1950s: Baby Boom Era
Miami Springs population in 1950: 5,108
The 1950s saw a dramatic increase in the number of homes built in Miami Springs as many G.I.s relocated to South Florida after the war. The 1950s also ranks as the decade with the highest birth rate in U.S. history. (Hence why it’s called the Baby Boom Era.) This era also cemented Miami Springs as a family friendly neighborhood.
October 18, 1950: Hurricane King
According to Wikipedia, near midnight on “October 18, Hurricane King made landfall near Grove Isle, Coconut Grove, a short distance west of downtown Miami, with peak winds of 130 mph (215 km/h), making it a Category 4 hurricane—the fifth in South Florida since 1945.[1][5] A private barometer in Miami measured the storm’s central pressure, 28.20 inHg (955 mb).[6] The Miami Weather Bureau office, which was struck by the eastern eyewall, recorded sustained winds of 122 mph (196 km/h) with gusts estimated at 150 mph (240 km/h).[2] …Its eye was about 5.2 miles (8.4 km) in diameter; the western edge of the eye moved across Miami International Airport, which reported wind gusts of 125 mph (201 km/h), and the eastern side struck the Miami Weather Bureau office, which recorded sustained winds of 122 mph (196 km/h). The principal damage zone was sharply defined in an area 14 miles (23 km) in diameter; the boundaries of the damage resembled the path of a tornado, although a subsequent analysis indicated the majority of the damage was not tornadic in nature.[2] ”
1951: Sam Snead Wins Miami Open at Country Club
1951 Sam Snead Wins the Miami Open at Miami Springs Country Club by Ken Wilde
1952: Tennis Courts
According to Miami Springs Historian, Ken Wilde, the Tennis Courts were added at 401 Westward Drive in 1952.
1952: 4th Ave / East Drive Draw Bridge Open
1952 Hialeah Miami Springs S.E. 4th Ave/East Drive bridge looking north by Ken Wilde
1953: Blessed Trinity Catholic Church
When Catholics in Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens were permitted to start their own parish in 1953, they chose Trinity Sunday as the date for their first Mass. The first worship space consisted of a tent described in postcards on sale at the fledgling Miami International Airport, as the “open air parish.” An existing two story house which served as the rectory sat on a ten acre tract on the edge of the Everglades and just north of the airport. The parish thrived. The Miami Springs Villas offered temporary accommodations while a church and school building were constructed on the property, and Archbishop Joseph Hurley blessed the new structures in January 1958.
1953: Springview Elementary Opens
Originally called West Miami Springs Elementary, then name was changed to Springview Elementary. According to Miami Springs Historian, Ken Wilde, “Originally it was known as West Miami Springs Elementary. Within a month the PTA held a naming contest and Springview was the winner. The rock pit the gentlemen are looking at is South Bass Lake The parents of 150 children staged a 5 day revolt protesting that the new school was made up of only portables, was located in a “dangerously wild area” bordered by a canal & nearby water filled rock-pit (now South Bass Lake) with no sidewalks. The parents wanted the school to be located elsewhere. The ladies in the clip were part of the protesters.The lady on the left in the polka dot dress was Helen Kellar (RIP), my mother in law.She is on the right when the ladies are at the bank of Ludlam canal. The Medley wilderness a popular dove hunting location can be seen on the other side of the canal. The clip ends with a great shot looking south down what appears to be a still unpaved Ludlam Dr.”
1953 – 1956: Porsche & VW Dealership
1954: The Parker Vertical Lift Bridge (Outgoing Bridge)
- Original Location: Built in 1927 at 36th Street, it was the first lift bridge in the area.
- Relocation: Floated upstream in 1954 to its current location at Hook Square to serve more outgoing traffic.
- Significance: An important example of vertical lift technology, it was designated a Miami Springs Historic Site in 1992.
- Current Status: Still in use, though its lift mechanism’s counterweights were removed in 1981 as large river traffic diminished.
1955: Miami Springs Junior High School
Originally called Miami Springs Junior High, the name changed in 1986 to Miami Springs Middle School.
Sadly, Miami Springs Middle School was closed in June of 2026 due to poor enrollment. The classes at Miami Springs Middle School were merged with Miami Springs Senior High to create Miami Springs 6-12 Preparatory Academy.
1955: Miami Springs Rec Center
The city’s modern Olympic Sized Pool and gym debuted in 1955, shifting recreation activity west from 401 Westward to 1401 Westward Drive.
1955: Miami Springs Olympic Sized Swimming Pool
In 1955, Miami Springs opened the grand Miami Springs Olympic Sized Swimming Pool. During its time, it held countless swimming, water polo, and diving sessions and scores of swim meets and water polo matches. It served the community proudly for 60 years until it was sadly demolished in 2015 for the much smaller pool we have today. Today’s pool lacks the capacity for diving, water polo, and true swim meets. It also lacks the lighting for any night time or pre-dawn training. Miami Springs took a major step backwards for aquatics when it lost the grand olympic sized pool. But the new pool did add a kiddie splash pad so there’s that.
1955: Final Year of the Miami Open in Miami Springs
Sam Snead Wins the Miami Open at Miami Springs Country Club (Photo courtesy Miami Springs Historical Society and Museum.)
June 10, 1955: Miami Springs Country Club Fire
The old Miami Springs Country Club featuring a 3 story tower and multiple floors of entertaining was demolished on purpose in a training fire. This picture is very sad as it speaks to the grandeur Miami Springs deserves at its country club.
1957: Miami Springs Police Motormen
1958: Major League Baseball Legends at Springs Country Club
Major League Baseball Legends at the Miami Springs Country Club 1958
1959: The Palm Spa
The former Miami-Battle Creek Sanitarium (earlier the Hotel Country Club) was sold and converted to the Palm Spa in 1959, a notable shift in the city’s landmark complex that later became Fair Havens.
Related Articles:
Centennial Celebrations:
