The Guide

Southwest Guideposts Richmond Hts. - Model Community

By RON LEVITT With all the talk today about the betterment of Negro communities, it might be wise for us for a change to look at the "good side" of the question. We are always hearing about the plight of the Negro - the slum areas - and what should be done about them. There can be little disagreement that much work should be done in an urban renewal program to get rid of the slum areas which selfish landlords have been able to maintain through the use of powerful money and powerful political influence. In the downtown Miami Negro districts, there can be little question that such slum conditions must be alleviated. But, we rarely hear about the forward steps which have been taken to provide excellent Negro housing in beautiful suburban communities. In South Dade, for example, we have one of the outstanding examples of what can be done. Our town - although very few people realize it - has one of the most beautiful Negro suburban communities in the entire South. It is known as Richmond Heights - a few miles from South Miami off U.S. Highway One. Seven-Year Development Richmond Heights has been developed over the past seven years. Today there are more than 3,000 homes built and hundreds more under construction. Homes vary in price. There are small development-type areas in Richmond Heights in the $10,000 class and there are luxurious homes with pools and cabanas in the $30,000-and-up class. The occupations of the home owners vary from laborers to doctors and dentists. There are 100 teachers and school principals who live there. Until Richmond Heights was developed, these homeowners could find little comparable housing in South Dade. These families were forced to live in the old slum areas until the new Negro community came into being. Mrs. Ora Taylor, a former teacher and dean in Negro schools in Florida, is one of the original settlers in Richmond Heights. Today, a real estate broker, she is unofficially known as the "mayor of Richmond Heights." Mrs. Taylor said the development of Richmond Heights has done more for the Negro than provide excellent housing. "It has given the people who live here a complete new outlook as to community responsibility and civic improvement," she said. Civic organizations have sprung up; the residents are working toward construction of a swimming pool and recreation park; two new churches are under construction and residents are currently at work on a "get out the vote" campaign. Serious Matter "We take voting seriously in Richmond Heights," Mrs. Taylor said: "We have tripled our voter registration for the upcoming election and the Democratic and Republican groups here are forming car pools to take voters to the voting areas." Right now, residents have to drive to nearby Perrine to vote, but Mrs. Taylor said residents of Richmond Heights have applied to the County Commission for their own precinct in future elections.

Richmond Heights residents are especially proud of their new elementary school - the Frank Crawford Martin School. The school was named after the first developer of homes and the founder of Richmond Heights. Mr. Martin, by the way, was a white man. Mrs. Martin said she felt more people should know what has been done at Richmond Heights. "We like to think of our community as the very finest Negro community in the South. And we hope to keep growing." THINGS TO WATCH FOR: Record turnout of Dade County voters in the Nov. 8 election. Political experts say they will be especially watchful of early Dade County returns to get an indication of how Florida will go this presidential election year. With the North Florida area expected to go Democratic and the St. Petersburg-Tampa and Palm Beach areas expected to go into the GOP column, some "experts" say the Dade vote could determine how Florida's 10 electoral votes will be cast... Academy-award winner Shirley Booth will open the season at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. And Playhouse chief Owen Phillips said that the theater may get several "first-appearance" productions later in the season... Here's another sign in the price jump in South Dade land. An 11-acre tract of land in Perrine was sold for $122,000. The land fronts on U.S. 1 near the Palmetto Country Club Estates... UM's Ring Theater opens the season tonight with Moliere's The Mischief Maker. It will run through Nov. 5 and then will be taken on a USO tour of armed services installations in Newfoundland, Labrador and Iceland... Sid Cassell's Gallery Theater now presenting Betty O'Keefe and Bruce McLaughlin in "The Third Best Sport."... Baptist Hospital's new South Miami center is nearing completion. Construction is on its final cap now. As soon as the South Miami Baptist Hospital is open in mid-November, the Baptist Hospital Association will begin work on another hospital in the downtown Miami area, around 12th Ave.... The Miami-Notre Dame Nov. 12 football game - Homecoming Game, by the way - should pack the Orange Bowl. Tickets are at a minimum already. Miami will be favored against Boston College in tomorrow night's meeting.

Would-Be Hit And Run Foiled By Officer

A northwest section man picked the wrong time to attempt to leave the scene of an accident in Coral Gables Sunday. An off-duty policeman witnessed the accident and prevented the defendant from getting away. Charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and striking an unattended vehicle was Stacy R. Tunnel, 34, of 3921 NW 11th St. Tunnel struck a 1960 Cadillac owned by Mrs. Lucille Stone, of 45 SW 29th Rd., shortly after 9:10 a.m. in the 2000 block of Ponce de Leon Blvd. Officer W. A. Wiggins, who was off duty at the time, told Officers Macon C. Hazen and William J. Just that Tunnel attempted to back away and leave the scene, but that he got in front of the car to prevent its departure. Tunnel was not charged with hit and run, however, since he never actually left the scene. The right front of Tunnel's 1953 Buick and the right rear of the Stone car was damaged.

One Foot In Heaven

"One Foot In Heaven" starring Frederick March and Martha Scott will be shown at the Palmetto Presbyterian Church, 6790 SW 56th St. on Saturday Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30, at 7:15 p.m. Everyone is invited. Nursery will be provided. This is a movie which was rated Excellent by Parents' Magazine.

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New Assistant Pastor Named

The Rev. Charles H. Corbett of Gettysburg, Pa., has been called to serve as assistant pastor at the South Miami Lutheran Church from October until May, Rev. E. W. Albrecht is the regular pastor. Rev. Corbett practiced law for four years in Maryland before attending the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, from which he was graduated in 1921. His last charge was at Thurmont, Md., where he served for 29 years.

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Gables Civitans Will Support March Of Dimes

The Coral Gables Civitan Club will help sponsor the 1961 March of Dimes as their major community service project for the year. The club is taking part in the annual campaign along with other Civitan Clubs in the Dade County area. Don G. Humphrey, chairman of Dade County Council of Civitan Clubs, stated that all the clubs will actively participate in the planning and conducting of events in support of the March of Dimes. "It is a move to broaden the scope of Civitan service to the community and participation by all clubs in a common project serves to unify the clubs," he said. Roy Abagnale, campaign director for the 1961 March of Dimes campaign, said that Civitan has endorsed programs for the National Foundation for 15 years and the March of Dimes for 10.

Jaycee Team Defeats Southwest Boys Club

In the only game played last Saturday by a Coral Gables entry in the Inter-City Athletic Conference football league, the 115-pound Jaycees defeated Southwest Boys Club 12 to 6. Billy Kirtland at quarterback and Billy Robinson, halfback, each scored a touchdown for the winners. With three victories under their belt against one defeat, the Coral Gables boys have high hopes of defeating North Miami in the game to be played there next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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Gables Approves League Dues

Coral Gables city commissioners approved the expenditure of $1460 to the Dade County League of Municipalities as its share of dues. The Commission balked at payment last year and demanded to see a report of expenditures. City Commissioner Robert Searle is League president this year and City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. is secretary. Dues in the group are based on 1955 census figures. Florida's total vegetable yield last year was valued at $144,000,000.

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