George W. Kosel

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I transcribed this document from a very fragile typescript that I found in the archives of the Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum.

George Washington Kosel was born on August 5, 1875 in Hempstead, Queens, New York to Ludwig and Bodil Olsen Kosel. Ludwig was from Sweden, while Bodil was from Denmark. His sister, Ulrica E., who married a Martin, was born in 1858 while his brother, Frederick W., was born in 1870.

This document provides some intriguing lines of inquiry into the Frederick family, among others. John Stanley Frederick (1853-1910), who married Antoinette E. Gazzam in 1871, was a prominent civil engineer and was in charge of the initial survey for the F.E.C. when the route of the railroad from Miami to Homestead was laid out. He was the man who platted the original Town of Homestead in 1904. His wife was born in 1861 and married John in 1883. Antoinette had at least three siblings: Edwin Van Deusen, born in 1866; Irene G., born in 1869 and Maria F., born in 1871.

In 1905, George Kosel married Antoinette’s sister, Maria F., thus becoming John Frederick’s brother-in-law. They had two children: George, Jr. (1909 – 1975) and Bodil, who was born in 1913. She lived in the family home at Plummer and Redland until her death.

Samuel A. Belcher was a prominent man in Miami history – he was the founder of Belcher Oil Co.and was very active in real estate, in promoting the construction of highways and was the chairman of the Dade County Commission at the time of the dedication of the Royal Palm State Park in 1916.

This is the only primary document that I’ve seen that mentions both Brown and Moody and the Tweedell Brothers store at Cutler. Most documents only mention Brown and Moody. The Tweedell brothers were Walter Jackson and Erving Groover. Walter was Homestead’s second county commissioner – Thomas Brewer was the first.

The mention of the first Silver Palm school being located opposite Edward Gallaher’s house bears investigating, too. I’m not sure that anyone knows the exact location of the school.

It is unknown when or by whom this document was written. Since it is typewritten but also has penciled corrections, it appears that it may have originally been written prior to the arrival of the Seaboard All Florida line in Homestead in 1927 but edited after June 29, 1935, when mail delivery from the Redland Post Office was discontinued.1 The article further states that the Redland Post Office was demolished in the past month “to make way for one of the new subdivisions.”

____________________________________________________________________

George W. Kosel
One of the makers of Redland history is George W. Kosel. Mr. Kosel came to Redland in 1902 and homesteaded the southeast quarter of 26-56-38, where he lives today. In 1905 he married Elsa Maria F. Gazzam of Utica, N.Y., who homesteaded in section 34-56-38.

Mr. Kosel was born in Hempstead, Long Island in 1875. In 1894, urged by a desire to travel and a curiosity to see Florida, he came south and located in Stark (sic), Bradford Co., Fla. Here he planted a Truck & Berry Farm but was ruined by the well-known freeze of ‘94. He then visited Cuba to see if there might be a chance there for citrus raising. Deciding to the contrary, he returned to Long Island but cropped there only one winter. Anywhere was better than another winter in the cold north.

Upon his second arrival in Florida, he began to make inquiries. They told him South Florida was no place for a mule, let alone a man. Barred from North Florida by frost, from Cuba by observation and from southern Florida by Dame Rumor, he turned as a last resort to the southeast shore of Lake Okeechobee. As a burnt cat is afraid of fire, so did this pioneer seek a protected place for a grove, free from all danger of frost.

Fate had decided otherwise. On the train from Jacksonville south, he met a brother of his brother-in-law, Mr. John Hull Fredericks, then living in Miami. Instead of stopping off at Ft. Pierce, Mr. Kosel went on to Miami. This city looked fine and tropical to him, quite unlike the stories told to him about it. Riding his bicycle he saw flourishing tomato fields. He noticed that these plants were growing without cultivation, unharmed by the native grasses on the virgin glade lands. As a contrast to the soil of Long Island which must be light and sandy for the tomato, the Florida glade tomato needed only a hoe. He saw fortunes being made by tomato growers and he bought land on Snapper Creek prairie, thru S. A. Belcher for 10 dollars and 2 more from the Model Land Co.2 His brother-in-law, Mr. J. S. Frederick, was a surveyor. This was before the day of the railroad south of Miami. His pioneer days were spent south of Larkin on Snapper Creek and he was among those who helped build Sunset Road.

