Coral Gables Riviera-Times

CORAL GABLES Riviera Times

Published every Friday morning by the Riviera Publishing Company, 206 Avenue Aragon, Coral Gables 34, Fla. Established January 1926; combined with the Dade County & Coconut Grove Times, 1929. | MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION and Florida Press Association. Albert E. Harum, Editor and Publisher; Kenneth S. Reynolds, Business Manager; James B. Moore, Managing Editor; Helen Reynolds, Society Editor; Gertrude Hardeman, Circulation Manager. | 1947 NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION Active Member | SUBSCRIPTION RATES—Six Months, $2.00; One Year, local, $3.00; One Year, out-of-town, $3.75. Entered as Second Class Matter May 21, 1926, at the Post Office at Miami, Fla., under the Act of March 3, 1897. Mail Address Box 704 Phone 4-1634, 4-1635 The Coral Gables Riviera is liable for errors in advertising only to the extent of the space in which the advertisement appears.

Pratt Problem

Entrance of the Veterans' Administration into the Pratt Hospital picture brings the problem of what to do with the Biltmore property into the limelight again. Obviously, if the Pratt Hospital is needed by veterans for immediate hospitalization, no group or person could conscientiously oppose such a move. But should the VA take over the hospital, it should be only as a stop-gap until an adequate, modern hospital could be erected in South Florida. Looking at it from this angle, the logical sequence of events seem to fall in this order: 1. Veterans Administration takes over Pratt when Army evacuates on June 30 as a temporary veterans hospital. 2. Veterans Administration should begin immediate preparation of plans to erect a satisfactory hospital at Chapman Field, where government already owns over 800 acres of property. 3. The city should acquire the golf course in a separate transaction, and operate it as a municipal course with facilities available to veteran patients without charge. 4. Study of what ultimate disposition should be made of the Pratt property should continue, with plans for a medical school, University acquisition or reconversion to a hotel all being given careful consideration. 5. When pros and cons of the matter have been carefully weighed, the citizens of Coral Gables should be given a chance to express final opinion through a referendum. The ultimate disposition of the Biltmore properties will have a marked effect on the future of the community. Any decision must be given serious and exhaustive study. No snap decisions on the part of any group can be countenanced.

That's a good idea of Andrei Gromyko's—everybody disarm right now. Nations, the line forms at the right and left. The British found some Soviet misrophone concealed in their Moscow embassy. Apparently the Russians are good listeners after all. Red army soldiers in Germany are rotated every three or four months, it is theorized, to keep them from getting too used to the pleasures of life outside the Soviet. Evidently one of Stalin's anti-capital ideas. A Boston University scientist says that in five years quarter-inch atomic energy "pills" could be produced that would end the home-heating problem for 50 years at a stretch. All right, but how could you tell a furnace man from a doctor? A St. Louis company, world's biggest maker of folding baby buggies, cut prices six and one-half per cent "as its part in the move to break the deadlock of high prices." On the theory, no doubt, that inflation can best be licked by encouraging production.

COST AND VALUE

AS OF TODAY there is an active demand for homes, but a sharpening of bargaining tendency on the part of buyers, which is the result of a belief that new construction will bring prices down. PROSPECTIVE BUYERS might take note of a recent statement by the Chairman of the House Banking and Currency Committee that the U. S. dollar today is worth 0.5267 of its pre-war value, or approximately 52 cents. On this basis, therefore, a buyer would receive the same value today for $20,000 as he received for approximately $10,000 to $11,000 of his dollars before the war. ON THIS BASIS OF COMPARISON we invite your inspection of a fine two story home built in 1940 in a very choice location. It is delightfully arranged and attractively furnished, and is offered at a price of $27,000, which is good value for your 52-cent dollars. LESLIE H. COOMBES REALTOR 2312 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Phone 4-2586

