The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-01-03
Fishermen Await Reports 0n% Red
Tide In Ocean Around Key West
Cyonm Intends Duck Key E,ept
Key Gunner
And B. c. Papy
Are Speakers
az rHELMA PARKHURsT

U
Today 1 attended the opening of
the causeway connecting Duck Key
with the Overseas Highway. 1t was
a very impressive affair. arrived
at 12:15 and there were already
about 3 dozen cars parked there.
They kept coming in steadily, and
instead of the 200 people expected
there were more like $50.
At exactly l p. m. the ribbon
(this one was a fishing line be-.
tween two fishing rods, held at
each side by a beautiful girl in a
bathing suit, the models being
Nancy Wichlei and Claudia Lay
NOM was cut by the Most Honor
able Marques of Queensbury.
There were many flash bulbs 60
ing off about the time.
The crowd then filed back down
to the food counter, which was In
the middle of the causeway. There
were barbecued ribs and fish,
beer. coffee and soft drinks. There
was an orchestra playing all the
time, the Floridians from the Gu
ban Club in Key West.
While we were munching on bar
becued ribs / talked to many local
people and others: Harry Harris
from Tavernier, Floyd and Mrs.
Lamb, Alfonzo Cothran, Bill Aker-
man. Fred Shefflin, Cliff and Sis
Bailey, Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Center,
Nolan wilkins, Bill Bradley, Romer
Baucum, Lee Tucker and Michael
Covert who are the promoters for
Marathon Ocean Beach, John Bal
fe, publisher of the Redland Dis
trict News in Homestead, and
numerous others.
After the feast Bryan w New
kirk, president Of the Sewhirk
Realty Corporation, and a Cana
dian mining, oil and industrial lead
er and owner of Duck Key made
very impressive speech as fol-
lows:
ladies and gentlemen: / am
Bryan Newkirk, president of the
Newkirk Realty Corporation, the
owner of Duck Key, and in that
capacity I welcome you to the
opening of the Causeway connect
ing our key with the overseas
highway. / believe that this oc-
casion is unique in Florida deve-
Looping in that at this time there
is nothing for sale.
Transportation is all important
to a project such as ours. This
we viii have in all of its phases:
by road, by sea, through channels
to deep water adequate for sea
going yachts, and by air, through
the splendid Marathon Air Strip,
with its 5000 feet runways, located
Just 8 miles from our property,
and by helicopter landing on our
golf course.
Thanks to my friend that tire
less and efficient worker Alfonzo
Cothron, the bridge and causeway
now being opened were made
ready for these ceremonies in
spite of exasperating shortages Of
essential materials, The engineer
ing and supervision of this work
was done by Crawshaw and Bailey
and am quite proud of the job
the ; men have done.
Il was one OF the associates OF
George Edgar Merrick in the de-
velopment OF Coral Gables. Fla.
/ know of no one who has left
such a living monument to great
vision and daring as has George
Merrick. He told me many times
that on the completion Of Coral
Gables his next undertaking would
be on the Fla. Keys. He pointed
out the wonderful advantages OF
these col0rful Islands. I am sure
that except for his untimely death
his plans would have been consum.
mated.
Some years ago Judge Edward
l.. Semple Of Miami. suggested