While packing tomatoes for Mr. Belcher, he met C. H. Perry, at whose house he boarded. Mr. Perry told him about the country to the south, how the timber grew so dense that you could not see the sky thru it. He made a visit to this very district, saw for himself the land with a red soil where he believed citrus trees would grow, and vegetables would flourish. Though he could have bought pineland in Larkin for $10 an acre, he saw Redland soil and located his homestead here. At that time there was no town of Redland. As proof that he never regretted his choice, let it be known that Mr. Kosel still lives on his original homestead. Tho’ he knows that there are flats around Larkin good for growing citrus, he feels that Redland is without its equal in the entire state. Since the freeze in ‘94 – ‘95 in northern Florida, there has been a constant development southward, as everyone is well aware of today.

When he settled his homestead Mr. Kosel thought that out of the entire 160 acres, he might be able to use about 40. The rest would be too rocky and would be good for homesites only. He was not long in discovering that a grove can be set out better in this rock than in sand. Also that groves in this region will produce as many boxes of fruit per acre as any acre in florida. One thing must be done to accomplish this, since our trees do not grow as large as those up-state, we must set out more trees to the acre. In that way only will we produce as many boxes to the acre.

The first trees to be planted were avocadoes, from seeds and guavas on high pine land, at the corner of Plummer Drive and Redland Road. Those trees grew so large that this particular corner has been called “The Jungle.” On his lower land he planted tomatoes. Tho’ he always paid expenses, there were so many disappointments that he finally gave it up. When Mr. Kosel first came to Redland his brother, Fred and his sister Mrs. Ulrica Martin, came with him. Also Charles T. Plummer came at the same time. They found the village of Silver Palm had already been started in 1900, the only town south of Cutler. Dan Roberts and Claude Jenkins were the first two to cross Gossman’s glade and homestead in the Redlands on Coconut Palm Drive. Mr. Roberts is still living on his original homestead and the homestead of Mr. Jenkins is now the site of W. H. Cast’s house.

The first school house to be built south of Cutler was on Silver Palm Road opposite E. H. Gallahers’ store on the site of the large white house now owned by W. J. Boerner from Wisconsin.3 Among those helping to erect this school house were Dan Hardy, Charles and Henry Gossman, George Kosel, C. W. Hill, Dan Roberts, J. S. Castello, L. R. Nixon, J. R. Walker, the preacher, and Y. K. Knighton and others.

When it was deemed expedient to build a schoolhouse in this newly settled district, the few who lived here, including Frank Kanan, who homesteaded the land now owned by W. M. Brodie on Redland Road, got together and called it Redland. This happened in 1905 or there about. The School building known today as the Woman’s Club house was built in the winter of 1904-54 and used as the local school house for the residents of Redland. The Redland postoffice was built in 1905-6 at the corner of Bauer Drive and Redland Road. During the past month this building has been taken down to make way for one of the new subdivisions.5

Previous to the creation of the postoffice, anyone happening to be going to Cutler would get the mail for all in this vicinity and put it in a box at Henry Gossman’s corner at Silver Palm and Tennessee Roads where each family would help himself.

Groceries were brought from Cutler by the favored few who owned teams – Mr. Kosel, L. R. Nixon (Uncle Nick), Wm. Anderson and Charles Gossman. When one of these set off for Cutler, he would be hailed from every doorstep and given a commission, no one forgetting to handout the kerosene oil can. After trading at Brown and Moody’s or Tweedel Bros. store, the driver would start homeward along the bumpy and Boggy trail thru the Glade and pine land. It took a skillful driver to arrive home with groceries unsaturated with kerosene from at least several cans.

To those who have heard the story of one of our earliest pioneers, it will be interesting to know that Mr. Kosel has had so much faith in the future of Redland that he still owns 120 of his original 160 acres. The Seaboard Rail Road has also decided to honor him by erecting a station near him and running a line near the boundary of his grove.6

In cursive writing: Mr. Kosel states that unfortunately it seems that his and his mother’s Estate are located in the line of the proposed Extension of the Seaboard R.R. to Homestead. But he says the Kosels are willing to donate a mile of right of way together with a Station Site on Plummer drive, provided arrangements can be made with the Seaboard to protect the proper interests of the Redland community.

