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Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> MIAMI SPRINGS and VIRGINIA GARDENS Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view > 1947 - Miami Springs Pharmacy on the Circle in Miami Springs after the 1947 Flood caused by Hurricane VI
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SEP-1947 ©1947 Rose Farrell Taylor

1947 - Miami Springs Pharmacy on the Circle in Miami Springs after the 1947 Flood caused by Hurricane VI

Miami Springs Circle, Miami Springs, Florida


Thank you to Rose Farrell for contributing this great old image. This drug store and luncheonette has been owned and operated by the John Stadnik family for decades. They also had a drug store and luncheonette in the Miami International Airport terminal opposite Concourse F (previously Concourse 3) for decades.

Hurricane VI struck South Florida on September 17th after stalling for 24 hours over Abaco in the Bahamas on the 15th. It came ashore at Ft. Lauderdale moving west, bringing winds in excess of 100 mph to the 70 mile stretch from Palm Beach to the northern sections of Miami. The area between Ft. Lauderdale (Boca Raton, Pompano, Deerfield and Delray) and Lake Worth suffered the greatest damage. Hurricane force winds extended from Cape Canaveral to Carysfort Reef Light, a distance of 240 miles. The highest winds by a reliable instrument were at the Coast Guard's Hillsboro Light where sustained winds for a solid minute were 155 mph at 12:56 pm. The lowest pressure reading of 947.2 (27.97 inches) was also recorded at Hillsboro Light. Miami's highest winds were 90mph at 2 pm. The hurricane crossed the state and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico slightly north of Naples at 10 pm. Florida's losses were 11 deaths directly related to the storm and 6 additional deaths due to related accidents and electrocutions and $31 million in lost property, crop damage and livestock losses.

After emerging into the Gulf, the hurricane aimed for the Louisiana/Mississippi border and the 25-mile wide eye passed directly over New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Extensive flooding damage was caused to coastal areas in Louisiana and Mississippi. A break in the New Orleans Industrial Canal levee caused flooding in sections of New Orleans.


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KEN ERWIN 11-Dec-2008 18:59
I TOO REMEMBER THAT BAD FLOOD IN 1947 WHERE PEOPLE WOULD FLOAT AROUND IN LITTLE BOATS . YEARS LATER I FOLDED THE MIAMI HERALD AT A GAS STATION ON THE CIRCLE AND HAD A " COUNTRY ROUTE , AKA MEDLEY " IT PAYED $10 MORE A WEEK TO DELIVER OUT THERE ! THEN I WOULD TRAVEL TO SCHOOL AT MIAMI JACKSON AND GRAD. IN 1956 . BOB ROSS AND HIS BRO ALSO HAD ROUTES . KEN E.
Joe Cardini 30-Oct-2007 04:23
I grew up in Miami Springs. I went to Scool with several of the Stadnik family members in particular John Stadnik Jr. My father worked as a fireman and police office and at the age of 85 is still employed as the city code enforcement officer. I spent countless hours at the drug strres fountain and worked my first job next door as an usher in the movie theater. The grocery store on the corner was called the Food Palace and was owned and operated by Fred Whitice.
Guest 06-Oct-2007 02:11
OMG...I lived on Hunting Lodge Drive in 1947. I was 2 yrs. old. I have home movies of the flood. My first job was at Stadnicks, as a cash register person. I was 14, and had no idea WTF I was doing. Lasted a week. But, spent many hours at the counter. And, we shopped at the grocery store nearby...can't remember the name.
Eileen Fitzgibbons
Guest 05-Oct-2007 20:31
My family lived at 281 Lafeyette Drive in Miami Springs. Across from us was a cow pasture(now Virginia Gardens). I remember meeting a coral snake(Dad said) on the steps of our house after the flood and people travelling in row boats to get around.
Cheryl Ellis
Ken Bowes 21-Jun-2007 20:50
I worked for several years for John Stadnik, delivering vetrinary supplies to Hialeah Race Track. His vet supply business was quite large with one of the most popular products delivered being cases of Geritol (about 66 proof as I recall). When the flood ocurred, it literally filled the circle to the top, as the circle itself was much lower than the surrounding streets and had a huge wall around it. My mother owned the fabric store next to Stadniks and we lived about 300 yards up Curtiss Parkway in the apartments...they were still there about 8 years ago when I last visited. My other great career choices around the circle included filling jelly donuts at the bakery and stock boy at the big grocery. Your site it wonderful!