Summer of 1925 – the peak of the real estate Boom in South Florida. Miami has had unprecedented success selling “tropical paradise” and is running out of land. Coral Gables sold $6 million worth of lots in a single day. Miami Shores, Miami Beach & the Palm Beaches are also on overdrive competing to attract homebuyers. On Aug. 17th, the Florida East Coast Railroad declares a temporary stoppage. The railroad yards and warehouses are filled to capacity and do not have enough workers to unload all the building material. This does not slow down George Merrick. Between Aug. 25th & the 31st, he announces 5 new projects in Coral Gables.
Meanwhile, only 5 miles south, sleepy Coconut Grove remains untouched by the real estate frenzy. The Village has plenty of affordable land, trees, bayside views, beaches and breezes. It’s only a matter of time before a growing municipality takes it all.
This photo was taken by a renowned photographer by the name of Richard B. Hoit. He was a cinematographer from Boston, who came to Miami as a visitor at age 27 but never left. Too much work to walk away from. Hollywood would have to wait. Mr. Hoit was the “Jimmy Olsen” of the newsroom. You needed someone to climb up the Freedom Tower for a view of downtown Miami- no problem. Take an aerial after the Hurricane devastation- on it. Mr. Merrick needs new pics for his new Manhattan real estate office- sure thing.
Lucky for us, this energetic photographer left us some incredible photos of our growing metropolis, including the Everglades and Florida Keys. A total of 15,000 aerial pics of our region, the Caribbean & South America. You may not know his name, but you have seen his work. Imagine him yelling at the pilot to fly lower as he tries to stabilize his boxy black camera over white-sandy Dinner Key. Giving us one last look of Coconut Grove before it was annexed to the City of Miami on Sept. 2, 1925.
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