Lilburn R. Nixon – Early Pioneer Tales

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The following article, by Lilburn R. Nixon, appeared in the Homestead Enterprise on September 26, 1918. In March of 1902, Nixon claimed John Brinzel’s relinquishment of his homestead, which ran south and west from the intersection of Newton Rd. and Silver Palm. Later, he sold the corner 5 acres to Will Anderson, who built and operated his general merchandise store, known as Anderson’s Corner, for a number of years. Nixon was a member of William J. Krome’s Cape Sable Exploration survey, which took place from December of 1902 until June of 1903. The survey was ordered by Henry Flagler in an attempt to find the most economical route to Key West.

In Miami in 1902, Avenue C was east 1st Avenue, Avenue D was Miami Avenue, and Twelfth was Flagler. The city was much larger than what Nixon describes it as. Passenger service on the F.E.C. Railway began to Miami on April 22, 1896 and the city was incorporated on July 28th with 502 voters. The soldiers who fought in the Spanish-American War had used the city as a staging point and there were over two thousand residents by 1902. The court house was on 13th street, not on the river, and it was not completed until late in 1903 or early in 1904. There was not, as yet, a bridge across the Miami River, but the area on the south side of the river was settled, too.

The Gossman homesteads were on the east side of Tennessee Rd., between Coconut Palm and Silver Palm Drives. Dan Roberts had homesteaded in 1898 at Redland and Coconut Palm. “Krome’s corner” was the intersection of Avocado and Krome.

For more information on the Cape Sable survey, read this post, entitled Camp Longview.

Work on the Key West Extension commenced in Homestead in April of 1905.

Modello, named for the Model Land Company, was at the intersection of Biscayne Drive and U. S. 1.

It is very interesting to note that in the space of just 16 years (1902 – 1918), almost all of the deer and other wild animals had been killed off. “Hunters” were arrested for baiting quail with corn in the 1960s but I haven’t seen one since maybe the mid-1970s.

L R Nixon cropped

Lilburn R. Nixon

Photograph courtesy of Candyce Pridgen

TALES OF PIONEER DAYS IN SOUTH DADE’S EARLY HISTORY

Say, Boys; Look Who’s Here: Uncle Nick, the Old-Timer
Who Put “Home” in Homestead

By L. R. Nixon

I am a native of Adair county, Mo., where my folks are among the earliest settlers in that part of the state. I came to Florida in 1884 and settled in Marion county where I engaged in farming and grove planting, but the big freezes in 1894-5 killed off all our trees and after working at other things for a while, I decided to go south to Dade county. Migrated to Dade county in 1902 and when I reached Miami I found it to be a very small settlement indeed. As I remember it Budge’s store at Avenue D and Twelfth and the drug store at Avenue C and Twelfth were all the stores there were on the north side. On the south side Sewell had his store and there were a few others at the time, but they were very scarce. After the railroad came and the town was surveyed it grew very rapidly. Mr. Frohock was sheriff then and the jail was located at Avenue D and the river, the court house being in the same place.

After leaving Miami our journey was continued in a wagon, C. A. Gossman’s place being our destination. The “road” was nothing more or less than a trail and it was far more comfortable to walk than to ride. When I got to what is now known as Silver Palm I found Charles and Henry Gossman and C. W. Hill there with their families, while Dan Roberts and Claude Jenkins, who were also there, were keeping “bachelors’ hall.” The country looked good to me and I bought the old abandoned claim of Mr. Brinsell (said to be the oldest settler in this section) for $75 and proved it up. We lived here about four years before moving to near Krome’s Corner.

The first thing I did after reaching the Homestead section was to put out a grove of about 35 acres for W. J. Krome, at Krome’s corner. I planted a number of other groves before engaging in different lines of work.

The Cape Sable Exploration Party, headed by Mr. Krome, made a survey of the Cape Sable country shortly after this and it was my good fortune to be a member of it. This was the first survey made of the country and it was attended by many hardships. We were, it is believed, the first white men to put foot on some of the soil in this wild country. The time consumed in this work covered nearly a year, but the actual survey took about ten months. The greatest difficulty experienced was in getting supplies, which had to be transported from Cutler, a distance of 26 miles, along the Camp Jackson trail to our camp, which was located this side of Royal Palm Hammock. Supplies were delivered to Camp Jackson by wagon and thence to Camp East Point on Long Key, where the members of the party assisted in carrying the packs, weighing about 75 pounds each. Following this general survey came another by the railroad people, who were seeking the best way southward. The railroad survey followed the Camp Jackson trail to a point south of Royal Palm Hammock where it was abandoned for the present time.

Shortly after this I got a job as a walking boss on the extension which kept me busy for a long time. While holding this job I made the acquaintance of a genuine West Indian hurricane, on October 18, 1906, the one that caused so much damage. The chief danger from hurricanes is from the action of the sea. When one is remote from the ocean and is living in a well-built house a hurricane is no more to be feared than a heavy storm in the north.

After quitting work on the extension I went back to my old job of setting out groves and engaged in the general fertilizer business. Three years ago I was appointed postmaster of Homestead and am still on the job.

As I look back on the pioneer days when the “road” from Cutler was a mere trail, along which all our supplies had to be brought, and consider the great changes that have been made, it makes me feel glad that I’m living in times when modern conveniences are within the reach of us all. Now we can go down to the corner grocery and get our meat, sugar and bread, as well as the other necessary supplies. If we are too lazy to do for them, we simply telephone our wants and the obliging grocer does the rest. But the “corner grocery” in those early days was at Cutler, 14 miles from Silver Palm, which was reached by a trail that was rough and rocky all the way. Getting groceries in those days was serious business, for even if a horse were used to bring the load, the trail was so rough that everyone preferred to walk. But while living was primitive the people were companionable and most of us were fairly contented.

There were two trails in those days — the Longview trail that led from Cutler to Longview. This is the road we used in getting our supplies from Cutler to Silver Palm. The other trail was the Camp Jackson trail which led from Goulds to a point this side of Royal Palm Hammock. The supplies were usually carried encased in water-proof material so that if the packcarriers fell in the water no damage would result to the grub. Some people would naturally think in this glade work that our chief concern was to dodge snakes, bears and other inhabitants of that wild country, whereas our first and only anxiety was to know that there was plenty on the table to eat and more coming on the way.

Traveling through the glades was as difficult a job then as anyone could ask for. The plan was simple enough — just load a small boat with your supplies and take it along with you. The wading was generally good — that is, as good as one could expect in that section of the country.

I have a number of pictures taken of Mr. Krome and others in our party, all rigged out in their gunning costumes. There were plenty of deer hereabouts in those days and as venison was good eating we helped ourselves. Burt Yellery killed three as fine deer as I ever saw on the glade between Homestead and Florida City right where the railroad crossing now is. Burt had never killed a deer before, but he landed three in a row on his first hunt.

My first “house” in the Silver Palm section was one of the first in the Homestead territory. Of course there was nothing in what is now Homestead, excepting a corduroy road that I helped build from the site of Modello south.

To come back to my mention at Silver Palm. If anybody thinks it wasn’t a primitive affair, let them come to my house and I will show them a photograph of it that will tell the story better than I can. To begin with it was built of logs and clapboards. No, there were no windows whatever — just one door. The roof was made of palmetto thatch which shed the water fairly well. Nowadays we would hate to put a cow in a shanty of that kind. But it was the best that could be had in those days, and there were plenty who didn’t have even as good. Of course when we got a bit chesty and the sun of prosperity began to shine on us, we could build a double-pen loghouse (two loghouses built tandem a short distance apart, with a common roof over them, forming practically one house with a covered porch between them). The man with a double-pen log house was “it” in those days.

Gunning then was fine. There were plenty of deer and now and then we would run across a bear, but never succeeded in getting one. Quail were very numerous, but there were no pheasants or wild turkey, although the Ten Thousand Islands country, which is not very far distant from Homestead in a straight line, has lots of game of this kind. Wild ducks were very plentiful then, but I never bothered to shoot them, preferring to use my ammunition on deer, for I was very fond of venison. There was another kind of “game” in those days as well as now — the gay and festive mosquito. One of my pictures shows a tent occupied by W. J. Krome which was very completely camouflaged with mosquito netting. The tent and the netting are in plain sight, but W. J. is nowhere to be seen. Another of my pictures shows us busily at work in our White Water Bay Camp, burning a smudge to drive the little pests away.

I will stop here and let those who will follow tell of the early days in Homestead; of the days when the foundations were laid and the work of primitive town building begun. That I have enjoyed life is evident by comparing the pictures taken in those days with what the camera would tell now. In those days we walked. Now we “Ford” it for short as well as for long journeys, and maybe this has as much to do with the great increase in my girth as anything else. Anyhow we will let it got (sic) at that.