OUR TOWN | Open Letter

—By Jim Moore— AN OPEN LETTER TO REP. RICHARD OELKERS, JR. Dear Chubby: As a Gables resident of long standing I thought you might be interested in the reaction of your fellow townspeople to the proposed bill to steal Biscayne Key away from your home town. To put it bluntly, Chubby, they don't like it one bit. There's a rising tide of indignation that is fast reaching a crescendo that will be heard from here to Tallahassee. And frankly, they're puzzled about your attitude. From the very first time you were elected to the legislature I've heard people say, "Thank heaven, we have a man in Tallahassee who will look after the interests of Coral Gables." A lot of folks think you are letting them down, Chubby. You see, the whole deal doesn't make sense to us here in Coral Gables. It smacks very much of the "anschluss" methods used by Herr Hitler and his cohorts. People are searching for a logical motive for the actions of the Dade delegation and they can't find one. They are asking, "Who's behind this move? Who's controlling our legislators? What are their motives? Who's going to get what out of this?" To date, Chubby, the answers have been very unsatisfactory. One thing we can't understand at all is this: No group has publicly come forth as advocating this bill. Coral Gables is solidly against it. The property owners on Biscayne Key didn't start it. Miami Beach, which faces a similar loss, is against it. Whom are you boys representing? The people of Coral Gables have always stood right solidly behind you, Chubby. And they didn't do so badly by Bun Gautier and Bill Lantaff, either. So you have them bewildered and hurt by your actions. It isn't as though Dade County would gain any additional revenue by the move. County taxes will remain the same. The dog-gone thing just doesn't add up, no matter how you look at it. Since you are a fellow Gableite, the folks back home are sort of pinning their hopes on you, Chubby. They are still saying, "Chubby won't let us down. He thinks too much of Coral Gables." I sincerely hope that you won't disappoint them. But I can tell you this. If the Dade delegation insists on introducing that bill, they had better prepare for a fight. You know what an aroused Coral Gables can do. You saw the people of this community elect a school board representative and oust a firmly entrenched chairman of the board not so long ago. They'll fight back, and fight fiercely, with every means at their command.

COMPENSATION

Pity the man who never laughs— Through spectacles of blue He sees the world, with all its graphs, In melancholy hue. Pity the man who always laughs, The poor, unthinking fool; At old Joe Miller paragraphs He brays like any mule. Then, there's the friend who laughs with you When you are feeling gay, And sympathizes with you, too, When sorrow comes your way. If we must have the former two, Who only merit scorn, We can be thankful that a few Like number three are born. —J. L. BEERS.

He Says Here —

Now we know that summer is almost here. We saw Ray Westcott with that "I-wanna-go fishing" look in his eyes, and that's a sure sign ... Which reminds us that we had a note from his old fishing side-kick, Bob Munro4, this week. Bob enclosed a bunch of literature from the recent campaign and laconically added, "For gosh sake open a window, somebody, and let a little fresh air in here!" That's all he said. Bob is now a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard in charge of public relations up in New York ... It looked like old times to see Celta Snow at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon last week. Celta used to spark plug the Merchants' Bureau back in the days when everybody had plenty of stock but the customers didn't have very much money ... Bill Fuller was at the meeting, too, and so engrossed in his Red Cross work that he introduced himself as "Bill Fuller, Red Cross", instead of the usual "Florida Power and Light Company." From up in Tryon, North Carolina we received a note from George Donohue with several copies of the Tyron newspaper, known as the world's smallest daily. It's printed on a sheet about 6 by 8 inches. Said George, "Don't be discouraged, Rome wasn't built in a day." ... Guess that puts George in the category of an advance guard for the North Carolina annual invasion. Pretty soon we will be getting those post cards telling us how many blankets everybody is sleeping under. George didn't stay long, and is back in town again. Frank Rice and Larry Aldritt just got back recently from Grand Rapids, Mich., where they attended the national premiere of the Moral Re-Armament revue, "Ideas Have Legs.". They say that 5,000 people attended the show and that hundreds were turned away. They are enthusiastic boosters of the show which they say "is more than a play. It is a revolutionary force for good." Word that the new Miami Theater will have a Huyler's Restaurant in the building brings to mind that the blueprints for Wometco's new Miracle Theater in Coral Gables also shows a Huyler's restaurant ... We asked Betty Weaver, an air line stewardess, what she carried in that kit that was always with her. "Just a deck of cards and a whisk broom," she came back at us ... Congratulations to the Coral Gables Fire Department for coming through so swell-elegantly for the Red Cross. Everybody kicked in ... We overheard two stylish, stouts discussing beauty salons as they rolled down the boulevard the other day. "I'm going this afternoon and try something new," confided one to the other. "I'm going to get a sweep-up hair-do." Mr. and Mrs. John Stark and Mrs. Stark's guesst, Mrs Martha Murray, decided to see the much-touted movie, "King Henry V," and accordingly bought tickets for the Friday matinee at a Beach theater. Driving across the causeway, Mrs. Murray casually asked, "I suppose you have the tickets?" With a knowing grin John said with mock seriousness, "Oh no, I left them at home of course." Then came the awful realization, a frantic search of pockets and a hurried drive back to the Gables for the tickets, that were REALLY left at home. As a result they were late for the show and the Starks and Mrs. Murray are reading a borrowed volume of Shakespeare's works to find out what the first part of the picture was about. John Gautier, who forsake Coral Gables for Homestead, now claims he's thinking of heading for Key West. On Sunday, John was interrupted three times while reading his Sunday papers by friends "just dropping in to see the farm."

