After
the restoration of Cape Florida Lighthouse, a project of Dade Heritage
Trust and the State of Florida, the restoration of the lightkeeper's
cottage was undertaken by the Villagers in 1998. It was reopened as a
museum depicting the life of a lightkeeper's family in the 19th century.
The cookhouse has been made into a video theater, featuring films on the
history of the lighthouse and life on Key Biscayne in the mid-1800’s.
The old cistern houses an archeological display. The lighthouse is listed
on the National Register with the tower and cottage museum open to the
public on daily guided tours.
The Housekeeper’s Club – Coconut Grove
The Housekeeper’s Club was founded in 1891 by Flora McFarlane, a pioneer settler and school teacher. When few women lived in the area, The Housekeeper’s Club served as a social and cultural center for the community
and played an important part in the early development of Coconut Grove. The first clubhouse was built in 1917 on land donated by Commodore Ralph Monroe. The present building, designed by Walter de
Garmo, was built in 1921. In 1957 the name was changed to the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. It is the oldest federated women’s club in Florida. The clubhouse was restored by the members and The Villagers in the year 2000.
Dr. David Fairchild’s Study – The Kampong
One of Miami’s oldest buildings, the coral rock barn on Douglas Road was built by the A. R. Simons family in 1892 and was used as an office
by Eleanor Galt Simmons, Dade County’s first woman doctor. In 1916 Dr. David Fairchild, namesake of Fairchild Tropical Garden and renowned international plant explorer, purchased it to be used as a study and laboratory. He built his estate The Kampong adjacent to the barn in 1928. The Villagers provided funding for restoration of the study in 1992 and designed the museum exhibits. It is open to the public by appointment.
The Barnacle
Built in 1891 by Ralph Munroe, friend of pioneer William Brickell. Munroe, a Staten Island boat builder, moved to Coconut Grove in 1881 and purchased 40 acres of bayfront land for $400. He designed his house as a bungalow with wide verandas to encourage Biscayne breezes and built it of salvaged lumber from shipwrecks. In 1908, when his family needed more room, the house was lifted and a new story built underneath. The Munroe family lived there until 1968. Sold to the State of Florida in 1973, it is now The Barnacle State Historic Site and is listed on the National Register. It is open to the public for tours.
The Merrick House
The boyhood home of George Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, was built in 1906 by his father the Rev. Solomon Merrick, pastor of the Congregational Church in Coconut Grove. The house of coral rock and Dade County pine was called “Coral Gables” after its red tiled, gabled roof. After the 1926 hurricane and financial reverses, the family ran the home as Merrick Manor, a boarding house. Acquired by the city of Coral Gables in 1976, it was restored by the Villagers, the Junior League and other civic organizations. It is listed on the National Register and is open to the public for tours. The design on the front gable of the Merrick House has been adopted as a logo by The Villagers.
The Old School House
At the urging of Isabella Peacock, an early settler, this simple one-room schoolhouse was built as a Sunday school in 1887. Using salvaged lumber from shipwrecks, the schoolhouse was built on land located across the street from the Peacock Inn between McFarlane Road and Mary Street. In 1889, the School Board rented the building to use as the first Coconut Grove Schoolhouse. Miss Flora McFarlane, a pioneer homesteader, was hired as the first teacher. After the structure was sold in 1894, it was used as residential and commercial property. In 1969, James Ryder of Ryder Systems purchased the historic building for $75,000. He presented it to Plymouth Congregational Church in 1970, and moved it to the church grounds, where it stands today. The Villagers, Dade County’s oldest Preservation organization, adopted the schoolhouse as a 1993 preservation project. It was restored as an 1890’s one-room schoolhouse and includes the original school bell. The structure is listed on the National Register and is open for tours by appointment.
