Gables’ history told by residents in museum project
AS PART OF THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM’S ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, LONGTIME RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SHARING THEIR STORIES ON TAPE. THESE INTERVIEWS WILL BE A PART OF THE MUSEUM’S HISTORY EXHIBIT AND SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY
Not many people can recall when The Biltmore Hotel was the tallest building in Coral Gables or when the firefighters were the ones who fed the prisoners in the town jail.
When Dick Gossett came to Coral Gables, the city was only 31-years-old. He started out as a volunteer firefighter in South Miami at 15, and now at the age of 75, Gossett proudly can account for more than 50 years at the Coral Gables Fire Department.
What brought Gossett and others like him to tell their stories is the Coral Gables Museum’s Oral History Project. Interviews are conducted by historian Arva Moore Parks and filmed by University of Miami School of Communication students.
The footage is going to be integrated into the museum’s history exhibit and permanently stored in the city’s archives. The interviews also will be available in the museum’s research library.
”It’s a wonderful project because these longtime residents have great stories to tell,” said Christine Rupp, the museum’s director of operations.
Gossett is one of 13 men and women who grew up in the Gables and shared their stories for the project. The interviews will be ongoing in an effort to speak to as many residents as possible.
”I remember when call boxes were at intersections, and if there was a fire, someone would have to pull a lever,” Gossett said. “Then the call would go to the fire station where the location would print out on a ticker tape and the bell would sound.”
He also has vivid memories of putting out fires at the Granada entrance, a University of Miami athletic dorm, the Biltmore Hotel and the Venetian Pool.
”Even if I recall the worst fires I’ve ever had to put out, I don’t get bad dreams thinking about the things I’ve seen,” Gossett said. “I do, however, have those memories for life.”
Gossett also remembers when the American Red Cross was the one organization with a first aid course. In the 1960s, it was the only standardization to go by.
”The first paramedic courses were taught at Jackson Memorial Hospital,” Gossett said. “The firefighters were supervised by physicians, and after taking a state test, they became certified EMTs [emergency medical technicians].”
Now with his son and daughter-in-law firefighters, Gossett said he has ‘’strong ties” to the profession.
He still attends annual firefighter conventions and keeps in touch with many of his fellow firefighters.
It is stories like his that caught Akil Kurji’s attention. A film student at UM, Kurji is working with his production company to make a documentary on the history of Coral Gables.
The interviews collected for the oral history project will be interspersed throughout the film.
”Coral Gables is such a historic city, and we want to show that to people,” Kurji said. “These interviews will really complement the George Merrick-based documentary I’m working on.”
In 2009, the Old Police and Fire Station located on Salzedo Street will become the house of the new history museum. It is here the interviews and artifacts from longtime residents will be kept and shared with the community.
”We’re very excited to house this exhibit in the old station,” Rupp said. “It’s been a huge group effort, and we can’t wait to see the final results.”
The original source of this article can be found at:
www.miamiherald.com / Mon, Jun. 30, 2008
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