Gleaned From the Editor's Mail | THIS IS WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY

To All Workers, Coral Gables Business Division On behalf of the Dade County Chapter of the American Red Cross, I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the excellent work you did in helping to again put our division well over its quota in the annual Red Cross fund campaign Your sacrifice of time and personal effort toward completion of this task shows a fine civic spirit and I am sure you have satisfaction in knowing that your hard work will make it possible for our local Red Cross Chapter to carry on the fine work it has been doing for veterans and their families and in disaster relief. Thanking you again and with kind personal regards, I am, Sincerely yours, WM. D. (Bill) FULLER, Chairman Coral Gables Business Division. Editor, Riviera-Times: Although a fairly new Gables resident, I feel that I must say something about the appalling number of traffic accidents here. It seems obvious that stop streets are not clearly marked, particularly so as far as out-of-city drivers are concerned. In the cases of every accident I have seen, at least one of the parties has had an out-of-state registration tag. I'm aware that signs are taboo but in the interests of safety can't some exception be made. It would also seem to me to be wise if speeding on the main streets, and the making of "U" turns in the middle of a block could be eliminated through strict enforcement of existing regulations. Very truly yours, GERTRUDE M. H. HELM, 745 Valencia Avenue. Editor, Riviera-Times: Please send me a copy of your publication, giving complete results of your recent municipal election. I enclose a dime to cover cost. As a former resident of Coral Gables—I lived at 3829 Harlano street—I am interested in the election outcome. Also, I desire to run through the columns of the Riviera, and see how Coral Gables is progressing. I left Florida a year ago, following the death of my wife in November, 1945, returning to my native state. I left behind a large circle of warm friends in Miamiland, including the members of the famous Three Score and Ten Club, of which organization I was President for several years. To all these friends, I extend greetings. I have just passed through a severe seige of the flu, one of the many victims of a flu epidemic prevalent and far-flung, and this attack hit me pretty hard, but I hope I have mastered it. If you could tell my friends this, I am sure the news would be greatly appreciated. I understand there has been something of a building boom in Coral Gables, all of which pleases me, for Mrs. Hodgdon and I loved the community and its people. Your publication was a welcome weekly visitor at our home during the years we lived in Florida. As an old newspaper man, I extend greetings to the Riviera-Times. Fraternally yours, W. O. HODGDON 330 Bevier Place Aurora, Illinois

