First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse

The First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse is a historic school located in Coconut Grove, Florida. The school originally resided at 2916 Grand Avenue in Miami.[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]

First Coconut Grove School
Coconut Grove Schoolhouse, March 2011
First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse is located in Miami
First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse
First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse is located in Florida
First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse
First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse is located in the United States
First Coconut Grove Schoolhouse
LocationMiami, Florida
Coordinates25°43′25″N 80°14′52″W
Architectural styleBungalow/Craftsman
NRHP reference No.75000547[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 21, 1975

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. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 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. 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. "Woman's Club of Coconut Grove Records". University of Miami Digital Libraries Special Collections. University of Miami Digital Libraries. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  9. Parks, Arva Moore (September 20, 2010). Coconut Grove: Images of America. Chicago, IL: Arcadia Publishing.
  10. "Historic Timeline: 1950-Present". Plymouth Congregational Church. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  11. "Florida's History Through Its Places". Florida Department of State Historical Resources. State of Florida. Archived from the original on September 27, 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  12. "Dade County, Florida". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
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