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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 Area GROCERY STORES and Food Markets Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view > 1965 - Publix Supermarket at 9420 SW 56 Street, Dade County
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1965 Miami-Dade B&Z

1965 - Publix Supermarket at 9420 SW 56 Street, Dade County

Dade County, Florida


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Guest 05-May-2016 02:37
My name is Gary and I worked at this Publix from 1977-1979. I remember taking lunch breaks at the Italian restaurant next door. I remember doing scrub-and -wax on Saturday nights until 11P.M. The employee break room was upstairs and had a little door which you could access an large area that was above the shopping area's ceiling. I remember the store manager use to go up there and peer out a small hole in the winged Publix sign that over looked the parking lot to try to catch us taking tips from customers. There was Gardner's Market across the street. Any one remember Arbetter's hot dogs on Bird Rd and Galloway Avenue? They had the best hot dogs! There was also a swap-shop flea market by Bird Rd just West of the Palmetto Express way. It had a Marine Corp trailer out front. I joined the Marine Corps there in 1982. I left the area then (1965-1982).
Gary Kilbride 05-Apr-2015 01:06
I drove past this area a few weeks ago. The replacement Publix is massive and faces east, not north like this original. Now two stories with escalators and an underground garage. It wasn't open yet. I walked the outside of the building while waiting for a pizza at nearby Little Caesar's.

Many interesting comments in this entry, including mention of teachers at nearby Blue Lakes Elementary. My favorite was the PE coach Gilbert Buckingham, or Mr. B as we called him. Short stout guy who would often participate in the activities themselves, including dodge ball. I once had to explain to my mom that the PE teacher caused that bruise, with a dart from close range. Mr. B was a golfer. I was just starting out in the game. Mr. B loved to practice wedges and chips on the huge playing field, which extended all the way to Miller in those days, unlike today. Once when Mr. B was retrieving range balls from the fence area on the west side of the field, my friend asked what happened. I replied without hesitation: "Nothing serious. He just shanked a few." Mr. B glared at me, but then grinned. Days later he kidded me for using an overlapping grip while playing softball. I didn't even realize I was doing it.

We continued to use those Blue Lakes basketball courts for years after graduation. It was fun to dunk on the fly in junior high and high school, back on the old 9 foot rims. Mr. B often watched and commented on those pickup games. He always kept track of how Blue Lakes products were faring in upper levels, congratulating me, for example, when I fared well enough in a high school golf match to draw mention in the Herald.

In those days the elementary school courts were wide open. I remember a weekly pickup game on Sundays with a wiry old guy who played alongside the youngsters even though he had wrinkles everywhere. I wondered if I would be doing that somewhere at the same age. Heck, he was probably younger than I am now, although he seemed ancient. When I walked past Blue Lakes a few years ago the fencing along that court was so restrictive it seemed as if nobody was allowed in, period. Sad.

It was somewhat numbing to read my comment below from 7 years ago, including mention of my mom's illness. Both of my parents are gone now, and buried in Miami Memorial Park, identical to someone else who posted in this entry. I had to laugh at how many places my dad would drive past in his later years and describe how he and mom nearly bought a house and chose to settle there, instead of the Blue Lakes area. At least a half dozen. They made a fine choice.
Don Boyd02-Sep-2014 03:27
David, thanks for the information on this Publix. They did the same in Miami Lakes about six or seven years ago and the new one is beautiful and has a lot more square footage. I hate when historical stuff is torn down but in this case having the much larger newer Publix is worth in.

Don
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David 01-Sep-2014 22:54
They tore down this Publix this year ! Very sad for me because I have so many fond memories of the old building. They are building a fancy Publix structure there due to be finished in jan of 2015.
Don Boyd24-Jun-2013 03:03
Thank you everyone for adding your comments and memories under this photo, especially you Rafael, the most recent of those commenting. No one can remember everything from the good old days in Miami but a whole bunch of us together can just about cover everything worth remembering. Hopefully all the written memories will stimulate memories for those our age who are suffering from memory loss and also serve to educate the younger folks as to what life was really like during our growing up times down here.