The Longview Women’s Club

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by Jeff Blakley

If you stop at Robert is Here, at the corner of Tower Road and Palm Drive west of Florida City to buy a milkshake or some of their other offerings and if you look very closely at the overgrown northwest corner of the intersection you might by able to see that there is a house behind all of the vegetation. The house was the original Longview Schoolhouse and was used by the Longview Women’s Club after the school was closed when the Florida City school opened in 1916.

The Longview Women’s Club was famous for its rag rugs and pine needle baskets, which they made to raise funds for their many projects. One project that is never mentioned is their role in the establishment of the Royal Palm State Park in 1916. Mrs. Agnes Stewart Loveland, the wife of Edward Collins Loveland (and the family for whom Loveland Road is named) was the chair of the building committee for the Lodge in the Park. She and Charles Mosier, the warden, were responsible for the construction of the Lodge. Other local clubs also had a role to play in the establishment and running of the Park, including Homestead, Redland and Princeton, but the Longview Club probably played the biggest role since it was nearest to the Park.

I found this article in the February 26, 1925 issue of the Homestead Leader, and found it most interesting reading, as the history of women’s clubs in the Homestead area holds that the Homestead Woman’s Club, organized in September of 1914, was the first organized in the area. It was not. The Longview Club was organized in May of 1911.

The officers elected were: President, Mrs. H. H. Ewing; vice-president, Mrs. R. L. Moser; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. W. C. Norwood1. The members were: Mrs. F. C. Henn, Mrs. J. L. Waddy, Mrs. R. D. Marsh, Mrs. Schnellbacher, Mrs. M. R. Houston, Mrs. F. W. Bealey, Mrs. H. H. Ewing, Mrs. T. Brooker, Mrs. W. C. Norwood, Mrs. H. Brooker2, Mrs. O. W. Calkins3, Mrs. E. Brooker, Mrs. P. M. Bauknight4, Mrs. A. W. Chapman5 Mrs. W. D. Horne6, Mrs. A. C. Horne7, Miss Linscott8and Miss Houston.9

LONGVIEW CLUB ENJOYS UNIQUE

PROGRAM FOR PRESIDENT’S DAY

The members of the Longview Club enjoyed an interesting and delightful afternoon at their meeting Thursday, Feb. 26, when they installed the officers elected at their last meeting and honored their retiring president, Mrs. E. C. Loveland; their past presidents, Mrs. H. H. Ewing and Mrs. Josephine Waite; and the new president, Mrs. Gertrude B. Fuller.

The club rooms were most attractively decorated with flowers and greenery and with beautiful specimens of the artistic rugs which are the product of the Longview loom. The club has woven to order specially designed rugs for some of the most beautiful and artistic homes of Coconut Grove and Miami, and its rugs have been ordered from far distant places.

When Mrs. Loveland arose to present the gavel of her office to her successor she received a heart-warming ovation. There was a demonstration of unmistakable affection and deep appreciation. The members rose to their feet and waved and chanted:

Agnes Loveland, president,
For nine good years and more,
Every Longview resident,
Wants her nine years more.

Had trick of Fate placed her upon
The throne of good queen Bess
The British realm were better ruled
Each Longview dame says, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

With the poise and unconscious grace that marks her always, in gracious words of good cheer and good wishes, she passed the gavel to Mrs. Gertrude Fuller, the new president, who declared her trepidation in following so able a president and declared that she would need every bit of help possible.

Mrs. H. H. Ewing gave a very able and interesting historical sketch of the early pioneer homesteading days and the first years of the Longview Neighborhood Club as it was first called. It was organized in May, 1911 in the home of Mrs. R. L. Moser. Mrs. Ewing, the first president, served two years.

Several great get-together meetings were held, all day meetings with bountiful repasts, free to all, and among the guests were those who have become famous in Florida. Traveling was tedious business in those days when roads were trails, and the ladies brought their sewing and stayed all day.

These were red-letter days for those early homesteading women far from the music, lectures, churches and associations of their former city homes.

Mr. Baulknight (sic) gave the acre of ground where the club house now stands to the school board to be used for a school, and the club house was once the Long View school house. As women ever will, the early club members centered upon making the best possible provisions for the children.

Early Long View Club members improved the school grounds with flowers, put curtains at the windows, started a school library. Each year the club gave a reception to the teachers when school opened in Septemeber.

