If They Can, We Can!

The question on minds in the late 1880s was "if desert land without water could be sold in California, why couldn't land be sold in Florida where water was everywhere?"  The Florida land boom made California look like a dress rehearsal.  California real estate total $200,000,000 when all was said and done.  In Florida, three quarters of that was spent on one project alone in Coral Gables. 

Florida's subtropical landscape and balmy climate were always a subject that lent itself to myths.  The 16th century Fountain of Youth location became the Fountain of Wealth.  As far back as the Civil War, two development companies tried to sell real estate in Florida, and had modest success until hurricanes, yellow fever and hostile Seminole Indians put a stop to it. 

No one understood quite how the Florida land boom even started in the 1920s after so many years.  Seems that the rich northern businessmen needed a place to go in the winter.  Florida had cheap land, albeit swampy wasteland, unspoiled seashores. and some good tillable soil.

The rich business celebrities endorsed the land of the exotic Spanish flavored culture.  If you couldn't trust their judgment and their wealth, who could you trust?  Henry Flagler (railroad magnate) and John D. Rockefeller (Standard Oil) built two palatial hotels in St. Augustine - the Ponce de Leon and the Alcazar  (photo on right).  Flagler went on to build the Florida East Coast Railway all the way to Key West. 

Then there was Baron Collier (small time printer who came to control all advertising for the New York City streetcar and subway lines).  Collier bought an island off the west coast of Florida for a winter home.  He then purchased a million surrounding acres, built a road across it (Tamiami Trail) and created wealthy Collier county which today includes Naples.

Also in the mix where J.C. Penney, John and Charles Ringling, and T. Coleman Dupont of Delaware.  High powered publicity came from Roger Babson,, stockbroker guru and William Jennings Bryan, three time Presidential candidate. Bryan was a Florida resident who touted Florida as a "leader in education and morals."  He drafted the resolution that made teaching evolution in any form in Florida illegal.  Bryan gave many of his fiery speeches to persuade prospective buyers, while real estate agents stood by to capitalize on their enthusiasm.

Next time...Florida grows
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Today in Pioneer History: "On September 12,  1846, poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning elope.  Barrett was a respected poet who had published her first volume of poetry in 1838.  Although she was born into wealth, she was sickly most of her young life.  Browning was the son of a bank clerk and his early poetry was rejected by the public.  Barrett's parents didn't approve of Browning so they eloped and she never saw her father again.