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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/AA00000013/00001
Notes
- Scope and Content:
- HISTORICAL BACKGROUND - PINE TREE DRIVE: The area surrounding Pine Tree Drive was once the original avocado plantation of one of the founding fathers of Miami Beach, John s. Collins. 41st Street was known as Main Street, Plantation Quarters, and Pine Tree Drive was called Avenue of Pines and Plantation Road. John s. Collins, who was a successful New Jersey farmer, acquired the site in 1907 and began an avocado ranch. In addition to avocados, the property supported a dairy, banana fields, a packing house, and various out buildings some of which served as lodging for the farm workers. To protect his crops against the strong wind coming from the ocean, Collins planted Australian pines to serve as windbreaks. These fast-growing trees were planted in rows in strategic locations on the plantation. Early plat books identify a "row of Australian pines" in the area adjacent to Pine Tree Drive. Collins had a dock constructed on the plantation along Indian Creek. While he was standing on the dock one afternoon, attired in his typical white suit and hat, he caught the attention of Carl Fisher, another famous Miami Beach entrepreneur. Fisher found it so unusual to see a man formally dressed in the middle of the wilderness, he introduced himself to Collins. Eventually this acquaintance led Fisher to loan John Collins, $50,000 for the completion of the Collins Bridge in 1913. In return for the money, Fisher received 200 acres of oceanfront property. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND - INDIAN ON A HORSE, PINE TREE DRIVE AND 40TH STREET: The individual considered to be most responsible for the development and promotion of Miami Beach as a resort area and tourist haven is carl Fisher. Fisher was a suave visionary who parlayed a bicycle shop in Indianapolis into a car dealership. He then started the Prest-o-Lite Corporation, the first headlight manufacturing company in the U.S. By the time he was thirty-five Fisher had amassed a large fortune, much of which was invested in Miami Beach. Among Fisher's many interests was a fascination with horses and the old west. The Tequesta indians, whose chief livelihood was shellfish gathering and fishing were original inhabitants of the Miami area. In their honor, Fisher had the statue erected in 1919. However, his idealized version of the indian atop his. stead, bears more of a likeness to a Plains Indian. Fisher originally selected a grassy parkway located at 41st Street and Alton Road in the Nautilus Subdivision for the statue. When the Julia Tuttle Causeway was built in the 1950's, it was moved to its present location at 40th Street, Flamingo Road, and Pine Tree Drive. Oldtimers maintain that local teenagers used to decorate the statue every year on Halloween.
- Scope and Content:
- Circa 1980's - Black and white document printed on letterhead titled "Historical Background - Pine Tree Drive" and "Historical Background - Indian on a Horse, Pine Tree Drive and 40th Street."
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