Sunday, September 18, 1926 It was a little after six a.m. when Agnes heard the wind and rain begin to slow. She shook Bert awake. “Sweetheart, what is it? Can’t you sleep?” he asked drowsily. “No, Bert, it’s almost morning. Wake up.” Bert cracked one eye open. “It’s still dark out. It’s not morning.” “I…
Miami is a city of color. Vibrant, tropical colors assault the eyes wherever you look. The cool turquoise of the ocean, the green palms framed by deep blue sky, and huge, white clouds. The deep reds and vivid yellows of hibiscus and ixora, the watermelon-colored bougainvillea and orange poinciana trees. And all are punctuated by…
1934 “What is wrong with my sisters!” Verna’s mother put her cup down on the table so hard the coffee sloshed into the saucer. Verna’s eyes got big. What was Mama upset about? “We’ve been over it and over it, Agnes. You know you can’t change either one of their minds. It’s a little late…
1896 It was supposed to be a tropical paradise. That was what Mr. Flagler said when he told Herb he was moving him from the Jacksonville/Fort Pierce route to the new Miami run of the Florida East Coast Railroad. It was an honor, Mr. Flagler said, to be the engineer on the first run. An…
Excerpt from Hibiscus Strong 1920 …Agnes and Helen headed downstairs to tell their parents goodnight. “Dad, are we really going to move to Miami?” Agnes whispered quietly in his ear so Mama wouldn’t hear. She was busy helping Helen tie a scarf around her head so her curlers wouldn’t come out in bed. “Would you…
