Miami History

On June 6, 1944, the D-Day invasion of Europe took place on the beaches of Normandy, France. 400,000 Allied American, British and Canadian troops were involved.

Attached is the local coverage and a map of the invasion in the Miami Daily News and Miami Herald.

On June 4, 1943, Governor Spessard Holland signed into law the 'Married Women's Emancipation Bill' which provided rights to married women to sign contracts, sue or be sued, and hold power of attorney.

Prior to this law, married women had to defer to their husbands pertaining to contractual matters and property ownership.

Sheelah Murrell, a Miami resident who lived at 1500 Brickell Avenue, was instrumental in the passage of this legislation in 1943.

On May 31, 1983, the Miami City Commission voted in favor of providing local historic designation protection to Petit Douy located at 1500 Brickell Avenue.

It was one of the first structures in the city to be given this designation.

The first two photos are of the residence in the 1980s, courtesy of Museum of Miami.

The third photograph is of John and Sheila Murrell at the Surf Club in 1950. The couple constructed the residence in 1931.

The last photo is of the renovated Petit Douy which operates now as the Chateau ZZ restaurant, courtesy of Casey M. Piket.