Boca Chita Cay Compiled by B. Y., who is a member of the Dinner Key Cruising Club, designated as Volunteers to Biscayne National Park until Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992
Some of the people who shared their knowledge of Boca Chita’s earlier years are Ruth Probinsky (a former member of DKCC, now deceased), Jim Church, Arvia Parks, Albert Philpot and Charles Brooksfield. Ownership According to the Tax Assessors Land Office, the first certificate of ownership for Boca Chita Cay from the United States was dated June 21, 1916. Recorded owners were:
The United States NatIonal Park Service acquired the island and surrounding submerged lands totaling 162 acres for 2.875 million dollars on March 1, 1985. Geography Boca Chita consists of 32 acres of exposed land. Ragged Key #5 is to the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Lewis Cut and Sands Key to the south, and Biscayne Bay on the west. Construction It Is believed that the first person to bulkhead the basin was F. A. Seiberling. He used wood bulkheading which was the way it was done in those days. The bulkheading was destroyed in the 1926 hurrican
Jim Church, the then junior draftsman who did the blue print drawings of the imitation lighthouse rovided the following: Boca Chita was rather bare when Mark Honeywell bought it, with the exception of a structure called the "Main House”, a wood frame house which was located northwest of the boat basin and was destroyed by fire in the mid 60’s. Some foundation and paths leading to it are still able to be seen. The first buildings that Mr. Honeywell had designed for him were the lighthouse and possibly the pavillion. The lighthouse was built in the late 30’ s, but the pavillion plans have not yet been verified. The architectural firm of August Geiger was responsible for the plans and the construction of the lighthouse. August Geiger was a prestigeous firm having designed the Dade County Courthouse and other early Dade County edifices. He was also the first Dade County School Board Architect. Leon Angle Camp was the designer and Jack Hunt, the contractor. Because then, as now, there was no dredged channel into the basin, Mark Honeywell’s boat captain needed a landmark from which to take navigational bearings and this is believed to be the original purpose of the lighthouse. The first time the lamp was lit, the Coast Guard immediately ordered it extinguished because it was not a charted aid to navigation. The lighthouse is 65 feet tall. It has an inner wall built of concrete block with a veneer of native Miami oolite (commonly known as limestone) on the outside of it. The inside is straight from bottom to top, but the outside veneer, starting thick at the base and narrowing at the top, gives the lighthouse a tapered appearance. The Miami oolite was quarried in Miami. It was shaped as it was cut from the ground and then transported to Boca Chita by barge. The stairs inside the lighthouse were attached to the wall in a cantilevered effect. This was done to imitate the stone masonry tradition of the middle ages which is typical of castles throughout Europe. The coral rock buildings, rain water catchment cisterns (one cistern is under the lighthouse, the other is under a large flat concrete slab believed to be the intended base for a building located behindthe existing wood frame cottages *1), and the coral rock walls were also built by Mr. Honeywell. There is a well preserved wood orchid hou3e in the woods, but at this time it’s origin is unknown.*2 Other interesting information According to Albert Philpot, building contractor to the Emermans (the next owners after the Honeywells), the Honeywells lived on Pine Tree Drive in Miami Beach and Boca Chita was a vacation retreat for them. Mr. and Mrs. Honeywell enjoyed the island and much time and effort was spent there. (It is said that building on Boca Chita provided employment for many people during thc depression years.) After the death of Mrs. Honeywell, the island was sold to Louis and Florence Emerman. This may account for the unfinished state of the stone work area on the central area of the island. In the late 40s Mr. Philpot observed and photographed three docks in the basin, but it is not known at present if these were built by Mr. Honeywell or Mr. Emerman. There was a small dock on the north end, one on the south end and one in front of the pavillion. They were painted green, but unfortunately were destroyed during a hurricane. Mr. Phipot further relates that during the tenure of the Emermaris, the cottages and galley (destroyed in Hurricane Andre) were built. He describes Mr. Emerman as “a doer” who put much work into the island and maintained it in very good. condition. He also tells of the Committee of 100 having an annual charity party starting during the Honeywell ownership and continuing with the Emermans. The Committee of 100 was made up of the most prestigeous citizens in the City of Miami. Only members, the media, and influential people were invited to the annual party. Mr. Philpot tells of an aquatic structure referred to as the “Barge". It was 18 to 20 feet long, rectangular, with an out board motor and was used for much of the work done on the water front, such as installation of pilings, painting, etc. Mr. Emerman also had another boat which was used to transport material to Boca Chita. Sailing Baruch, the next owner, recorded a message In the “Boca Chita Guest Book” stating that he spent a 1951 hurricane in the lighthouse. G. F. Carlson had a caretaker named Jack Grimes who lived in the main house and may have introduced goats to the island. There were still goats when