Don
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Rafael C 23-Jun-2013 22:34
WOW! Grew up not 10 blocks down Miller Rd at 103rd Av. Attended St Timothy School from K-8th (1969-78) and lived there until 1987. It's amazing to read all these comments about shops and especially he memories. How many soft-serv cones fom Carvel did I enjoy? I hav the fussiest memoriesof the sign for the movie theatre showing XXX flicks. Hey it was th 70's and as a kid it just was a place for adults. Besides we had plenty we could do! Best was finding and exchanging coke bottles for the deposits. Down the street at 102nd at Miller Rd was U-Tote-M. There was a Mary's market, and a Gulf station. Loved Parenti's pizza but for the ultimate treat we went to Bird Rd for Frankie's. These businesses often sponored the Khoury League at St Tim's when they owned all the property from 56th to 52nd between 102 and 103rd. Mrs Barbara McGivern ran the concession stand and back in the day there were 6 baseball fields at St Tim's. Great memories of a gentler time in Miami.
Dave Beatty 30-Jan-2013 00:07
I spent the 70's living just off of 97th Ave. and got my first job at that Publix when I was 15 years old. I was a bagboy and couldn't take tips but enjoyed having a paycheck. I went to Snapper Creek Elementary, Glades Jr. High, and Southwest and loved growing up in the area. I too had Mr. Touhy's "Rock Poetry" class and fondly remember analyzing Don Mclean's "American Pie". I also remember at the end of 9th grade, Mr. Touhy showing a slide show of the school year to the music of Barbara Streisand's "Memories" and all the kids in tears by the end. Great memories. My Mom used to manage the little Cuban restaurant that was next to the Krest 5&10 and after school, I'd stop in and have my favorite desert "flan". I couldn't wait for summer and the chance to sign up for Miller Park's summer kids program. We had a lot of fun their and would always go to the drive-thru Farm Store for 1/2 gallon lemonades. They were so good. I remember in 1978 buying gas for my moped at the Shell station for 70 cents and who can forget the 1979 gas crisis and the lines at that station and the odd and even gas rationing. What a great time we had growing up there and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Brian Pastor fka Brian Rawdin14-Nov-2011 04:26
Brian Rawdin nka Brian Pastor - I lived 9598 SW 59th Street - about 3 blocks from this Publix and it brings back wonderful memories. I have 4 brothers - 3 of them: Bruce Rawdin, David Rawdin and Jeff Rawdin - we all went to Blue Lakes. We all hung out at the pinball arcade in the same strip. We all nicked candy once from the 5 and 10. And the favorite - the BAKERY next to Publix that had the cookies and onion pockets and the wonderful ladies who always had a smile and a free cookie!! We played across the street at Miller Park, played basketball at Glades (which was only a block and a half away, and that was our world from 1965 - 1976 when we moved to Orlando (though David and Bruce stayed on to graduate from SW). I went back recently - and the Publix was another world. It was crammed packed with items (likely because of population density) and of course there was a cuban influence that didn't exist when we grew up til 1976 It wasn't bad - just different. I miss the bakery and the arcade lol!
Andy Kuritz 24-Sep-2011 19:37
As far as the barber shop on the north side of the road...that was Dave's Barber and Styling. He was my neighbor. Lived right behind me. There used to be barber's by the names of Pino, Steve, and Dave and some other guy. Can't remember.
Guest 22-Jul-2011 19:34
YES! I remember him! saw him almost everyday you brought back a memory there...
Andy Kuritz 05-Mar-2011 23:21
Lived at 9608 SW 59th Street from 1974-1988. I remember Belda Bikes who had pinball and arcade games, 3 Little Bakers between Walgreens and Publix near the vet, and Krest 5 & 10. Loved Carvel. Still can't find Mamey Sherbert anywhere now that I live in Colorado. Does anyone remember the paralyzed guy in the wheel chair who had the black male nurse that just pushed him up and down the strip plaza?

