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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 >> 1960 to 1969 Miami Area Historical Photos Gallery - click on image to view > 1968 - First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Miami in North Miami
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FEB-1968 © 1968 Dave Kleylein

1968 - First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Miami in North Miami

NE 125 Street and 9 Avenue, North Miami, Florida


Thank you to former Miamian Dave Kleylein (William Jennings Bryan Elementary, North Miami Junior High, North Miami High, and Norland High Class of 1962) for contributing this image. Dave kept his vast fortune in a passbook savings account at this branch, thus why he took the photo.


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Jeff 13-Mar-2014 23:33
Current local residents of North Miami know this bank is now a Chase location; the 99 cents Stuff store is currently a Deals (part of Dollar Tree stores)...

Before building this branch, the bank was originally located in a storefront at 635 NE 135th Street and was once photographed around 1955 by the late Ernie W. Skog (who took a number of pictures displayed on Don's site). Ironically, Ernie moved into this location some time later as his business expanded.
Dorrine Fisher Simmons 01-Oct-2013 17:18
I worked at First Federal on 125th St. As a teller for several years then became a traveling teller going to the N.Miami Beach office. I do remember Burt Bolton and was trying to recall the branch managers name,a lovely man. Renee Brittain and I worked there. One teller incident - I recall was when a young couple came in with $10,000 in cash (probably drug money, its was the late 70s), anyway I counted out the small bills and ended up mistakenly giving them $1,000 extra. They were nice enough to return it ,making my draw even again!! Whew
Dorrine Simmons blondedog@comcast.net looking for RENEE'
Guest 27-Aug-2013 01:52
My grandfather, William H. Walker, founded First Federal...it was the very first savings and loan in our country. The story goes that he camped out on the steps of the Capitol in DC in order to obtain charter number one! Anyone who has any memories of Walkerdaddy (or my mom, Dolores) please contact me on Facebook.

Mary Krebs
Guest 02-Jun-2013 23:23
No, this was not ever Peoples Credit Union. That was (and still is) located at 680 NE 124 Street. That's one block south and two blocks west of this bank. I also had my first ever bank account there and am still a member of Peoples Credit Union.
Guest 17-Mar-2013 16:20
I had my first savings account at this bank in 1965 after I graduated from high school....then on to Jackson Memorial School of Nursing in 1968.
Guest 10-Mar-2013 04:16
I believe this bank was once Peoples Credit Union, not sure if it still is.
Kevin Carter 21-May-2012 01:33
Boy, do I remember that bank. I used to pass by it twice a day on my bike going to North Miami High, class of 1973. I also recall opening up a savings account there, depositing two (I believe) $5.00 gold certificates, and still remember my disappointment when I wanted to withdraw my money, that I didn't get the original gold certificates back.
Don Boyd26-Apr-2011 14:15
Dave, banks are required to turn over dormant accounts to the state and they hold the money until someone legitimately claims it. I would check the state's website at:
http://www.fltreasurehunt.org/ControlServlet?ActionForm=GotoNewPublicSearch
to see if your name is listed there.

Don
Guest 18-Nov-2010 14:07
I would so love to talk to ANYONE who worked at First Federal back in the day, particularly Mr. Bolton. My cell is 863-224-2432, and my name is Betsy Peacock
Don Boyd27-May-2010 19:33
I'm reposting these comments from an e-mail that I received from Mr. Burt Bolton, with his permission:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5/27/10

I was really taken by this photo from Dave Kleylein. I was named Branch Manager of this office in 1968 after managing the Flager Street Porta Branch of First Federal from 1964 to 1968. In 1976 I was named Regional Manager of First Federal's North Dade Region and moved my office to the second floor of the 125th Street Branch. I believed, as well as my fellow officers of First Federal (later AmeriFirst), that this North Miami Office was the best constructed building that was ever built by any Bank in Florida It had a generator that would kick in automatically during any power outage. Mayor Sherman Wynn once said that, after a hurricane put out all the lights in North Miami, First Federal stood like a bright beacon in the darkness.

Wonderful memories. Thank you,

Burt Bolton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Burt for adding some great perspective to the above photo for all of us to enjoy!

Don
Randy 14-Dec-2008 12:20
I remember going to the bank with my mom. What I remember about it seemed to be almost like church. It was hushed and formal. It was especially great in the summer since they had really cold ac and we had none at home until the 70's. I always liked the cold water fountain as well- simple pleasures you know.
Guest 17-Jan-2008 20:04
Jeff,
I can remember opening my first savings account in this building. I was a newsboy at the time with the News and we could save some money each week in “bond” with the News after paying our weekly bill. They would give us a small amount in interest on the money we put in bond and I decided to open my own savings account with a “real” bank when I found out I could make a little more interest at the bank. It made me feel pretty gorwn up at that time to have my own savings account in a bank!
Dave the Guest
Jeff 16-Jan-2008 07:46
How nice this building USED to look!

It's gone through a couple of ownerships (from First Federal to AmeriFirst, to Great Western and now it's currently Washington Mutual (or WaMu for those who need a dumbing-down to survive in today's world)...

The rooftop clock was taken down a few years ago, and the building got a make-over a while back into one of the sterile form-and-function geometrics that passes for modern "architecture"...

The car in the forground (on the right side of the photo) was parked in the Food Fair parking lot. For those who might care... Food Fair became Pantry Pride, then Wooley's, then Malone and Hyde... then history...

The old grocery store is now a dollar store called 99 cents Stuff [and it's barely hanging on]...