Everybody wore evening dress, and there was a formal receiving line. Parents and pupils met and greeted and became acquainted with the new teachers. Strict company manners were observed, for they wanted the children to know how to act when they went out and took their places in the world of larger affairs and how were they to learn unless parents provided the opportunity? Mrs. Calkins had fine dramatic ability and plays were put on that drew out the talents and abilities of the members for the good of all. This recognition of the dignity and value of the teaching profession gave an emphasis to education it were wel lto (sic) continue and emulate.

Mrs. H. S. Jenison, past president of the Dade County Federation came from Miami to give the principal address and as she said to pay her homage to the lady her husband calls “the lovely Mrs. Loveland”, to share in a happy day and to cheer and welcome Mrs. Fuller to her new duties. Her remarks were cordial and gracious.

Mrs. Sigler in her original monologues and mimicry was a host and at her best.

Mrs. W. R. Crow added much to the pleasure of the day by two songs most beautifully rendered.

Mrs. Redhead played “Souvenir” by Franze Drdla, exquisitely, on the violin and responded to an encore with “A Happy Wedding”.

The officers of the club who were installed are: president, Mrs. Gertrude B. Fuller; vice-president, Mrs. M. G. Tracy; second vice-president, Mrs. Clara Tucker; treasurer, Mrs. Flora D. Myers; recording secretary, Mrs. Ben Biggers.

The committee on arrangements for the day served under Mrs. J. M. Dobbin, chairman, and the program committee was headed by Mrs. Hubert Potter. Mrs. R. L. Moser is chairman of the home economics committee. Mrs. M. G. Tracy, Mrs. Biggers and Mrs. R. Sheppard head respectively the library, education and courtesy committees.

Many visitors from other clubs were present and refreshments were served on the broad pleasant plazzas (sic) of the club house.

It was a pleasant day for those present. The honors given the past presidents were well earned and generously bestowed out of full hearts, and this augurs well for the future of the club. The meeting adjourned after the members gave their new cheery, ringing club call written by the new president:

“We are the women of Longview Club,

Longview Club, Longview Club,
Let us weave you a right good rug,
a right good rug, a right good rug
Or make you a uniform neat and snug,
neat and snug,From the women of the Longview Club.

We are the club of the pioneers,
pioneers, pioneers,
Formed in the early colonial years,
colonial years, colonial years
To keep away the homesick tears, the
anxious fears,
From the women of Longview Club.”

The Women’s Industrial Club of Detroit

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By Jeff Blakley

I ran across an article that appeared in the Homestead Enterprise on July 16, 1914, giving a history of the Women’s Industrial Club in Detroit. It was organized for social reasons as well as to promote the civic betterment of Detroit on October 29, 1911, shortly after the Longview Club was organized in May of 1911. Both clubs were established before the Homestead Woman’s Club was founded on September 26, 1914.

SOCIAL SIDE OF DETROIT

It was a happy and enthusiastic crowd of pioneers who arrived at Detroit on October 28, 1910. The stopping of the train was a notable event and the merry laughter, ejaculations of surprise and delight made the pine woods ring.

Were we glad to be alive and in Detroit, Florida? The place where we were to make a city, “Where life is worth living,” patterned after Detroit, “The City of the Straits?” Yes, most emphatically, yes.

We all worked hard to make our own corner comfortable and attractive by building up the town little by little.

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy;” that would never do, and then we were too full of the joy of living in a country where the sun shone every day and the moonlight bright enough to read by.

The young ladies of the town formed the first club. It was known as “The Big Four.” The members were Miss Lillian Hunter, Miss Marion Sharp, Miss Eleanor Shields, Miss Octavia Stiling. There were no rules and regulations, but the young ladies accomplished a great and good work, for they helped themselves and others not to be homesick for friends and associates in the north.

The matrons of the town were also pleasure seekers. The planned many social gatherings. You who were here will well remember the masquerades, dances, card parties, see-saw parties, poverty parties, joy rides on moonlight nights in our auto-mobiles were a never-ending lark.

The ladies met afternoons with their sewing, tried to help each other with suggestions in cooking, gardening and home-making.

The men were not idle all these hours. When not busy in the fields, they were planning for the welfare of the town. One of the first fruits of their labor was the erection of the Town Hall. People of Miami, Detroit and vicinity were generous with their subscriptions of time and money The frame was up, floor down and roof on in short order, but, sad to say, the funds were not sufficient to even pay for all the lumber used; as a result, the building was closed till such bills should be paid. This is when the women took an active hand in public affairs.

