1956 photo of Jim Curry’s Standard Oil Service Station on the Miami Springs Circle at 1 Palmetto Drive. Notice the Brundage Motors Volkswagen sign next door at 17 Palmetto Drive. Notice also there is no large gasoline price sign at the station. Miami Springs passed an ordinance limiting those signs to no more than 12 inches square. The ordinance was challenged all the way to the Florida Supreme Court who ruled the ordinance unconstitutional. Thank you to Lyn Curry Craver, Jim Curry’s daughter for her donation of this and other great original photos to the Miami Springs Historical Society Museum.
Notice the taller adobe styled wall that surrounded the Circle compared to the smaller curb we see today. Also noteworthy are the Coconut Palms that used to be on the Circle and also visible behind the Standard Oil Service Station.
As we’ve shared before, Miami Springs Pioneer and former Historian, Mary Ann Goodlett Taylor, was an incredible first hand source for early Miami Springs details. One of the stories she shared with me was that Miami Springs used to have thousands of Coconut Palms. However, we lost nearly all of them at some point (I wish I would have asked her when) to lethal yellowing. (Lethal Yellowing is a deadly disease of coconut palms and 34 other palm species.)
In the photo below, you can see the Standard Oil Service Station is now a Chevron Gas Station and Convenience Store. You’ll also notice we have more Palm Trees in the photo below with various species represented including Royal Palms. However, absent in the photo below are any Coconut Palms in the foreground or background.
The Miami Springs Historical Society and Museum is seeking dedicated volunteers to work at the Museum on Saturdays from 12:00 – 4:00 pm. If you enjoy a highly intellectual experience give us a call at 305.987.3028.
Visit the Miami Springs Historical Society and Museum The Miami Springs Historical Society is located at 501 East Drive in Miami Springs.
Miami Springs Historical Society Museum
Address:
501 East Drive
Miami Springs, FL 33166
Directions:
From the Palmetto, exit at NW 36th Street and head East on NW 36th Street. Continue East on NW 36th Street and make a left hand turn (North) on East Drive. Continue North until you reach 501 East Drive.
From I-95, take I-95 to State Road 112 Westbound. Exit State Road 112 at NW 36th Street. Continue west on NW 36th Street until you reach East Drive. Make a right hand turn at East Drive (North). Continue North on East Drive until you reach 501 East Drive.
From Hialeah, take Okeechobee Road until you reach East 4th Avenue. Turn south on East 4th Avenue and cross the bridge into Miami Springs. Take the center lane and continue south onto East Drive. You’ll see Stafford Park on your left hand side and then the entrance to the Museum Parking lot at 501 East Drive.
Map to the Miami Springs Historical Society
Miami Springs Historical Museum Hours
The Museum is open each Saturday (except Christmas & New Years) from 12 Noon to 4 pm.
To help support our Members and volunteers’ efforts, we ask for a suggested minimum donation of $8 when visitors arrive (MS Historical Society members, and children under the age of 12 accompanied by an adult, are admitted free to this program).
