 50-year member of Dalhousie Masonic Lodge of Newtonville, Mass., and a longtime member of the Knights of Vartan. He and Louise were members of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church before moving to Zionsville, where they attended St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church. Mr. Mahakian was an avid reader who excelled at bridge, rooted for the Red Sox, and enjoyed time spent at the horse track with his friends and fellow teachers. Leon loved his poker buddies, and was never happier than when he was in the company of his beloved family or competing with his grandsons and daughter at tennis. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Louise; daughter Dr. Karen Mahakian and her husband Dr. David Rardon; grandsons Michael and Jack Rardon; sister-in-law Judy Melkonian and niece Nairi Melkonian. A funeral service will be held at 10:00am Wednesday, July 23, at St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, 1525 Mulberry Street, Zionsville, with burial following at Zionsville Cemetery. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, 4050 NW 100 Ave., Hollywood, Fl 33024 where an August 31 memorial service is planned. Arrangements have been entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan Zionsville. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries. Published in The Miami Herald on 7/20/2008

Mel Johnson		17-Jul-2008 05:16
From what I have gathered from the Historical Society there were TWO hurricanes that hit Miami in August of 1947, one after another. That did not let the ground dry out and the flooding of the second one was worse than the first. I was born 31 Aug 47 and my Dad never let me forget that I was just a pooping and sleeping machine at that time. Being a newborn, that was to be expected, except that my Mom used up all their bathtub water washing out my diapers! The Westfalls lived across the street east of us and next to them was Paul Walkers house. Paul's wife was just beautiful and had the Charmette Modeling Academy close to the circle. When I was 10 or 11 I participated in a couple modeling shows as the escort to the young ladies who were modeling the clothes. I was pretty shy around girls but I enjoyed the experience and it helped bring me out of my shell some. My sisters girlfriends growing up were Patsy and Barbara Frank. Their Dad was a builder but I wonder if he was related to the first Police Chief, Hugh Frank. I played footbal and most other sports with ted hendricks from 6th grade thru Hialeah High. He was THE dominant player at every level and was even taken out at the half of a Bowl game with Hialeah in little ball because he was TOO GOOD. He was tall even then and when the ball was snapped he would just reach over the center and grab the opposing quarterback by the pads! He was six foot-five in 8th grade and towered way above all the other guys. He wasnt all that talented in basketball however, as I saw him take five shots from five feet away from the basket before he would make one. He WAS a devastating hitter from the left side in baseball however. I would pitch him outside so he couldnt pull it, hoping he would smack it to left field and ONLY get a double. As tall as he was , he was also FAST. In 115 lb football he would race Wayne McMullen after practice and win almost half the time. This was VERY impressive as Wayne was very fast himself. I used to like to watch Wayne run, like it was a ballet, smooth and coordinated. Ted wasnt near as smooth, more compact, but he got it done, and I was impressed. In high school practice I was supposed to pull out from my guard position and kick him out so the back could run inside me. SEVEN times in a row he stuffed my 165 lbs and the play with his LONG arms and quick feet. The eighth time I got him, somewhat. I was probably above average in talent and experience for high school at that time but Ted was on another level all his own. My Senior year HHS wound up 7th in the state, losing to Miami High and Coral Gables and Larry Rentz. We won the Meninack Bowl in Tampa. Great years!

Mel Johnson		18-Jun-2008 05:09
This is a post in memory of my parents, Doris and Melvin Johnson, who lived on the SW corner of Hammond and Westward for fifty years. My Dad was a pipefitter and worked for the Seaboard Coastline RR for 45 years before he retired. My Mother was a house wife and raised four kids, my eldest sister Sandy, little brother Eric, and baby sister Bonnie. Sandy is currently living in Augusta, Georgia and has been married for over 35 years, with two kids. My brother Eric is a very sucessful mortgage consultant and investor in Ft Lauderdale, where he lives with his wife and two teenage daughters. He owns part of a car dealership there also. Baby sister Bonnie lives in Palm Bay, Fla with her son and daughter and is very active in her church there. I am currently a retired psychologist and still live here in beautiful Miami Springs, as I cant think of any other place I would rather be. I have one daughter who lives in Jacksonvile, Fla. I delivered the Miami Herald in the early mornings back when I was 15-16 years old on my bike. I lasted almost 18 months but then my grades started to suffer and my Mom pulled the plug. I remember racing on out bikes with my buddies at 6:30am, after we got paid on Saturday mornings, to the Royal Castle over on Palm Avenue where we would FEAST on birch beers, little but great hamburgers, and honey buns. Paul Walker was a builder and a neighbor across the street and built many of the early houses in the Springs. I still keep in touch via email with his daughter, Judy, on a weekly basis. I was a gym rat in my early days, playing 3-on-3 basketball, shirts and skins until you lost, for ALL DAY on Saturdays at the gymnasium. It was a GREAT place for a kid to grow up!

Don Boyd		02-Jun-2008 16:57
This was posted in the 1910-1919 gallery and is more appropriate in this gallery: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guest 20-Jul-2007 12:54 This is for Rose - The Newton family of Miami Springs had a presence there from the mid 30's to the late 60's...Paul, Peter,Nicky, Sizy, Mimi and Marcia.....we knew the Lotts, Calverts, Dotsons, Schloetzers, Harveys, Roberts, etc., of Miami Sprs.....also I recall Bucky Dewhurst was a classmate at MS Elem......I live in Sun City, Georgetown, Texas now...... Mimi Newton Boney ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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