Across the street I used to get my hair cut at Dave's (he lived right behind me) and the U-Totem ended up becoming the trophy shop. I know the owner's of the trophy shop.

As far as Publix, why the heck would they put all the candy next to the bathrooms and where you would drop off your bottles. I used to shoplift that candy everyday! Donna Chickalo (sp) worked there. I must have been 10 years old. I had the HUGEST crush on her!
John Martin 22-Aug-2010 22:42
Great old memories, I worked at Gardners Great Valu from 1974 to 1979, many old memories of both those shopping centers, I went to Olympia Heights , royal palm elem, rivera , and graduated southwest in 73 , those were the good old days in miami, moved to naples in 1992 , only go back to visit now, parents are buried at miami memorial park, i do miss frankies pizza , and the donut shoppe that was by bird bowl :)
Jeff Rawdin nka Sonn 20-Sep-2009 00:34
Next to the publix was a pizza parlor. also used to have pinball arcade called Tommy's for a short while. also had the Jerry Lewis Theater for awhile. the Hairy Eyeball was owned by bonnie rosenthal's dad. my brother, Bruce Rawdin, worked at the Publix. There was a Great Value across the street next to sentry drugs, and a barber shop. there was a wallgreens? near the publix, not sure; used to read the "happy hooker" books there in 6th grade. bottles to publix got you 5cents. hung out at miller park. lived on 59th street off 95th avenue. attended blue lakes early 1970's then glades. brothers bruce, david and brian rawdin
Mark B 22-May-2009 01:49
Always liked the old Publix design. Does anyone remeber how the letters in the Publix sign would change colors at night, and there was a sort of "up and down" lights between the wings? I also remember the old TV comercials. Can still remember the music. At the end the announcer would say "Publix - Where shopping is a pleasure", and the last few notes of the theme ended "Ba Bum, Ba ba ba ba bum".
Jeanne DeFalco Shaw 09-Feb-2009 15:59
I remember this Publix, they were opened 6 days a week, (closed on Sundays). I used to walk from home (near Miller & Galloway) to Miller Park across the street from Publix, collecting glass soda bottles and turning them in at U-totem for 2 cents each to buy candy and go sit in the park and eat it. I went to Blue Lakes 71, Glades 74 and Southwest 77. My Mom always bought milk and ice cream at the Farm Store drive thru'.
Guest 10-Jan-2009 03:21
Just want to say that the Carvel is still there and is still owned by Joe and his wife. They are the original owners. My wife and I moved off Miller and 97th in 1960. She was in the first graduating class at Southwest 1959.. Still live in that same house...
Steve 29-Dec-2008 10:29
Pizza Patio! They had the best stuffed potatoes around. They had great meatballs, friend chicken, and other "generic" American food. The guy who owned it said he'd be there forever...I wish he was.

I went back to Frankie's a couple of years ago, after having been away for probably over 20 years; unfortunately just after the original owner had recently died. His family lived across the street from me when where were at the corner of 103rd ave. and 40th terrace (only for a year, 1968-69).
Glen 25-Nov-2008 18:45
I grew up only blocks from Riviera junior high school. My parents also shopped at the Publix /Miller Road. They preferred its cleanliness/friendliness as compared to the other shopping centers in the area. I remember playing tennis at a park, seemingly, directly across the street. I attended St. Timothy's/tropical elementary and later Riviera. I graduated Southwest high school in 1974. The picture reminds me ofThe whole area, with the 3 Bigg Lakes where I used to ride my motorcycle and sometimes camp overnight. The whole general area seened self-contained between school, recreation, social etc. I currently live in Nashville, my kids all attended private schools. I transported them to sport teams practices, schools etc.. Sometimes they roller there eyes when i discuss the old days in the neighborhood, consisting of the area zoned Southwest high school. Also, pizza patio and Frankies pizza were favored spots. Great site and wonderful pictures.
Steve 18-Oct-2008 06:23
My family was friends with the family that owned the Wash-Bowl at what was then the left-most part of the strip mall (ca. 1970). They introduced us to the Gold Star Deli on the Trail, which is in the previous photo. A year or two later they extended the shopping center to the left of the coin laundry. There was a Carvel, and a Jerry Lewis cinema. I was in the second row of people when they set up a stage for the grand opening of the theater, when Jerry Lewis himself appeared. The Jerry Lewis cinemas went bust, the theater went porno, I believe.