FROM A RIVIERA NOTEBOOK | By Mary Helm Clarke | ROLL OUT THE WELCOME WAGON

“The F. H. Briggs of Elyria, Ohio, have just moved in, Ethel. You get over there right away and call on them.” As secretary to her brother, the founder of Coral Gables, Ethel Merrick says she spent much of her day calling on newcomers. It was part of the George Merrick plan that Coral Gables should be a neighborly community of beautiful homes. The stranger and the seasonal sojourner were as welcome as the home owner, and many artistic and luxurious hotels shared in the hospitality program. The Antilla Hotel was headquarters for the extraordinary bus tours, all expenses paid, which brought prospective home-owners from northern states. Colorful umbrella tables and patio furnishings delighted patrons who were called upon to imagine many of the potential beauties of the new city. Another hotel was still under construction near Segovia Street when the “Blow and Bust” called a halt to the completion of plans for the richly endowed University. The walls of that unfinished hotel still afford “temporary” shelter for the educational institution. The San Sebastian Apartment-Hotel (now the Administration Building and Girls' Dormitory of the University) was second only to the palatial Biltmore in luxury and elegance, and, like the Venetia Apartment-Hotel, attracted patrons year after year until many of them became year-round residents. The Cla-Reina Hotel (now the Solana) also charmed its guests with a cool, tree-shaded patio. The Coral Gables Inn, an adaptation of Hispano-Moorish style, offered dancing in the double arcade of graceful arches, and served meals in the outdoor dining room. Even the commercial hotels achieved an atmosphere of resort hospitality. In the early 1930s, Mrs. Paul C. Warde was appointed social hostess for the City of Coral Gables. During her regime every newcomer received a personal call and invitations to a series of teas and receptions held in homes that were show-places of the Gables. The Venetian Pool was the scene of moonlight concerts, dances and water shows. Benefit bridge parties in hotels and coliseum and even on the floor of the drained Venetian Pool attracted large numbers of visitors. When a group of newcomers are driven to organizing a “Welcome Wagon Club” for themselves, it seems that Coral Gables, the city of beautiful homes, might well roll out its own vehicle, brush off the welcome mat and resume a program in keeping with its traditional neighborliness.

Win Certificates

Tallahassee—(ENS)—The State Department of Education issued 262 teacher certificates during the month of March according to figures released this week by Superintendent of Public Instruction Colin English. Certificates issued the previous month totaled 318 representing a state-wide decrease of 56 for the month. English said that two residents of Coral Gables received graduate certificates this month. They are: Mrs. Esther Ellen Roddam Gentil, and Isaac Horton Newkerk, Jr.

New Store Is Slated For Miracle Mile Area

A new store, specializing in fine linens, imported damasks, towel and luncheon sets will open soon at 248 Coral Way, in the Miracle Mile section, following signing of a lease with Roy S. Vandeveve, building owner. The shop will be operated by Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Davis, who have been in the linen business for 16 years and formerly operated Crown's in New York.

Wachtel Gets Pin

Phillip B. Wachtel, 123 Avenue Zamora, was among 82 National Airlines employees awarded service pins on Saturday, Wachtel was given a five-year pin.

Swimmers Are Victors

The University of Miami swimming team won a victory over the University of Florida's Tallahassee branch in that city on Saturday. The Hurricanes won 501⁄2 to 151⁄2.

See us for... FHA Insured Mortgages

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Harmony Sewing Studio

2268 S. W. 8th Street Ladies do your sewing here. Use our machines 50c per hour We Import Guatemalan Genuine Hand Made Cowhide Shoulder Bags -- Colorful Textiles -- Sisal Shoes

GETTING READY TO BUILD?

If you need a loan for building bring in your plans and specifications and ask about our single mortgage plan. No longer is it necessary to get one mortgage for con-struction and another for the permanent loan. One mortgage does it all, supplying money for construction and when your home is completed you start monthly payments, leading to debt-free ownership. LET US GIVE YOU DETAILS CORAL GABLES FEDERAL Savings & Loan Association GEORGE B. CASTER, President 2501 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Telephone 4-7627 Member Federal Home Loan Bank Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation

CORAL GABLES' OLDEST AND LARGEST BANK | THE CORAL GABLES FIRST NATIONAL BANK

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AT FLY CHAPMAN FIELD

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