1970s: Disco Era
Miami Springs population in 1970: 13,279
1970: Short Lived Fountain on the Circle
Miami Springs Historian Ken Wilde shared the following about the Miami Springs fountain on the Circle:
1970 photo of the short lived Miami Springs Circle fountain. Miami Springs council member & former mayor R.B. Fordyce first had the idea for the fountain in 1964 but each time he brought it up at a council meeting he was outvoted. Finally in 1968 he got the project approved. Construction began in April 1968 & it was completed in September of 1969 but not dedicated until March 1970. There was lots of controversy regarding engineering contracts & cost overruns during construction but the worst was yet to come. The engineers originally informed the council that the cost of operating & maintaining the fountain would be less than $5,000 a year but it turned out the cost was $20,000 to $30,000 a year. The fountain was in operation for only a short time before it was taken out.
It was called Fordyce’s Folly, but it wouldn’t be the last folly to befall downtown Miami Springs.
The Brasserie 1970’s Disco by Ken Wilde
NW 36th St. (Photo courtesy Miami Springs Historical Society and Museum.)
1972: Mayor John Cavalier Sr. & U.S. Representative Claude Pepper at Miami Springs Country Club
1972 photo of Miami Springs Mayor John Cavalier Sr. & legendary Florida politician Claude Pepper at the Miami Springs Country Club. Pepper represented Florida in the U.S. Senate from 1936 to 1951 & the Miami area in U.S. House of Representatives from 1963 to 1989. John Cavalier Sr.’s son John Jr. also served as mayor of Miami Springs. – Ken Wilde
December 29, 1972: Eastern Flight 401 Crash
On this date, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crashed into the Everglades as it was descending to land at Miami International Airport. Unfortunately, 101 passengers and crew perished in the accident. Fortunately, 75 people did survive the crash with varying degrees of injuries. In 2022, on the 50th anniversary of the accident, a memorial was dedicated along Curtiss Parkway.
1974: Douglas Orr Plumbing
Douglas Orr Plumbing, a leading South Florida plumbing company, got its humble beginnings in Miami Springs back in 1974. In 2024, Prince Field was renamed to Prince Field at Douglas Orr Park.
In 1974, Douglas Orr began a plumbing journey from the confines of his own garage in Miami Springs to one of the largest and most well-respected employee-owned companies in South Florida. A journey that began by installing sewer laterals for local residents and has resulted in the tattooing of the Miami skyline with “too many to count” Highrise buildings and projects. DOP and its employees continue to wind the clock that Doug started in 1974 with over 1/2 billion dollars’ worth of completed plumbing installations and service in South Florida to date!
Doug’s mantra of ‘live/play/work local’ was evident throughout his tenure and carried on by the employees and their families. These same employees have carried that torch for over 5 decades and continue to walk the halls of DOP to stamp their names on this long-standing reputation.
DOP’s reputation has been built on the backs of its employees over the years through hard work, dedication, and pride in their craft. DOP’s vision to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and old school craftsmanship to reshape the plumbing industry for commercial construction and service has catapulted it to the forefront of plumbing technology and innovation.
Thank you to the thousands of employees, associates, local customers, Developers, subcontractors, and General Contractors that have participated in the journey that began in a garage and continues today.
Douglas Orr passed away on February 19, 2024, and left an incredible legacy as a business leader and major contributor to the betterment of our beautiful Miami Springs community.
October 27, 1975: Miami Springs Officer Shot
Miami Springs Police Officer, William Keller, was allegedly shot and injured by Robert Knuck who was holding hostages at 1200 Robin Avenue in Miami Springs on October 27, 1975. According to the Wolfson Archives, a child hostage was brought out by sergeant Gene Duffy.
Watch the tense footage of this standoff between Knuck and the Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens Police Department at 1200 Robin Avenue in Miami Springs:
Bill Keller recovered from his injuries. He passed away on October 28, 2024, exactly 49 years and 1 day after he was shot on duty as a Miami Springs Police Officer.
Article from Oct 28, 1975 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
Miami Springs the town Eastern Built
Article from Oct 13, 1983 The Miami News (Miami, Florida)
Police Officer Shot in Miami Springs, Passes Away Peacefully 49 Years Later
1977: Miami Springs Mayor Opposes Hotel Development
In this video we see Miami Springs Mayor, Chet Fields, fighting for residents in East Miami Springs and opposing the development of a hotel in the area.
In 2024, we saw a proposal that would bring 10 story apartment towers to this same property.
In April 2025, that plan had been changed to feature 20+ Townhomes. However, as of this writing, nothing has changed on the property.
July 4, 1977: DIY July 4th Parade
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news/203953541/
Article from Jul 5, 1977 The Miami News (Miami, Florida)
1979: Corruption Conviction
The late ’70s appeared to be a wild era in Miami Springs with charges of kickbacks and corrupt public officials. And then folks wonder why the public doesn’t always trust the public officials.
City Manager Charged with Larceny
Article from May 25, 1979 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
Article from May 23, 1979 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
Article from May 25, 1979 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
Article from Oct 2, 1979 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) Crime
Article from Nov 15, 1979 The Miami News (Miami, Florida)
Article from Sep 16, 1982 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
August 27, 1979: Cocaine War in Miami Springs
According to a report by legendary writer Edna Buchanan in The Miami Herald, machine gun fire erupted a Miami Springs apartment house back in August of 1979.
Article from Aug 27, 1979 The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida)
1979: End of Miami Springs Fire Department
The City of Miami Springs operated its own fire department until 1979 when the department merged with the County. The photos are of the Miami Springs Fire Department Fire Engine, Billy Flowers who became Battalion Chief & Billy’s uniform which he still has today. – Ken Wilde
Photos courtesy of Keith Sefield & Jacquie Neetz. Thank you Billy Flowers, Keith Sefield & Jacquie Neetz for your years of service to Miami Springs & all of South Florida. – Ken Wilde
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