At the time we'd just moved from a house at 40th terrace and 102nd ave. to an apartment near Sunset Corners. I moved from Tropical Elementary to Kenwood (and then on to Glades and Killian).
Michael 30-Sep-2008 13:11
Re: Dave C 06-Sep-2008 22:52
Does anyone know when they built the shopping center that would extend to the left of Publix
*****
I can remember there being the beginnings of a strip mall there in the early-mid 70's, so you at least have a 10 year window or so now. I'm thinking that Krest 5 & 10 was one of the earlier tenants?? There had also been a shoe repair shop in there for a long while.

Dave C 06-Sep-2008 22:52
Does anyone know when they built the shopping center that would extend to the left of Publix.
Max 29-Jul-2008 18:48
My grandparents moved their Christian bookstore, the Bible Center, into this shopping center in the late 1980s. Their store was in a strip that did not exist when this picture was taken; it would be to the left of the Publix. Sadly, Publix has since remodeled this store and destroyed the distinctive "wing" structure that originally graced the front. The current store is a bland box. The last time I was in Miami, I believe I saw at least one Publix that maintained its original winged facade, but most of them seem to have been torn off and replaced by plain flat fronts. What a shame.
Dave07-Apr-2008 00:18
Also in this strip was a store called The Hairy Eyeball, sort of a hippy shop with records, incense, posters, etc. And across the street was a small grocery store called Great-Valu (yes Valu). Also Miller Hardware, and a chinese restaurant. My best buddy lived around the corner on 94 Place.
Michael 12-Mar-2008 20:43
How funny! (I'm the Guest from the 12-14-07 post) I had Mr. Touhy as well, and loved him! Right hand on the Bible, just the other day I Googled that classic song "Seven Little Girls" from the wackadoo music history lessons he'd have in his Creative Writing class (I think that was the name.) Oh! And his polka-powered tossing of the tests on test days, dancing up and down the rows of chairs (instead of just handing them out). Yeah, he was definitely one of my favorites from that school.
rick 07-Mar-2008 03:38
i too remember the canal on miller and mr. Touhy (i think it was him) who had a comb over and show us the slide shows he put to music.
Guest 22-Feb-2008 19:58
Hey Gary :

I lived at 9220 S.W. 59th St., right off 92nd ave. The grocery next to Sentry Drugs was called By-Rite 1st & then Gardener's Market. After that it was a Great Value. Last time I saw it it was a Chinese Market. Do you remember the Carvel Ice Cream store near Walgreens?

I went to Blue Lakes, Glades & Southwest for a short time. The only teachers I remember from there are Mrs. Bonner in 1st grade & Miss Burkhart in 5th grade. I remember a few from Glades, like Mr. touhy, Mr. Tucker, who used to tell war stories & the give us tests about stuf TOTALY different than the war stories, & Mr Mayock, with his orange duo-tangs !! He taught in the auditorium. I had Mrs. Morrero
for homeroom in 7th grade. But the teacher I remember MOST there wasn't a teacher. He was E R Dotson, who would paddle yer ASS at the drop of a hat ! ! I loved that place SO much I went to 9th grade TWICE ! ! lol

Do you remember a little store in the stirp next to Publix in the corner there called the Popcorn Kitchen ? I worked there in 7th & 8th grade! !

My brother is named Steve Blanton. Hes about your age. He will be 50 in December & I'll turn 52 in a couple of months. My e-mail is rvz_rip@yahoo.com if you want to get in touch with me.

