Absence of Place
AN INTERACTIVE HISTORY
"The more things change, the fonder our memories become."
VIEWS FROM READERS:
A collaboration of artist Xavier Cortada and the readers of the Miami Herald
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Chapter One: The Blueprints
- Ana Menendez's column that fueled interest
- December 7, 2005
- Chapter Two: The Foundation
- Xavier Cortada invites the public to participate
- January 15, 2006
- Chapter Three: The Details
- Local professor speaks of vanishing history
- June 4, 2006
- Chapter Four: The Opening Ceremony
- The Miami Herald hosts showcase of collaborated photos and memories
- June 5, 2006
- Appendix: Extra Multimedia
McARTHUR DAIRYDuring a kindergarten field trip in 1962 we visited the McArthur Dairy plant. We were taken inside a large tiled room to see a huge stainless steel machine that produced ice cream. Outside there was a pasture with cows. We sat at picnic tables and ate ice cream from waxed paper cups with small flat wooden spoons.
PARROT JUNGLEGrowing up, Parrot Jungle was always our favorite attraction to take out of town guests and relatives to when they visited. It was a great place for photographs with it's dense foliage, natural hammock, coral bridges, parrots and orchids in the trees. Now it's an effort to get to their new location near Dodge Island.
BISCAYNE CAFETERIAThe Biscayne Cafeteria, great comfort food and southern favorites. I took my mom there often. The waiters were almost all older African American men; I remember their black bow ties, their kindness, and superior service.
SUNILAND PONY RIDESFrom the early 1960's,one of my most vivid memories is the Pony Ride stables at the end of the Suniland Shopping Center. If we were good my mom or dad would take us to ride the ponies round and round the ring. There was an area for pictures too.
FOLIAGEHere are 2 pictures taken last Sunday at 9755 sw 67th Ave. I grew up in a beautiful 3 story house across the lake in the mid-70's through the 80's. Friends and family used to swim in the lake. I fondly recall lots of parties at the house which would later become Pinecrest.
OYSTER HOUSEA restaurant called the New England Oyster House occupied this space in 1971, where I worked as a busboy for $1.60 an hour, while I was a student at the University of Miami.
MIAMI SERPENTARIUMWith a most unusual tourist attraction right in our neighborhood, The Miami Serpentarium became a hangout for my brother...The Serpentarium closed in the mid 80's but the large cement cobra that was at the front of the attraction lives on at a local high school.
SWEDEN HOUSE SMORGASBORDI always thought it was fitting that a fitness center should occupy the building that was once a restaurant where you could eat all you wanted. The Sweden House, 14875 S.Dixie Hwy
PICCOLO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANTFormer home of Piccolo's Italian Restaurant. Went there to eat in 1967 while on my honeymoon.
ICE CREAM JOE'SFormer home of Ice Cream Joe's Playhouse Bar. Listened to Lappy La Rue Band on many Saturday nights.
MICHELLE HOTELFormer home of the Michelle Hotel. Burnt down in 1979 or 1980. First failed attempt at life saving. MBPD Off. Reed and myself streched a 2x4 from Bently Roof to 2nd floor window.
BOAT RAMPThis little lake had a nice gradual slope that many of us used to put our boats in and fished off the banks too. The mullet were in there so thick you could almost walk across the water on them.