Dade County FlArchives Biographies.....Smith, Avery C. 1872 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 November 6, 2015, 10:43 pm

Source: Vol. II  pg.147-148  The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923
Author: History of Florida, Past and Present

        AVERY C. SMITH. Thousands of Northern tourists know Miami Beach as one 
of the finest Ocean resorts in the South, and they also appreciate the
wonderful facilities offered by the Smith Casino and Bath Houses there, though 
comparatively few understand that the president of the Smith Company, Inc
Incorporated, owners of the Casino and Bath Houses, is virtually the founder of
Miami Beach. Out of his initial enterprise and his unwavering faith and good
judgment have come the chief influences and the instrumentalities in the
development of this prosperous little city.
	Mr. Smith was born at Norwich, Connecticut, in 1872, son of PALMER and
EMELINE M. (CHAMPLIN) SMITH. Both parents represented old Connecticut families
that were established in that state and early Colonial times. AVERY C. SMITH
acquired a local school education at Norwich, and as a youth entered the
service of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, remaining with them
for four years. He became chief accountant in the Norwich office. After several
years in the railroad service he engaged in the steam boating business, and
operated and owned for ten years steam vessels on the Thames River and Long
Island Sound between Norwich, New London and Long Island Sound points.
	Mr. Smith came to Miami in 1908. While looking over that territory he
recognized possibilities of that section of Biscayne Bay that is now Miami
Beach. With little delay he started the original enterprise, establishing a
bathhouse and casino, and from that time Miami Beach has been growing in fame
and reputation as one of the finest playgrounds of the world. Miami Beach is
now an extensive city and incorporated municipality, but nothing in the way of
a town was thought of when Mr. Smith located there.
	Many remarkable developments have taken place during the past ten 
years. Beginning in 1912-13 the CARL G. FISHER interests of Indianapolis began
expending millions of dollars in making Miami Beach the beauty spot of America.
Mr. Smith himself had expended a large amount of capital and has influenced the
investment of capital and buildings and improvements. His own investments have
brought the Smith Casino and Bath Houses to a place where they now constitute
the largest enterprise of its kind in the South. The buildings are located on a
property extending the whole width of the Island from Ocean to Bay on south
side of Biscayne Avenue, and afford every modern facility for ocean bathing,
besides a large swimming pool. The dancing pavilion is one of the special
features of the casino. This business is carried on under the name of Smith
Company, Incorporated, of which Mr. Smith is president.
	Soon after starting his business there in 1908 he, in co-partnership
with JAMES C. WARR, built and placed in commission to twin screw double deck
passenger boats, and later on built a fleet of five boats. From 1908 to 1912
these furnished the only transportation between Miami and Miami Beach. In the
latter year the Collins wooden bridge was built across the bay, thus obviating
the necessity for steamer transportation, and soon afterward the operations of
the Biscayne Navigation Company were discontinued.
	In 1912 the Ocean Beach Realty Company, composed of Mr. Smith and a
number of capitalists at Miami, was organized and began the first real estate
development at Miami Beach. Their interests were subsequently taken over by the
present Miami Ocean View Company.
	In every other organized movement for the advancement and welfare of
Miami Beach and vicinity Mr. Smith has taken a prominent part. He was one of
the organizers and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Miami Beach
Chamber of Commerce. He married Miss EDNA ALLING, of Norwich, Connecticut, in
1909, and they have a son, AVERY C. SMITH, Jr.


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