Miami History

On June 14, 1930, Dade County Circuit Court Judge Paul Barns granted Vincent Giblin's dismissal motion on the "padlock" suit against Al Capone.

The motion ruled that the state had not proven that Capone's Palm Island mansion represented a "nuisance" to the community.

On the same day, Capone was charged with perjury by Dade County Solicitor George E. McCaskill for statements made during a law suit hearing that Capone filed for harassment and false imprisonment against several Miami officials.

Attached is the front page of the Miami Daily News on that day. Go to the comments for a link to a 4-part series of articles on Al Capone's time in South Florida.

On June 12, 1913, the Collins Bridge opened, marking a pivotal moment in the development of South Florida.

Stretching 2.5 miles across Biscayne Bay, it was considered the longest wooden bridge in the world and provided the first direct connection between Miami and the barrier island that would soon become Miami Beach.

The bridge was the vision of farmer and developer John S. Collins, who sought a reliable link to his agricultural holdings on the barrier island.

When construction costs exceeded the Collins family's financial resources, entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher stepped in with the capital needed to complete the project.

In exchange, Fisher received valuable land holdings that would become the foundation of his ambitious plans to transform Miami Beach into "America's Winter Playground."

Go to the comment section for a link to read more about Collins partnership with Fisher and the opening of the Collins Bridge in 1913.

On the morning of June 11, 1924, workman began clearing pine trees that covered the lot at NE Sixth Street and North Bay Shore Drive in downtown Miami to make room for what would become the Miami News Tower.

It was completed in the summer of 1925. This building is known today as Freedom Tower.

The first photo was published in the Miami Daily News on June 1, 1924, and the second a composite of the front page of the Miami Daily News on Wednesday, June 11, 1924. Photos courtesy of Casey M. Piket.

Colorized photos of two buildings that were once part of Fort Dallas (1849 - 1858), formerly located on the north bank of the Miami River.

The single story structure was constructed as housing for William English’s slaves during the period he owned the property (1843 - 1849). The two-story building was English’s residence.

When the U.S. Army took over the north bank of the Miami River in 1849, the one-story structure became the barracks for soldiers, and the residence became the officer’s quarters.

The property was sold to the Biscayne Bay Company in 1874, and then sold to Julia Tuttle in 1891.

The first photo is of the two buildings in the 1880s while occupied by the caretakers (J.W. Ewan, aka The Duke of Dade), for the Biscayne Bay Company.

The second and third photos are of the property under the stewardship of Julia Tuttle in 1895 and 1897 respectively.

Tuttle renovated the buildings to her preferences, and beautified the surrounding property. Julia passed away on September 14, 1898, at the age of 49.

Photos courtesy of the Miami-Dade Public Library, Romer Collection, and the U.S. Library of Congress.

On June 10, 1858, Fort Dallas, once located at the mouth of the Miami River, is abandoned by the US army.

The Fort Dallas officer's quarters was stationed about where the downtown Miami Hyatt is located today.

Attached is a rendering of Fort Dallas from Biscayne Bay looking west.