Projects, Restorations and Donations
Douglas Entrance
The Biltmore Hotel – Casa Loma Building, Fountain and Patio
Vizcaya – Casino on the Mound
Anderson’s Corner – Research and Documentation
Coral Gables House – Merrick Home
“El Jardin” Center Courtyard – Carrollton School
The Alamo Restoration Fund – Jackson Memorial Hospital
Old Larkin Schoolhouse
The Little Schoolhouse – Coconut Grove
Barnacle Extension and Brown House
Venetian Pool – Fence
Gusman Center for the Arts
Dr. David Fairchild’s Study – The Kampong
Fairchild Tropical Garden Museum
Cape Florida Lighthouse – Lightkeeper’s Cottage, Cookhouse and Cultural
Complex
Housekeeper’s Club – Coconut Grove Women’s Club – Windows, Foundation,
Electrical
Dade County Courthouse Lobby Restoration
Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Home – Exterior Restoration
Coral Gables Women’s Club – Fountain
Stan Cooper House – Inventory and Packing
Lyric Theatre and Black Archives, History and Research Foundation
Miami River Greenway – Historic Markers
Seminole Theatre Marquee – Homestead
Coral Gables Congregational Church – Lightning Protection System
Historic Hampton House Motel
Montgomery Botanical Center – Air-conditioning
The Barnacle – Boathouse
Charles Deering Estate
Coral Gables City Hall – Denman Fink Mural Restoration
Junior League of Miami Headquarters
Courtroom 6-1 – Dade County Courthouse
Miami Circle Fund
Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Meeting
Coral Gables Library – Restoration of Merrick Furniture
Fairchild Tripical Botanic Garden – Gatehouse
Pinecrest Gardens – Old Parrot Jungle – Original Entrance Restoration
Obelisk Markers at Cambridge Lawn – South Miami
Save-A-House
Women’s Club of Coconut Grove – Upgrades
Old Miami High School – Restoration
Ye Little Wood – Historic Designation Research
Old Virginia Key Train – Doors for Tunnel Building
Montgomery Foundation – Guest House
University of Miami Architecture Department – Marion Manley Monograph
Actors’ Playhouse – Display Case
Florida Trust for Historic Preservation – for Mortgage
Vizcaya - Documentary Film
The Kampong – Repair Water Damage
Miami Marine Stadium – Engineering Studies
Actor’s Playhouse – Replace terrazzo flooring
Museum of Science - Restore 1916 Carpenter’s Workshop
(for Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Center)
The Barnacle - Repairs to three historic buildings
Repairs to Old School House at Plymouth Church and Furniture
Coral Gables Museum - for Book: Coral Gables: Building a Dream
(by the Shenandoah Middle School Magnet Students)
Hialeah Park – Funding for Historical Documentary Film
Tropical Audubon Society - Life and Safety Repairs to Doc Thomas House
Pinewood Cemetery – Restoration of Gravestones
Montgomery Botanical Garden - Repairs to Guesthouse
Markers for Cambridge Lawn Historic District in South Miami
Montgomery Botanical Center, Inc. guest house window
The Historic Miami River Inn repairs
The Vizcayans to restore Statue of Cupid
Dade Heritage Trust scholarships for teachers to attend MIMO Conference
Scholarships for students: six for UM, two for UF, one for FIU
Scolorships for DASH (Design & Architecture Senior High)
After
the restoration of Cape Florida Lighthouse, a project of Dade Heritage
Trust and the State of Florida, the restoration of the lightkeeper's
cottage was undertaken by the Villagers in 1998. It was reopened as a
museum depicting the life of a lightkeeper's family in the 19th century.
The cookhouse has been made into a video theater, featuring films on the
history of the lighthouse and life on Key Biscayne in the mid-1800’s.
The old cistern houses an archeological display. The lighthouse is listed
on the National Register with the tower and cottage museum open to the
public on daily guided tours.
The Housekeeper’s Club was founded in 1891 by Flora McFarlane, a pioneer settler and school teacher. When few women lived in the area, The Housekeeper’s Club served as a social and cultural center for the community
and played an important part in the early development of Coconut Grove. The first clubhouse was built in 1917 on land donated by Commodore Ralph Monroe. The present building, designed by Walter de
Garmo, was built in 1921. In 1957 the name was changed to the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. It is the oldest federated women’s club in Florida. The clubhouse was restored by the members and The Villagers in the year 2000.
One of Miami’s oldest buildings, the coral rock barn on Douglas Road was built by the A. R. Simons family in 1892 and was used as an office
by Eleanor Galt Simmons, Dade County’s first woman doctor. In 1916 Dr. David Fairchild, namesake of Fairchild Tropical Garden and renowned international plant explorer, purchased it to be used as a study and laboratory. He built his estate The Kampong adjacent to the barn in 1928. The Villagers provided funding for restoration of the study in 1992 and designed the museum exhibits. It is open to the public by appointment.
Built in 1891 by Ralph Munroe, friend of pioneer William Brickell. Munroe, a Staten Island boat builder, moved to Coconut Grove in 1881 and purchased 40 acres of bayfront land for $400. He designed his house as a bungalow with wide verandas to encourage Biscayne breezes and built it of salvaged lumber from shipwrecks. In 1908, when his family needed more room, the house was lifted and a new story built underneath. The Munroe family lived there until 1968. Sold to the State of Florida in 1973, it is now The Barnacle State Historic Site and is listed on the National Register. It is open to the public for tours.
The boyhood home of George Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, was built in 1906 by his father the Rev. Solomon Merrick, pastor of the Congregational Church in Coconut Grove. The house of coral rock and Dade County pine was called “Coral Gables” after its red tiled, gabled roof. After the 1926 hurricane and financial reverses, the family ran the home as Merrick Manor, a boarding house. Acquired by the city of Coral Gables in 1976, it was restored by the Villagers, the Junior League and other civic organizations. It is listed on the National Register and is open to the public for tours. The design on the front gable of the Merrick House has been adopted as a logo by The Villagers.
At the urging of Isabella Peacock, an early settler, this simple one-room schoolhouse was built as a Sunday school in 1887. Using salvaged lumber from shipwrecks, the schoolhouse was built on land located across the street from the Peacock Inn between McFarlane Road and Mary Street. In 1889, the School Board rented the building to use as the first Coconut Grove Schoolhouse. Miss Flora McFarlane, a pioneer homesteader, was hired as the first teacher. After the structure was sold in 1894, it was used as residential and commercial property. In 1969, James Ryder of Ryder Systems purchased the historic building for $75,000. He presented it to Plymouth Congregational Church in 1970, and moved it to the church grounds, where it stands today. The Villagers, Dade County’s oldest Preservation organization, adopted the schoolhouse as a 1993 preservation project. It was restored as an 1890’s one-room schoolhouse and includes the original school bell. The structure is listed on the National Register and is open for tours by appointment.