On October 29, 1911, the following petition was drawn up and signed:

“We, the undersigned ladies, hereby agree to take it upon ourselves to do all in our power to pay the claims on the Town Hall, held by Mr. Ring and others.

“Possession to be given at once to the ladies as a society, that the hall may be opened to the public.

“Mrs. Geo. A. Reynolds, Mrs. Chas. E. Sharp, Mrs. T. W. Shields, Mrs. S. S. Shields, Mrs. M. E. Tanner, Mrs. E. H. Ring, Mrs. F. L. Young, Mrs. E. M. Van Horn, Miss Flossie Van Horn, Mrs. J. L. Ishmael, Mrs. A. Gromaire, Mrs. Edward Stiling, Mrs. Mabelle Rue, Miss Marion Turner, Miss Eleanor Shields, Mrs. Stanley Havens, Mrs. H. C. Hunt, Miss Lillie D. Hunter, Mrs. W. H. Hunter, Miss Ada Haile, Mrs. J. Allen Brown, Mrs. Clara Tucker, Mrs. M. L. Williams, Mrs. L. E. Watson, Mrs. Lura B. Morrison, Miss Gladys Graves, Mrs. Tom Brooker, Mrs. Addie M. Calkins, Mrs. Ed Brooker, Mrs. Norwood, Mrs. Henry Brooker, Miss Chloe Flora, Miss Carrie Flora.”

This was the beginning of a club for Detroit. The ladies met in the Town Hall, held an election, and the following officers were elected and installed: President, Mrs. Geo. A. Reynolds; vice-president, Mrs. Edward Stiling; secretary, Mrs. B. W. Mason; treasurer, Mrs. Chas. Sharp.

A constitution and by-laws were drawn up and approved by the members. The name decided upon was the “Women’s Industrial Club.” Their purpose was the advancement and upbuilding of the town, religiously, socially and civically.

The first social gathering held by the ladies under their new organization was an ice cream social and dance. It was a huge success, people for miles around coming, and were royally entertained, and went home ready and willing to attend all future undertakings of the club.

Other social successes of the winter were the Thanksgiving party. Do you remember how cold it was, and how everyone drank steaming coffee, ate sandwiches, pie and doughnuts? And those never-to-be-forgotten square dances? They were the great event for each new comer.

An impromptu entertainment was given, at which time Mrs. Ring read a clever rhyme she had composed, telling how the ladies had earned their dollar of experience money given to the club.

A box social given on New Year’s afforded a most interesting evening. The bidding was lively, and the daintily decorated boxes went at high prices. Even then the men considered themselves fortunate to get such pretty girls and delicious suppers for the money.

Our crowning success was the way in which we had won the respect and loyalty of the surrounding people.

The Neighborhood Club of Longview entertained the W. I. C. at a daintily appointed luncheon at the home of Mrs. Roy D. Marsh.

In return for their hospitality, the W. I. C. entertained them at the Town Hall, serving 1 o’clock luncheon to over seventy-five ladies and children.

These two delightful days will long be remembered, for we learned to know our neighbors for their true worth and realized more fully the rapid growth of the community.

The Pioneer Guild of Redland has always been ready and willing to aid us in all undertakings, and we hope to find ways and means to show our appreciation for their kind acts and the jolly times they have given us.

Up to this time $198.25 had been paid out by the ladies for labor and lumber, leaving $32.17 still to be paid on the Town Hall.

The club adjourned for the summer, as many of the members went north.

In May of 1912 the club had received an invitation from Mrs. Frederick, the president of the State Federation of Women’s Clubs, to join. The club was now ready to work, met the requirements as to membership, etc., and gladly accepted the honor.

In the fall of 1912 a new difficulty confronted the club. Much to our delight, new people had settled in town during our vacation, but woe to our peace and prosperity, they wanted to break up our W. I. C. and form a new organization. The new club was formed, but the loyal members of the W. I. C. rallied around their president, Mrs. Reynolds, and continued to carry out their original purpose.

Through the diligent efforts of Mr. Edward Stiling the Town Hall had been transformed from a structure disfigured by scaffolding, with no windows or paint, to a finished article. The white paint just shone in the sun and the windows with their full length copper screens bade fair to make our future audiences comfortable under any and all conditions.

The Detroit Dramatic Club had already bought one hundred chairs which they generously kept in the building, allowing the public free use of them for all occasions. They had also bought a gasoline lamp and the dancing class another, so that now the great need was a musical instrument.

