First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse

First Coconut Grove School
Location Miami, Florida
Coordinates 25°43′25″N 80°14′52″W / 25.723515°N 80.247809°W / 25.723515; -80.247809Coordinates: 25°43′25″N 80°14′52″W / 25.723515°N 80.247809°W / 25.723515; -80.247809
Architectural style Bungalow/Craftsman
NRHP Reference # 75000547[1]
Added to NRHP January 21, 1975

The First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse is a historic school located within City of Miami limits, in Dade County, Florida. The school originally resided at 2916 Grand Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33133.[2] The structure was built in 1887, by Coconut Grove pioneer, Charles Peacock.[2] Peacock reportedly constructed the house using wood gathered from ships wrecked in nearby Key Biscayne.[2] The building originally served as a community gathering place, with Sunday School as its main purpose.[3]

In 1889, the one-room schoolhouse became the very first public school for area children.[4] The building's owner, Charles Peacock, was paid rent in the amount of $12.00 for the first seven month school year.[5] Ten children from the Frow, Pent, and Peacock pioneer families, were its first attendees.[6]

The first meetings of the Miami-Dade County School Board can be traced back to this period, with the First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse located in School District Number Three.[6] The first teacher hired by the Miami-Dade County School Board to instruct pioneer children of Coconut Grove, Flora McFarlane, was contracted in November 1889.[7]

The schoolhouse also retains historical significance since the first meetings of the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove were held on site.[8] In February 1891, Flora McFarlane and Coconut Grove pioneers Isabella Peacock, Euphemia Frow, Mary Munroe, and Louisa Newbold held began their work of organizing numerous social, civic, and educational projects.[8]

In 1902, Charles Peacock sold the First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse for $400.00.[9] The property remained in possession of the new owner until it was sold again in 1944.[9] The building was then purchased by Ryder Systems, refurbished, and relocated to the Plymouth Congregational Church property in 1970.[10] The schoolhouse remains on church property at 3429 Devon Road, Miami, Florida, 33133.[11]

On January 21, 1975, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[12]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 Wilcox, Bob (April 17, 1971). "Dedication Will Recall History of Class of '89". The Miami News. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse Designation Report" (PDF). City of Miami. Heritage Preservation Board. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse Designation Report" (PDF). City of Miami. Heritage Preservation Board. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Kent, Gertrude. "The Coconut Grove School" (PDF). FIU Digital Collections. Tequesta. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  6. 1 2 Kent, Gertrude. "The Coconut Grove School" (PDF). FIU Digital Collections. Tequesta. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Bonawit, Oby J. (1980). Miami, Florida: Early Families and Records. Miami, FL: Bonawit.
  8. 1 2 "Woman's Club of Coconut Grove Records". University of Miami Digital Libraries Special Collections. University of Miami Digital Libraries. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  9. 1 2 Parks, Arva Moore (September 20, 2010). Coconut Grove: Images of America. Chicago, IL: Arcadia Publishing.
  10. ↑ "Historic Timeline: 1950-Present". Plymouth Congregational Church. Plymouth Congregational Church. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Florida's History Through Its Places". Florida Department of State Historical Resources. State of Florida. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Dade County, Florida". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved 25 September 2014.

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