the last recorded private owners, the Rivers family had Boca Chita,
but it is believed that the goats perished during a hurricane. This,
however, has not been verified. There have been many colorful stories told about the Caretaker, and it is difficult to separate truth from fiction; however, the main house burnt down while he was living in it and as a result, he lost his employment with the Rivers family. After the Caretaker left, Dinner Key Cruising Club member, Burt Probinsky (now deceased), approached his friend, Mr. Rivers, and proposed that the Dinner Key Cruising Club take over the maintenance of the island, in return for the use of it. This was agreed upon and the Dinner Key Cruising Club continued to maintain and beautify Boca Chita until the United States Governmant bought it as a part of the National Park System. The Dinner Key Cruising Club continued to maintain Boca Chita as Volunteers in the National Park System until Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992, and have aided the Park System by building the bridge on the west side of the island, planting over 200 native trees, maintaining the bulkheads, pilings and buildings, keeping the grass cut, giving informational tours, attending the lighthouse during week-end open hours, working on ongoing projects, such as a boardwalk around the harbor *3, and generally making Boca Chita a delightful place to visit. Parts of the John Wayne movie P. T. Boat were filmed on Boca Chita. During prohibition the rum runners stashed their cache all along the mangrove and wooded coast line. The contraband was wrapped in burlap giving the package the shape of a ham. The slang expression “hams” was used when referring to the smuggled liquor. Many fishermen and gunkholers accidently found their prize “hams” and if they weren’t caught, carted them home. This was risky, however, since both the law enforcement people and the smugglers kept a sharp look out for these “poachers”. Boca Chita harbor was used as a hide out for law enforcement boats. They could often “stake out” the smugglers without being seen, and then quickly converge upon them and apprehend them after they entered the Bay through Lewis Cut. Wildlife Even though raccoons abound in Elliot Key and are known to swim, none have been seen on Boca Chita. Boca Chita, however, is host to an unusual breed of wild rabbits *4, which have short rodent type ears and are often referred to as “lop eared rabbits”
The water around Boca Chita is teeming with all types of water life which can be observed by wading with a look down viewer, or by donning snorkeling gear. There are tropical fish seen darting throughout the grass and rocks. Crabs, sea anenomies, and octupi are among them. Caution - currents are strong and ocean swimming and snorkeling are best done at slack tide. Collecting coral and tropical fish is prohibited. Fiction Many ficticious stories about
Boca Chita have circulated such as: The Army had a camp on the island during World War II and built the “Chapel” and “Brig”. During World War II, the Boca
Chita generator, street lights, cabin lights, etc,, were set up as a
ploy to any German submarines in the area. The lights were turned on
every night so that if the captain decided to attack the United States
coast, he might mistake the lit up island as being part of the mainland
and his attack would be harmless.
In reality, the lights were used by the owners of the island, who maintained
a generator for their personal use. It is encouraging to know that the beauty of Boca Chita will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations and that Dinner Key Cruising Club members know that they have played an important part in its history. *1, The frame cottages were destroyed in Hurricane Andrew. *2 The remains of the Orchid House were destroyed in Hurricane Andrew. *3. The boardwalk was replaced by the National Park System after Hurricane Andrew. *4. The rabbits disappeared after Hurricane Andrew.
For more information, contact Dinner Key Cruising Club at
Please
send comments and questions to: Please watch us grow &nbs
All information on this web site is provided as a free service. Under no conditions does it constitute professional advice. No representations are made as to the completeness, accuracy, comprehensiveness or otherwise of the data and information provided
|
