The yellow 1923 Spanish Mediterranean was built during the 1920s real estate craze on a very desirable quiet street in the coveted Kings Subdivision of North Coconut Grove. The interior covered 3,700 square feet, with a total of five bedrooms, four bathrooms including the guest house over the garage. The lot is oversized for this neighborhood at 11,000+ sq. ft. It was a winter retreat for its early owners, who sold it when the South Florida real estate boom (1924-1926) went bust. In 1927, Mathew Bandler leased the house for $100 a month from Morris Karp. Karp was a New York real estate dynamo, right up there with Harry Helmsley and Bill Zeckendorf. Real estate kings that had cash, bought low, and seldom loss money on anything.
The tenant, Mathew S. Bandler was a successful food service executive. He was Vice President & CEO of June Dairy Products, and P.E. Sharpless Company with operations in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Philadelphia and starting in 1925, in Miami. After renting the house for several winter seasons with his wife, in 1934 he purchased it and made it their permanent family home. In 1930, the Bandler’s had a daughter Zelma and in 1936 a son, Mathew who was born at University Hospital (Coral Gables Hospital). In this house the Bandler’s immediate and extended family enjoyed celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, bris, achievements and doting on their frequent winter guests as mentioned in the Miami Herald and Miami News society pages. This little yellow house was a ray of sunshine for many years, as seen in the photos. I especially like Zelma’s 10th year birthday party with her young guests in the living room by the fireplace. Mr. Bandler was civically active, he served on the Executive Committee of the American Legion, help organized meetings and early discussions for the formation of the State of Israel and was an ardent supporter of public education and fair wages for teachers. The contribution of families like the Bandler’s are still present in many of our existing organizations, from starting the Greater Miami Jewish Federation in 1938, to chartering the University of Miami, Miami Dade College, and Florida International University. The contribution that Miami Jewish families have made have been rich in achievements and successes.
I have photographed this house on several occasions while out on my walks. I smile thinking about the parrot living in the front porch who was reported stolen 9 years ago. He just learned to open the screen door. During the past few years, the house has been vacant, and left to its own whims it has tried its best to hide behind abundant foliage. Maybe if I become invisible, I will be left alone- it says. But it could not hide forever. Last month, it was demolished and now it is an empty lot. 96-year-old Ray of Sunshine is a neighbor worth remembering.
Interior pics courtesy of Realtor.com
Last pic, 2021 
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