This is a multiple stage field puzzle (<0.5 miles walking). At each of the first 5 stages you will have to locate some information (from the public sidewalk), then do some basic math to get you to the following stages until you reach the Final.
Originally, we had hoped to provide you a cache that would take you on a tour of some historical buildings in the area, but we didn't feel that was practical, so we decided to shorten your stroll. Please allow an hour to complete the cache, but you may wish to feed the parking meters more time than that so you can enjoy the sights and have a safety margin. The best time for people-watching is after sunset on Friday or Saturday night.
Below is a 1994 aerial photo showing the Bakery Center.
History of the City of South Miami: In 1897, W.A. Larkins, an early pioneer and founder of South Miami, brought his family into the lush wilderness at the southernmost end of the wagon trail that is now the Ingraham Highway. He started a small dairy and a year later established a post office near what is now Cocoplum Circle.
Upon the completion of the Miami to Homestead extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad in 1906, Larkins bought the property west of what is now Red Road and south of Sunset Drive and established the first grocery and general supply store located in the area. Additionally, the US Government moved the post office to that location, and the surrounding community was named Larkins in honor of its Postmaster.
By 1917, the population of Larkins had swelled to 350. As with much of Florida, the real estate boom of the Roaring '20's had a large impact on Larkins. Land values reached an all-time high when a ten-acre tract sold for $100,000. The epicenter of the boom was near the original Riviera Theater, which is more commonly referred to today as the Shops at Sunset Place.
Beginning in the mid-1920's, many citizens of Larkins expressed a desire to incorporate their burgeoning community. In March of 1926, a group of qualified voters met and voted affirmatively to annex an area of approximately 6 square miles, bounded on the East by Red Road, on the South by SW 104 Street and Kendall Drive, on the West by Ludlam and the Palmetto and on the North by Bird Road.
The citizens of the newly incorporated area named the new municipality the Town of South Miami and elected Judge WA Foster as Mayor and JL Paxson, JW Barrs, John Myers, WG Stang, RL Martin, JB Janes and Harold Dorn as Aldermen.
The Town Council immediately went to work. Within weeks, it established a Town Seal; formulated a town code; rented a building to be the Town Hall; purchased a fire truck; and appointed a health officer, engineer and an attorney.
The Great Hurricane of September 1926 dealt a punishing blow to the Town of South Miami. Only the courage and determination of its citizens permitted the Town to survive the disaster. Although the Town requested federal assistance, asking Congress to "relieve the people of their income tax for the current year", none was received. To make matters worse, the Florida East Coast Railway station burned down, leaving the town without a station for many years.
Many citizens became dissatisfied with the municipality's status as a town, feeling that the "town" was being ignored by the State and Federal Governments, and began calling for a change to a "city". Therefore, the Town of South Miami prepared a new charter and presented it to the Florida Legislature during its 1927 Session. The Florida Legislature approved the charter, and on June 24, 1927, the Town of South Miami ceased to exist and the City of South Miami was born.
The early 1930's signaled the beginning of what was probably the most turbulent and uncertain period in South Miami's history. Financial problems and local dissension generated a temporarily successful movement to abolish the City in 1931. In fact, all City functions were suspended for approximately six months until the courts intervened and ordered the City to resume operations. On May 17, 1932, Judge Worth A. Trammell ordered the Mayor and Council to resume City business because no one had made any provisions to retire the City's debts! Interestingly, one of the largest debts was to the LeFrance Fire Engine Company, from which the City had purchased a fire engine six years earlier. South Miami may be the only city in the nation to be saved by a fire engine with no flames in sight!
In 1933, in an effort to lessen municipal responsibilities and to appease many concerned citizens, South Miami's total area was reduced from its original six square miles to just over three square miles. Later, in 1937, the City's size was reduced again, as many dissatisfied northern residents sued out of the City. These actions created most of the irregular boundaries that still characterize South Miami today.
During World War II, South Miami's development temporarily slowed, but the post-war period brought exponential growth. The tremendous impacts of growth soon caused the City to realize that its original charter was inadequate. Consequently, a committee was appointed to study the existing charter's shortcomings and recommend improvements. The committee recommended an entirely new charter providing for a city manager-commission form of government. The new charter and form of government were instituted on July 31, 1953, upon the approval of a citizen referendum.
Since the 1950's the City and its charter have experienced several changes, but have largely remained true to the pioneers' vision. Today, much like the post-war period, the City of South Miami is experiencing tremendous growth and redevelopment, as people have recognized the unique "small-town" atmosphere of the "City of Pleasant Living".
Please be stealthy and re-hide the cache well.
Here are your clues to complete your Sunset Stroll:
Posted Coordinates / Stage 1. N 25 42.209, W 080 17.364. Locate the Redding Plaque. The year this plaque was dedicated (four numbers) __________ Take the 4th number and Multiply by 7 = ______, now Add it to the 1st number = _______ Add that to the North coords. Now take the third number ______ Add that to the West coords.
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Stage 2. = N 25 42. _____, W 080 17. _____ Locate the Amster Plaque. Find the Ordinance No. The second number = ____ Add that number to the North coords. What day in August was the plaque dedicated _____ Multiply that number by 4 = _____, now Subtract 2 from it = ______ Subtract that from the West coords.
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Stage 3. = N 25 42. _____, W 080 17. _____ Time for a draught? Locate the street address (four numbers) _________ Subtract 3 from the 3rd number = _____ Add that to the North coords. Multiply the 2nd number by 8 and add 2 to it = ______ Subtract that number from the West coords.
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Stage 4. = N 25 42. _____, W 080 17. _____ Mmmm, Java. Locate the street address (four numbers) _________ Take the 3rd number, Multiply it by 3 = _____ Subtract that number from the North coords. Subtract the 4th number from the 2nd number = _____ Add that number to the West Coords.
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Stage 5. = N 25 42. _____, W 080 17. _____ An old watering hole. Locate this establishment’s sign (four words). Count the letters in the first black word ____ and Add 3 to that = ____ Add that number to the North coords. Count all the letters on the sign _____ Multiply it by 2 = ______ Add that to the West coords.
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Final 6. = N 25 42. _____, W 080 17. _____ N:3 digits checksum= 10, W:3 digits checksum= 18.
FTF - Wall-E&Eva