User:Casacarbymiami/sandbox

Casa Carby
Casa Carby is a historic home in the heart of Miami that was built in 1924 (1). The elegant 2-story was one of the first homes to grace 72nd Street (originally designated as 71st Terrace until 1932) in the Bayside Historic District (2). Casa Carby is situated on a double-lot; land that included a former avocado grove. The home is surrounded by various trees from a bygone era: majestic Royal Poinciana, Brazilian Orchid and various native palms. Just steps away from Biscayne Bay (3), Casa Carby has played gracious residence to a number of owners and guests for close to a century.

The History of Casa Carby- The First Owners
The Bayside Historic District transformed from an undeveloped area inhabited by tropical flora and fauna alone to one of Miami’s first - settled neighborhoods between the 1900s and the mid 1940s (4). According to Professor of History at Miami-Dade College Dr. Paul George, “once a part of the pioneer settlement of Lemon City (5), Bayside contains the oldest intact community in Northeast Miami. From its onset, Bayside was the home of many illustrious residents who played significant roles in Miami’s commercial development.” The first owner of now Casa Carby, was J. Philip Herrmann and his wife Margaret Herrmann who purchased the land and home in 1924 (6). J. Philip Herrmann was a political analyst and member of the Gridiron Club (7); one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C. Philip and his wife can be called one of Miami’s first snowbirds as they traveled between D.C. and Miami during the seasons. Aside from living a distinguished life (he dined with Woodrow Wilson in 1916), J. Philip Herrmann’s worldview was quite progressive having sent both his daughters to Swarthmore College in a time when women were expected to stay home and get married. Hermann was later thanked in kind by his daughters. The J. Philip Herrmann Scholarship was established in 1983 by Katharine F. Herrmann ’14 and Margaret Herrmann Ball ’24 in honor of their father (8). In 1934, J. Philip Hermann and his wife sold the home to Henrietta A. Dorner (9), a single heiress and returned to Washington D.C. permanently.

History- The Neighborhood of Bayside
In 1909, William B. and Fred C. Miller (not related) subdivided a seven-acre bay-front lot on today's N.E. 68th Street. Both William and Fred had journeyed to Florida in the late 1880s from their hometown Elmira, New York (10). Their new subdivision in Miami was named Elmira, a nod to their roots.

While much of what was Lemon City has lost its historic façade to new construction, Elmira has remained virtually intact. Although many of its houses have deteriorated, and newer buildings have been built, the street retains much of its early character. Elmira is famed for its plethora of Frame Vernacular buildings, many of which reflected popular Northern architectural styles. The majority of the houses that were constructed in the 1910s are clearly modeled off the key details of Dutch Colonial Revival style.

After Elmira, the subdivision called Acadia was platted in 1915 by the Realty Securities Corporation George E. Merrick (11).The houses to this day in this sub-division are distinctly Mediterranean Revival in influence. Many theories abound to the departure in architecture from the Dutch Colonial Revival. One theory stipulates the fact that development took off during the Boom years of the mid 1920s, when Mediterranean Revival was “all the rage”.

The last subdivision to be subdivided was Washington Place, which was also developed between 1925 and the mid 1940s. Although five homes in Washington Place, including Casa Carby were constructed before full development commenced in 1925. Another historic home built before settlers began buying parcels of property in Washington Place was Samuel J. Prescott’s home, a successful real estate developer at the turn of the century. Prescott platted the subdivision in 1925, and constructed his own winter home at 7101 N.E. 10th Avenue some years before (12). The house, until demolished a few years ago remained one of the last intact bay front estates in Northeast Miami. According to Dr. Paul George, the estate once featured a recreational golf course for residents and guests. To date, the Bayside Historic District retains much of its architectural legacy blended with a modicum of newer developments.

The Upper East Side Miami
Casa Carby is situated in the area coined “Upper East Side” in Miami, Florida (13). The Upper East Side, just a few miles outside of downtown Miami, is primarily a residential neighborhood, composed largely of historic single-family homes from the 1920s. The area has an artsy/bohemian vibe that reflects its diverse demographics (artists, architects, young politicians, entrepreneurs, etc.) that has seen a growing number of eateries and trendy boutique shops open in the area. The MiMo Historic District runs along Biscayne Boulevard, and includes a large number of MiMo hotels from the 1950s and 1960s, that have been preserved, and have recently begun to be renovated, and turned into boutique stores (Rebel and Fly Boutique Vintage) and great restaurants (Michy's, Blue Collar, Ni.Do and Jimmy’s East Side Diner. This former haunt of late Bee Gees singer Maurice Gibb, is a favorite among many locals and non-locals alike) (14).

Miami Modern Architecture
According to Donald D. Spencer, educator and writer, “Miami Modernist Architecture or better known as MiMo, is a style of architecture from the 1950s and 1960s that originated in Miami, Florida as a resort vernacular unique to Miami and Miami Beach. It was a popular response to the various modernist and post world war architectural movements that were taking place in other parts of the world, adding glamor, fun, and material excess to otherwise stark, minimalist, and efficient styles” (15). There are two areas in Miami that showcase Miami Modernism. The first area is the Middle and Upper areas of Miami Beach along Collins Avenue. The second is along the Biscayne Boulevard corridor starting from around Midtown, through the Design District and into the Upper Eastside (16).

Today, the area along Biscayne Boulevard, near Casa Carby, has been designated MiMo Biscayne Boulevard Historic District or "MiMo" for short. It runs roughly from 50th Street to 77th Street along Biscayne Boulevard. However, MiMo can also be found in the Design District and Midtown. Many annual festivals are held to promote MiMo architecture, such as "Cinco de MiMo" a play on "Cinco de Mayo" in early May.