The proceeds of the first entertainment in the fall of 1912 cleared the debt on the Town Hall, so we were ready for a new enterprise.

The ladies of the W. I. C. decided to buy a piano of Mr. Calkins, for which they paid $300 cash. The piano was placed in the hall and used for church school and entertainments.

At the annual election in January 1913, the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Geo. A. Reynolds; vice-president, Mrs. W. C. Norwood; secretary, Mrs. Calkins; assistant secretary, Miss O. R. Stiling; treasurer, Mrs. Edward Stiling. Many new members were enrolled.

Among the social successes of the winter 1912-1913 was the bazaar in January, at which time $70.14 was made. A Washington’s birthday party consisting of tableaux, followed by a dance, ice cream and box socials, besides musical programs, was given.

A vacation was again planned for the summer, but not so with our rivals. They not only carried on their own business, but tried to run ours, also. As a result, the W. I. C., by a vote of the majority of the members, had their piano removed from the hall, as they were not willing that it should be voted public property just because it pleased a certain few to do so.

The regular meetings were resumed in October, 1913, but the family circle had been broken; the town was no longer united, for bitter rivalry was in the hearts of many.

Plans were made to continue the work of the club, meetings were held, and everything was in good working order.

At the election in January, 1914, the officers were as follows: President, Mrs. Lee H. Lehman; vice-president, Mrs. T. L. Graves; secretary, Mrs. Frank Skill; treasurer, Mrs. Edward Stiling.

The ladies planned a “Twelfth Night” party for January 6th. Invitations were issued to the neighboring clubs, and were accepted. Everyone was looking forward to an evening of frolic and fun in the Town Hall. The ladies, as was their custom, went in the afternoon to prepare the hall for the evening, when certain men of the town proceeded to clear the hall of women, children and several men who were there to help the ladies, for they must hold a meeting there and then. The result was disastrous to many, but fortunately almost all of them have recovered from the bodily injuries received.

Our friends came to the number of 125, the evening was a success, and strengthened the bond of friendship and loyalty.

Other successful entertainments have been given, among which was the “stocking party.” A short program of songs, readings and numbers by the orchestra preceded the dancing and serving refreshments of sandwiches and coffee.

The chicken supper was well patronized. The people enjoyed a bountiful supper, good music and dancing.

The monthly afternoon and evening meetings have been well attended.

Contrary to the usual custom of the club, meetings will be held during the summer months. An afternoon meeting on the third Tuesday, an evening meeting the full of the moon.

At present the club is composed of twenty-five active members. They are not all living in Detroit, but have proven themselves true as steel to the interests of the club.

Since October 20, 1911, the club has raised $798.03.

We do not have to say much more, for you can see for yourselves the building we have worked faithfully to help pay for, and people for miles around will tell you of our hospitality and ability.

We are still members of the State Federation of Women’s Clubs, and are planning to take a more active part in their work in the future.

From the Miami Herald on January 8, 1913:

“Detroit, Fla., Jan. 6 — The annual election of officers of the Women’s Industrial Club was held in the town hall at Detroit, Thursday afternoon, January 2, 1913. The following officers were duly elected:

President: Mrs. George B. Reynolds
Vice-President: Mrs. W. C. Norwood
Secretary: Mrs. O.W. Calkins
Treasurer: Mrs. Edward Etiling (sic)
Trustees: Mrs. E. H. Ring, Mrs. Haas, Mrs. Tanner

“The following ladies were admitted as members of the club: Mrs. Fox, Mrs. J.M. Powers, Mrs. Forrest, Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Priestly, Mrs. R.L. Bow, Mrs. L.L. Bow, Miss Margaret Baker.”

As time goes on, I’ll attempt to identify some of these women. We already know who Mmes. Norwood, Calkins and Powers were. Mrs. Edward Etiling (sic) was Edward Stiling’s wife, of course. I found it interesting that Mrs. Richard L. Bow and Mrs. Lily Lawrence Bow were listed as members of the Women’s Industrial Club in Detroit, because they lived in Homestead, not Detroit. The reason for that was because the Women’s Industrial Club in Detroit was formed before the Homestead Women’s Club. The first meeting of the Homestead Women’s Club was held at the Evans Hotel (now called the Redland Hotel) on September 26, 1914, almost three years after the Women’s Industrial Club in Detroit drew up and signed its founding petition on October 29, 1911.