K.Blanton
Leighton 19-Feb-2008 04:53
We lived in "West Miami" (Fairlawn area) near the airport - I think there was a Publix in the area - off 8th?????
Roberta Perry Hughes 11-Feb-2008 08:03
Gary...I was towing my friend, Carol Miller, on the back of my red-and-white 24" wheel base Schwinn Spitfire bicycle, in front of her house, on S.W. 56th, & when I turned around, I was too close to the bank of the canal, & we went plummeting down the bank, & into the water.
A man, up on Miller Road, saw us go in, & he stopped, got out of his car, & hurried down the bank, on the opposite side, & into the water, where we were.
Carol was able to tiptoe out of the canal, on her own, but I was tangled up, & injured, as I was catapulted over my handlebars, & I landed, head first in the water, & the canal's slimy muddy bottom, with my pelvic area, draped over the handlebars, & my rear end in the air, & I would have drowned, or suffocated in the mud, had it not been for the Good Samaritan, who plucked me off of my bike, & carried me up the bank, to safety.
A neighbor girl from my Street (I lived at 9985 S.W. 55th St.) saw us go in the canal, & ran, down 99th Place, to my house, which was right at the end of that short road, & sounded the alarm, loudly screaming that I was in the canal, & so was Carol.
By the time the man carried me up to 56th Street, a crowd had gathered. Carol looked o.k., other than wet, pale, & crying, but I looked like a swamp monster, because my face & head had been in the slimy green mud of the canal's bottom, & it was all over me, from head-to-toe. My face had been just a few inches, from a group of broken beer bottles that had been tossed in the canal, so I was very lucky.
I complained of a stomach ache, & the next day, I was deeply black & blue, naval to knees, & hip-to-hip.
I knew Carol got out, as I could see her, going up the bank, when the man picked me up, so, I was glad of that, but was unreasonably hysterical, that my bicycle would "drown!" I guess it was like shock, or a post-traumatic thing, but the man had to reassure me that he would go back in, & fetch my bicycle for me.
They should have had a fence there, on both sides of that canal, to prevent such accidents. Not long after that incident, a young child toddled into the canal, & was floating face down. The Good Humour Ice Cream man, Cecil Ragsdale, went in after him, & performed a form of CPR, & the child was revived, & miraculously, was o.k. The kid lived on the corner of S.W. 56th Street & 99th Place.
There was nothing but a large wooded hammack, on the other side of Miller Road, in those days, where the boys built tree houses, & we made on-the-ground playhouses in the underbrush & shrubbery.
I, too attended Blue Lakes Elementary, for the 6th grade, & the first months of school were held in the portables, while the school was being built. My teacher was Mrs. Ferris. I remember another teacher there, for 6th grade, was Miss Marks. Can't remember the Phys. Ed's teacher's name, but he was in charge of the Safety Patrol. And I remember the music teacher, but I cannot remember his name, either. Wish I could, but I can see them all, in my memory, just as clearly as I can see this screen.
I am older than you...was 60, on October 19th...so my memories of this area go 'way back, ..."in the beginning..." when there were other dangers nearby, like, seemingly bottomless rock pits, with beautiful, inviting turquoise blue water, & the only indication of danger, was a wooden skull-and-crossbones sign.
Read my earlier post, this page, for what it was like, in that area, in the early-to-mid-1950's, long before this Publix was built, let alone any other stores that you have mentioned.
Roberta, going back in time, to paint an earlier picture, of her former neighborhood, & tolerating a chilly night, in the Peach State.
Gary Kilbride 07-Feb-2008 07:41
Wow. I discovered this site tonight and I'm typing this comment from my old boyhood home off 92nd Avenue, about a mile from this Publix. My family has shopped there for decades. In the past 7 weeks I've been visiting my dad, helping out while mom is in the hospital. We've been picking up items at the Publix every other day, on average. Amazing that the store itself basically hasn't expanded much. Prime time in that Publix is like loading the gates at the Kentucky Derby. Best of luck finding room to maneuver. And I never liked the angled parking. It's been there forever.

