Miami turns 15 and takes to the skies
Miamians are electrified by first sight of an “aeroplane.” So are the chickens!
Miami takes to aviation at a young age
In 1911, thousands of Miamians turned out for a special aerial event organized by civic booster (and later Miami Mayor) Everest Sewell to mark the city’s 15th birthday. Sewell had invited famed aviator Howard Gill to dazzle residents with an aerial exhibition in his Wright biplane. The event took place over a period of two days, July 20 and July 21, with three flights scheduled for Day One followed by three more on Day Two. It was the first time a plane had ever crossed Miami skies and the first time many of those in attendance had ever seen an aircraft. Emotions ran high. Spectators were electrified by the sight of Mr. Gill performing death spirals and climbing to 7500 feet until he was a mere speck in the sky. They roared when Mr. Gill invited Mr. Sewell to accompany him on a pass over the field and Sewell confidently accepted the challenge. As reported by the late Miami historian, Thelma Peters, it wasn’t just the humans who were impressed. “[H]orses and mules whinnied and ran away, cows jumped fences and chickens ran into the palmettos.”
First Miamian to “go up in the air”
To Mr. Sewell belongs the honor of being the first Miamian ever to fly over the city. In speaking about his “going up in the air,” Mr. Sewell said: “It was the finest ride I ever experienced; the breeze was fine; the scenery the greatest ever. The Everglades, the drainage canal, the city of Miami, Atlantic Ocean and big steamers passing all being in plain view. We passed some birds, and they had to duck to get out of our way. We went up about a thousand feet, and the sensation was one I will never forget. However, there wasn’t a moment of the time I was up that I did not enjoy it.”
Additional reading:
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-miami-news-21-july-1911/177148827/ Page 1
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-miami-news-21-july-1911/177149105/ Page 2
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-miami-news-10-july-1911/177147742/
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-herald-21-july-1911-d/177147223/ Page 1
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-herald-21-july-1911-b/177147449/ Page 2
- https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-miami-news-26-february-19/175515934/