European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 14, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse T v of of a Lviv a s Homes -1 still in relatively Good e. But no resident s ase Tor these watery less " de renewed after 1999. Stittsville on Biscayne Bay one of Stittsville s landmark structures in the midst of a blow collapse into the Waters of Biscayne Bay. The Ana la being turned into a nature preserve but some say the state should preserve stilts Volle s distinctive houses As Well. By Sandra Walewski associated press Hatcher Edmunds recalls Back in the Early 1960s when the Stilt structures dotting the hats of Florida s Biscayne Bay were notorious hangouts Lor gamblers boozers and flashy women. Characters such As plucky Pierre and his right hand Man. Shipwreck Kelly ran a joint called the Bikini club where a Pink card gained entry Lor members any time of Day or night seamen Lound their Way to the Quarterdeck club which was Lully equipped with a bar. Table games and. Lor a Lime Slot machines ours though was strictly Lor family says Edmunds who Calls his dwelling on stilts the a House so named because of its distinctive a Frame architecture the Laded yellow Retreat sits in several feet of water along with 13 other such vacation Homes and weekend retreats Oil the Southern coast of key Biscayne pleasure boaters cruising Biscayne Bay can hardly miss the Stilt Homes that have become a veritable Miami landmark curious Miami ans and visitors alike pass through Stittsville s natural deep water channels in route to the Ocean and sometimes leave slashes in the sea grasses alter dragging their engines on the Bay Bottom in the Clear shallow water around the Homes. But even with its reputation considerably mellowed and More family oriented. Stittsville will no longer exist at the turn of the Century. Residents leases for Quarter acre underwater Sites won t be renewed alter july 1, 1999. By decree of the Florida slate Cabinet. The state allowed the Bay Bottom to be leased through the next decade but prohibited new construction alter the state legislature passed the Biscayne Bay aquatic preserve act in 1974. We Are taking this area which is close to a Largo Urban area and resuming it to its natural says Lisa Garvin spokeswoman Lor the 173.000-acre Biscayne National Park although some people have called still Seville an eyesore and environmental concerns have been raised. Edmunds and others say the Homes should be saved maybe they re jealous because they can t Edmunds says. We were there Long before it was a National Park. We re not bothering Edmunds. 61, a retired trucking company supervisor from Pembroke Pines shares the Retreat with three other families. The 40-by 50-loot. Three bedroom House about six Miles offshore from Miami and a mile from the Cape Florida Lighthouse has stood Lor 27 years. Hurricane Donna levelled the original Structure. Residents now can rebuild Homes damaged during storms Only in at least 51 percent of the Structure remains intact. It took about a year for the families to build the a Frame House themselves towing scrap lumber and materials to the site in Small outboards it was almost like Homestead dog Edmunds says. In 1965, he says Ivan tors studios featured the House As the base of operations Lor an underwater Coal mining company in the movie round the world under the sea " Church groups and boy scouts also have borrowed the place for special retreats. Don t expect any luxuries Here. Edmunds says though it s the Best getaway possible still within sight of the Miami Skyline. You never run out of things to do relax fish Waler ski dive or watch the boats go he says. There is no television no Telephone they catch Rainwater for showers and washing dishes generators provide electricity and the Breeze off the Bay provides the world s Best air Edmunds says As he throws open the wooden doors off the combination sitting room Kitchen dining area. The Bay its Waler patches of Light Green and indigo Blue used to Oiler some of the Best Bonefish my anywhere before Miami s population boomed. Edmunds says but despite the decline in Marine Lile. Its still easy to catch a painful of fish Lor supper you can cast Oil Iho porch any time you want and catch All the Lish you Edmunds says old pictures irom family outings cram a Large bulletin Board inside the wooden House Many of them showing bloody Sharks bigger than the Young boys who caught them Over the course of about 60 years residents of Slit Seville have olten helped boaters who became stranded or got caught in a bad storm. Through the years i can t imagine How Many i be pulled Olf the Flats or helped them repair their boats or towed them in Edmunds says. Residents pay the state department of natural resources $1,000 annually to lease the site. When Ilia first structures began shaping Stittsville the Bay Bollum was leased Lor $1 an acre the Community peaked alter world War ii with some 20 residences. Today some of the structures have alien into disrepair after years of constant exposure to wind and Salt Spray Edmunds says it s a constant Battle to keep up his Retreat replacing beams painting and making repairs he worries about Stittsville s possible deterioration in the next decade because owners May decide it s not Worth spending the Money for repairs i they ii have to move or tear Down the residences. If the state remains committed to eliminating stilts ills Edmunds says it la do More than ust Lake away a slice of Paradise pc. Owners in the area. It la take away a lot of pleasure for people who he says it s just the neatest place in the world " Rumary 14, 1990 stars and stripes Page 15
