from the Archives

Carl Fisher’s Yacht “Shadow K”

Read Time: 2 mins

These 1920’s vintage photographs of Fisher’s yacht the “Shadow K”, and its passengers, were generously gifted to the MDPL in early 2018 by Alice McCollam Neary. Her father, Hugh Kenneth McCollam, worked for Carl Fisher in 1925 and 1926. After graduating from Yale in June 1925, McCollam was hired as an engineer for Carl Fisher. McCollam was one of the pioneers that helped Carl Fisher dredge up the Miami Beach dunes and swampland to create the tropical paradise we know today. He was still working for Carl Fisher when the Great Hurricane of 1926 hit South Florida. After the storm, he was instrumental in the repairing and the re-building of Miami Beach. Unfortunately, he was permanently blinded while doing some metal work, which left him unable to continue his position. Ms. Neary’s father passed away when she was only 20 years old.  She married the first cousin of George Neary, who recommended she donate these historic photographs to the MDPL.

Carl Fisher’s yacht “Shadow K” docked at Biscayne Bay
Irene Larkin; Johnson’s daughter with Captain Herves and sailor on “Shadow K”
Miami Beach 4/02/26; View of stern of Shadow K showing radio, telescope etc. on board and palm trees in background
Electric Horse on the deck of “Shadow K”
Left to right: Bob Russell, Miss Russell, Florence Eichler, Ed Odette, Virginia Hehman Scott, Ken in rear, reporter Richard Johnson, Mary Allen, Dick Johnson’s daughter Irene fishing. Sitting – Larkin, Al Beardon & MacKenzie. “Shadow K” 1926
Bob Russell, Paul Kunschik, Ed Odette, Dick Johnson & his daughter, John Grieber, Capt. Hewes & Capt. Charlie Thompson on "Shadow K" 1926

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Explore the MDPL Archives

Capitman's Cardozo Leads Way (1979)

Capitman’s Cardozo Leads Way (1979)

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Six Art Deco Hotels Facing Renovation (1984)

Read Time: 2 mins In 1984, six hotels underwent major renovations that would mark the second wave of an Art Deco revival in South Beach. According to a Miami Herald article written by Paul Shannon on July 8, 1984, Royale Group Ltd. officials secured a $13.5 million loan to pay for the planned renovation, which included painting and refurbishing in the original Art Deco style.
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