1962--1963 Remodel of the Miami Golf and Country club

 

Miami Country club in the 1930's

 

1941 Miami Country club--the North side

When my father arrived in 1954 he, and the board of directors, began a slow expansion of the internal usage of this magnificent Tudor structure, first completed in 1930. On the lower level the covered porch extended from the left (East side) to the front (North side). The first change came with extending the men's locker room in the basement which then enclosed the East side and first two enclosures. The club added the golf shop which took the remaining four enclosures. A few years later the basement ladies locker room was cleaned up, painted, and finally added new carpet. (The snake pit would later be in the basement area to the west of the ladies locker room). The favorite item became the new fan that circulated fresh air from the windows and open doors in the pro shop. The women could relax, have a beer, and cool down.

 

1962-63 shows the enclosures and addition of a larger putting green with light fixtures. The building is facing the north side. There is a driveway that follows the West side past the pool and north to the greens keeper's house and barn. The driveway also turns right (east) past the pool and into the area where the golf carts are shown. This provided easy access for those traveling and needing to pick up their golf clubs.(Lady golfers far back left Yvonne Temple, Florence Dawson, Clara Barton, and far back right Claire Oliver.)

The renovation made many changes to my beloved old hideaways in the second floor of the clubhouse. The stairwell leading to the third floor was locked and children no longer had a playroom upstairs. I think it became a storage room. The railing that allowed us to overlook the dance floor was walled up, so we could no longer spy on adults. There was a door on that third floor room that stayed locked but it was an entrance to the apartment. Now the apartment had an outside entrance from the southeast side (fire escape steps), the main entrance and parking to the club, and the original entrance from the kitchen (three entrances). 

This link will take the reader to the  MGCC floor plan that originally existed. 

Bathrooms were added on the second floor for both men and women. The screened in porches, again a child's paradise for running, hiding, and eating sack lunches was turned into a bar area on the East side over looking hole #9 later to be hole #18. The north side became an extension of the bar with the men's card room, the office for the secretary and club manager, and open space left where kids in bathing suits could enjoy lunch. The far West side of the screened in porches became the women's card room that over looked the swimming pool and the old swing sets. Their room was double the size of the men's card room. Mothers played cards and tapped on the windows relentlessly, to remind their children how to behave. They most generally had a drink and a cigarette in their hand. 

Personal Note: Their behavior portrayed the times, as did our fathers. On a lighter note I vividly recall when women wore 'beehive' hairdos. Oh my, how they stood out when looking out the window at their darling children.  

 

During the renovation period the club officially became known as the Miami Golf and Country Club. At one time the Board of Directors made attempts at restoring the old tennis courts on the West side of the clubhouse, but it never succeeded. Through these years businesses were booming downtown and throughout Ottawa County. The country club remained a privately owned golf course and social club until the 1990's.

 

Dr. Rex Graham and wife Carrie hosted the first party at the new club. I did not find a write up in the paper but the Dobson Museum shared their pictures with me. 

 UPDATE June 22, 2023:  Miami News Record April 26, 1963 (pictures were too dark to copy and share)

A bright new era in the history of the Miami Golf and Country club will be launched this weekend when members celebrate completion of an extensive renovation program at the big brick club house.There will be a dance and buffet Saturday night from 7-9 o'clock.

"Our scenic nine-hole golf course has been recognized as one of the finest to be found anywhere, and now with major improvements that have been made throughout the club house, I firmly believe that no city in Miami's class anywhere in the nation has better country club facilities than our," declared Dr. W.D. Jackson, club president. 

Cost of the improvement program, which was started in January, is approximately $55,000 including about $19,000 for stainless steel equipment and new items for the kitchen.

"Under normal circumstances, the cost would have been much more than $55,00," said Jackson, "but co-operation by members in the various improvement kept expenses at a minimum."

Haralson Construction Co. was in charge of the most of the renovation work. Trussler Sheet Metal installed the central air-conditioning and heating system for the various facilities to the richly carpeted main floor.

Jim Tatum, food service director at NEO with wide experience as an authority in his field, was consultant in setting up the club's kitchen and dining room improvements. 

Because of recent increases in club membership to 329 and prospects for further growth, no increase in dues were ordered to pay for the new improvements.

"Membership gains should take care of this," said Jackson

The golf shop and locker rooms on the lower floor have been improved along with the general renovation programs. Assisting Stapp in the operation of the pro shop and other golf facilities is Ed Westfahl, who has been with the club for eight years. 

 

Dr Rex Graham and wife Carrie on the left; Jack and Mary Mann standing.

The walls in the dining room were papered in red flock patterned wallpaper.

 

As members and guests walked climbed the stair to the greeting area English golf scenes covered the walls, not shown but where the photographer stood, where the stairwell entered the main area. The material on the chairs and couches at the time resembled the wallpaper in color and design. (I could not locate a vintage photo of the lovely lazy afternoon golf scene that covered our walls in the greeting area. I could have spent days looking at patterns, so I've selected one that at least presents the idea of a leisurely afternoon of golf.)

The bar, now new on the the East side of the second floor, was decorated in black and white flocked patterned drapes on the East side, dark wooden stools lined the bar.  Those at the bar could face a mirror that showed the men's card room and the dark wood paneling on the walls. Children were strictly forbidden from access to the bar.

 Fred Gallager, our bar tender and Frankie his assistant and waitress, dressed in black  trousers, white shirts, and black bow ties and vests. They kept tabs, literally and figuratively on everyone. When Nasty would get drunk and consequently mean, Fred would give him a straight shot of whiskey. Then they would carry Nasty to the sofa in the greeting area and let him sleep till someone took him home. 

The slot machines that were once in the basement were now moved to the south side of the bar, where a door could be locked at any time to keep people out.  When the sheriff would raid the bars for gambling and slot machines word leaked to the club and strong men would then hide the cast iron old slots in storage rooms or the "snake pit."

Fred and my father became the best of friends. Since they were both off on Monday's they spent time shooting guns at north side of the golf course near old #4 green and #5 tee box.  They always made sure that Fullerton did not have any Angus roaming around the area. Other times they would use hand guns and go down the creeks and shoot turtles and squirrels, as they did in their youth.

Note: Nasty was well known and occupied many discussions in our home. To read the rest of the story please click on this link and go to Literally Letty 

 The Miami Golf and Country club remained active and well kept until the fire in July 1984.

**I would greatly enjoy and appreciate input from those of you, my readers, who would like to share your memories of the interior of the Country club.