I went to Blue Lakes ('71), Glades ('74) and Southwest ('77). During junior high my friends and I would often walk to Glades for afternoon shift and pick up a few corn dogs from a little stand that was normally parked across the street, in front of U-Totem. I want to say that store was called By-Rite at some point, probably before switching to U-Totem.

Regarding the movie theater, it hardly started out showing adult movies. Quite the contrary. I remember the highly publicized night when Jerry Lewis visited, touting the official grand opening of the theater under his name. He started a string of theaters across the country. This had to be early '70s. My friends and I went to the grand opening and climbed atop huge Winnebago-type trailers in the parking lot. Hundreds of people there, perhaps a thousand or more. The local news covered it. Jerry Lewis finally showed up and spoke through a bullhorn. But the theater chain bombed and within a few years it turned to porno films.

Let's see, Sentry Drugs and U-Totem were the other frequent destinations, on the other side of Miller Road. Sentry seemed so classy. As a young kid I'd buy small gifts and cards there, when someone in my family was having a birthday, or for Mother's Day, etc.

I remember being in U-Totem (or By-Rite) in April '68 when they interrupted the song being played over the PA system and announced Martin Luther King Jr. had been shot and killed. I was with my mom. We were silent and stunned. I remember looking at the floor and we quietly walked out of the store.

Otherwise, there's a pool supply store on that north side. Basically hasn't changed in 30+ years. My dad still buys chlorine and other necessities.

Does anyone remember the canal that ran down the center of Miller Road in this area? It was removed in probably the early to mid '70s. Prior to being filled in, there were two areas where you could cross from one side to the other, in front of these stores. It dipped in the middle. One time, at perhaps 10 years old, I was riding my banana seat bike, going from the Publix side to Sentry. My friend Evan climbed aboard the back of the bike, and we were really testing the limits of the little bike. Sure enough, it failed to brake when we went down the dip. I can still picture the car coming rapidly on the other side and a collision seemed imminent. Luckily, both Evan and I saw the only remedy, and without words we stuck out our right arms to wrap around a conveniently placed Stop sign at the last second. The bike flung up over the rail and nearly into the canal. We were scuffed up a bit after the fall, but nothing major. I still think about that near-miss almost every time I drive past the area.
Guest 14-Dec-2007 20:18
My jaw dropped when I saw this pic. There was, in fact, an adult movie theater in the southeast corner. The entrance was down the corridor (as a pre-10 year old at the time, I remember asking my Mom what the big deal was about that particular movie theater!) There was also a Krest 5 & 10 in that strip mall, as well. But you musn't forget the mosaic mural of a cornucopia on the front of the Publix. There was also a drugstore there, but I'm not sure how long ago the Walgreen's moved in. I better remember going to the Sentry Drugs across the street, on the same side as the old U-Totem. I went to Blue Lakes Elementary for a year, then on to Glades Middle School :) Oh!! And I must say that I was just back in Miami over Thanksgiving and went to Frankie's Pizza on Bird Road. It's still there as of 11/07, it's still kicking and it's still the best pizza down there! :)
Chris 26-Nov-2007 06:59
I seem to remember a pornography movie theatre located in the southeast corner of this strip mall. Always wondered how they let it stay there for years in this kind of neighborhood.
Guest 06-Nov-2007 14:52
Born 1959-I grew up within 3 miles of this Publix and still shop there today. I now live near Sunset at 103 ave
Ray 19-Oct-2007 00:59
I went by this store to take a picture of it today. The classic Publix wings are long gone. The landscaping practically hides the store name today. But if you would like to do a then/now comparison, I put today's pic on my server. I can't post links here, so put /images/miami/DSCN5262.JPG after my domain name which is rayvaughan (you know) com.

