The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, May 4, 1961, page 13 (of 56)

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Lots of Muscle and No Banyan Trees

LEE DAVIS

New Transportation Boss Misses the Old-Time Trolleys

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Staffer Lee Davis, who came to Coral Gables 33 years ago to conduct trolley cars, has been named to direct the Transportation Department. The 61-year-old former supervisor replaces Chester Smith who retired after 34 years service. While Davis will head a modern fleet of gas-powered buses, he still has a soft spot for the old electric trolleys. "I still favor trolleys," Davis said nostalgically. "They were noisy," he said, "but still gave a very nice ride." Until the 1935 hurricane knocked out the system, Davis several times daily adjusted the pulleys under the overhead power lines, and manipulated a lever that shot the trolley along Coral Way to Coral Gables. "There were no banyan trees in the road then," Davis said, "and the trolleys used the center." They sped westward until they got to Ponce de Leon Boulevard, made a sharp turn and headed north to Flagler, where they turned around and came back. But the cost of maintenance and operation crept up on the romantic old trolleys and they were finally driven out by buses. Davis, who hasn't driven buses since he was made supervisor in 1942, still misses the feeling he had while piloting the old trolley way back when. "It was sorta like driving a locomotive," he said. No bus will ever give you that feeling. Davis, a grandfather, lives with his wife, Florence, at 5551 SW 28th St.

Wheel Clubbers Will Run City

The Wheel Club of Coral Gables will take over the City of Coral Gables municipal government today (Thursday). Club members, students at Coral Gables High School, were scheduled to meet in the City Commission Room at 2:30 p.m. with Mayor Robert L. Searle and other commissioners for a practical exercise of how the city government works.

Deaths of Coral Gables People | O. M. Carrier, 61; 20 Year Resident

Funeral services were held Friday at Ahern Plummer Funeral home for Oscar M. Carrier, 61, of 730 Escobar Ave., who died April 26. Interment was in Woodlawn Park Cemetery. Mr. Carrier, who came to the area 45 years ago from Knoxville, Tenn., had been a Coral Gables resident for some 20 years. He was a building contractor. He was a charter member of the Allapattah Lions Club. Survivors include his wife, Julia; a son, Hugh, of Coral Gables; a sister, Mrs. Louis Hinson; and two brothers, A. M. Carrier and Cabell Carrier, both of Miami, and one grandchild.

Deaths of Coral Gables People | Former Gableite Dies in West

Word has been received here of the death of J. Steve Anderson Sr., formerly of Coral Gables, who died Saturday in Oklahoma City, Okla. Mr. Anderson resided in Coral Gables from 1946 to 1959. He was 75. Mr. Anderson was one of the founders of the Apco Oil Corp. He suffered a heart attack in 1959 and had been in ill health since then.

Deaths of Coral Gables People | Essie H. Trice, Gables Pioneer

Final rites were held Saturday at University Baptist Church for Mrs. Essie Hall Trice who died Thursday. Mrs. Trice, who came here 36 years ago from Norfolk, Va., lived at 1117 Astoria Ave. She was a member of the Real Daughters, United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Miami Woman's Club and the Hibiscus Garden Club. She leaves her husband, Harry Trice, a daughter, Mrs. Margaret Gibbons and three grandchildren.

Rites Held For Mrs. L. Fisher

Funeral service was held Tuesday at Philbrick's Coral Gables Chapel for Mrs. Luella B. Fisher, who died Monday. Interment will take place in Atlanta, Ga. Survivors include a son, Irving R. Fisher Jr., of Atlanta; a daughter, Mrs. Karl Donahue of Middletown, Conn., two sisters, two brothers and six grandchildren.

Mrs. Pilkenton's Funeral Today

Thirty years a resident of Coral Gables, was Mrs. Grant Pilkenton, 87, of 1215 Ignacio Ave. who died Minday. Services will be held at 3 p.m. today Thursday in Lith-ow's Coral Way Chapel. She came here from War, W. Va., and was a member of the Riviera Presbyterian Church. Surviving are her husband, Grant; two daughters, including Mrs. R: O. Kaufman of Coral Gables; two sons, two sisters, including Mrs. F. D. Gordon and Mrs. W. C. Bliss both of Coral Gables, seven andchildren and four great grandchildren.

Services Held For Mr. Messler

A private funeral service was held yesterday (Wednesday) for Allan Messler, 50, of 1569 Sunset Dr., Coral Gables, who died Monday. A butcher, he had been a resident for 48 years. A World War II veteran, he leaves a sister, Mrs. A. H. Chauncey, and a brother, A. A. Messler of Coral Gables.

Mrs. McCarthy, 72, Mass Said Tuesday

Mrs. Zulu McCarthy, 72, of 614 San Antonio Ave., who came to this area 42 years ago, died Monday. Requiem mass was held Tuesday morning at the Church of the Little Flower. Interment was in Woodlawn Park Cemetery. Mrs. McCarthy was the widow of James H. McCarthy Jr., a one-time Miami Beach councilman. Survivors include a son, James Harry McCarthy, of New York; three daughters, Mrs. Coles Sutherland, of Hialeah, Mrs. William Highfield, of Cincinnati, and Mrs. Nicholas Knickerbocker, of Minnesota; eight grandchildren; two sisters, and a brother.

Ohio Rites Held For B. Davidson

Last rites for Bruce Davidson, 35, of 1217 Giralda Ave., who died Saturday in Jackson Memorial Hospital, will be held Girard, Ohio, where the remains were shipped Sunday. Mr. Davidson left no relatives.

INSURANCE BACKED

A proposed state bill enabling municipalities to provide group insurance plans to their employes was backed by the City Commission Tuesday. The Commission authorized a letter the state legislature endorsing the move.

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