I think the old Publix on South Beach may still have the wings. I hope they keep a few around. They're classic. I'm sure all that neon was expensive to maintain, but even without it they're cool.
Jeff Jenkins 08-Sep-2007 22:15
I used to go to this store many times when I used to live there. I never realized how old some of these places are!
Guest 13-Jul-2007 17:10
I moved to this area in 1975 I went to Southwest then my kids went to Cypress, Rivera & Southwest. It's incredible to see this Publix standing there all by itself.
Guest 26-Jun-2007 04:27
I enjoyed reading Roberta's comments. I remember most of the places she comments on. Westwood Lake from Bird Road to Miller Road where this Publix was.
My wife used to skate at Sunland Rink next to the Bird Bowl once or twice a week. She also went to Riveria Jr. High (I think it was a brand new school then) and then Southwest High. She lived on 92 Ave & 42 Terr. not far behind Frankie's Pizza.
Roberta Perry Hughes 17-Jun-2007 10:39
We lived 1 block from here, on S.W 55th St. my 3rd Elem. Sch. was Blue Lakes when it was built closer to home. My 1st was Olympia Heights on Bird Road...amazing that we didn't get run over, crossing it!! 2nd was Tropical Elem. For all 3, we were in the "portables" first, then moved into the new bldgs. I'd rather have stayed in the portables. They were like a little village. Brother Willie & I went to Riviera Jr. high; sister Audrey went to Southwest, then married after she graduated in 1960. In 1961 our family moved back to Georgia.
I was in Brownie Troop 580, & have often thought about my former Troop members. Den Mother was Mrs. Jones, mother of Eleanor, & Thursday meetings were held in her home on 102nd Ave.
The "hero" of 55th St. was Mr. David Leslie, who had 1 son, Mike. Mr. Leslie would round up neighborhood kids & pile us in his station wagon for a day @ the beach...wife Eleanor was excersize instructor @ Matheson Hammock...or, he'd take us to Tropicare Drive-In to see a double feature. He was a mail carrier.
My friend Anna's father, Mr. Stanley Ward, worked for Maul Construction. He gave us new pencils with the Maul logo on them. His wife worked @ Holsum Bakery, as did eldest daughter Linda, after she graduated.
Our father, William Penn Perry, worked for Richard's Department Store, delivering pkgs, as did his brother, Johnny. Before that, Daddy worked on a shrimp boat, & later, he drove a city bus, before he went to work for Richard's. That's where we always shopped. Never saw the inside of Burdine's or Jordan Marsh.
We loved to skate @ Sunland Skating Rink, next to Bird Bowl. We shopped @ Food Fair, Goodys Shoes, & Bird Drugs. Dr. Burley was our family doctor, Dr. Denker our dentist, & Dr. Weiss ou optometrist, all were in the same "strip" as Bird Drugs. It's all gone, now, from what I've been told.
Still have a 1st cousin down there, Mary J. (Perry) Johnson, & 3 of her 4 kids live in the area, also. Once, all of our relatives, on both sides of the family, lived in the Greater Miami area, & Opa Locka, Hollywood, Miami Springs, & Hialeah. Everyone left the state, by the late 1970's.
Cousin Leroy Tauer, aka, Leroy Caulder, lived in Miami Springs & later, in Hialeah. He was the Duncan Yo-Yo champ for several years, & was unbeatable @ marbles. He now lives in California.
I never got over leaving Miami, & loved living there, the way it USED to be, before the condos & high-rises came along & ruined the skyline, & dwarfed the courthouse.
I miss the tropical foliage & tropical fruits, & neatly-trimmed Florida cherry hedges.
I adore mangoes & avocados, loquats & kumquats, but never cared for papayas. Sapadillas, rose apples, sand pears, & guavas were good, especially when made into preserves or jelly.
I miss the ficus trees, Royal Poincianas, & Sea Grapes, with their big leaves.
Your site is such a welcome one for me, & I thank you for it, from the bottom of my heart!! God bless you, Don!!I Would love to hear from former Brownie Troop 580 members & former school mates,& from anyone who remembers my cousins, & kids who lived on S.W. 55th Street & the surrounding blocks, during the ' 50's. Email me @ robertah47@aol.com. Many thanks, for the memories!!