I was born and raised in Miami, Florida and have seen a lot of changes. Some for the good, most for the bad. I thought it would be cool to have a site where people could post their memories of places, people, etc. of different things they remember used to be in Miami.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Parrot Jungle
This is a picture of me and the grandson of the original owners of the Parrot Jungle.
Do you know the grandsons name? We are the grandchildren of the original owners and I do not recognize the boy in this picture. The road in front of the old Parrot Jungle is now named after our grandparents. The Pinecrest firestation used to be our home.
I worked for the original owners, Jerome Scherr was the most gracious, wonderful boss...his son was David...I remember he used to sell mangoes from his wagon. I think I went to Pinecrest church school with Patrick (if memory serves) Van Derwyden....
Bill Vanderwyden otoh was in charge of the gift shop. Bless his heart, he could be a really mean guy.
I read about Frances' suicide several years ago. he too was a wonderful person and it was an honor to have worked for them Although it pretty much ruined me. Having such great bosses as a teenager, now as an old lady of almost 50, I've yet to have a boss that measured up to Jerome. ~sigh~
I started in the juice bar, then went to the gift shop and ended up in the ticket booth and helping Martha in the office. I can't say enough good things about the Scherr's or the old Parrot Jungle. I'd love to know how they are doing..and how they feel about the "new" jungle.
My sister knew the Scherrs...her name is Melinda Miller (Barnes). I am the little girl in the picture, but I don't remember the boy's name. I will ask her if she remembers...
I've heard her tell tales of running around Parrot Jungle at night when she would spend the night there. She always had fun there.
So I was posting as "anonymous" about working in the Jungle.
Which house is the firestation now? The old one on Red Road next to the juice bar? Thenewer one where Mrs Scherr senior lived? Or the older one around the corner from that one where I remember our nursery school bus picking up Patrick (if that was his name..sorry old age ya know ;).
Gosh I wish I could just get in the car and drive over there..but I'm in Houston and stuck for awhile with job responsibilities.
The fire station is in the house that was the Scherr's....remember it had a flamingo or palm tree on the front screen door? They renovated it nicely. It still looks the same. I will try to take a picture of it and post it on here.
You all brought back sooo many memories! I remember moving to Kendall in 1973, my house seemed so new! Outdoor Dadaland, Holsum Bakery,Lights At Chistmas in the Gables (someone remembered the name of the people!!awesome!)There's so much...Dairy Queen on Dixie Hwy. after the pony rides (Miss ol' Freckles scared Dad to death! Guess I wasn't supposed to gallup!)I've since moved to N.Florida & these folks have their memories all the same but nothing like we all had. Miami doesn't seem the same when I go back, but theres still some stuff left...Thanks!
I had the opportunity to work in that fire station and was a real old-Florida jewel. My father lived nearby in the 1940's and he told me about gigging mullet in the canal across the street and raising chickens near the lime groves. It must have been a great time to live in Florida.
This is a picture of me and the grandson of the original owners of the Parrot Jungle.
10 comments:
hehehe! :) A little Gladeslvr!
Do you know the grandsons name? We are the grandchildren of the original owners and I do not recognize the boy in this picture. The road in front of the old Parrot Jungle is now named after our grandparents. The Pinecrest firestation used to be our home.
I worked for the original owners, Jerome Scherr was the most gracious, wonderful boss...his son was David...I remember he used to sell mangoes from his wagon. I think I went to Pinecrest church school with Patrick (if memory serves) Van Derwyden....
Bill Vanderwyden otoh was in charge of the gift shop. Bless his heart, he could be a really mean guy.
I read about Frances' suicide several years ago. he too was a wonderful person and it was an honor to have worked for them Although it pretty much ruined me. Having such great bosses as a teenager, now as an old lady of almost 50, I've yet to have a boss that measured up to Jerome. ~sigh~
I started in the juice bar, then went to the gift shop and ended up in the ticket booth and helping Martha in the office. I can't say enough good things about the Scherr's or the old Parrot Jungle. I'd love to know how they are doing..and how they feel about the "new" jungle.
My sister knew the Scherrs...her name is Melinda Miller (Barnes). I am the little girl in the picture, but I don't remember the boy's name. I will ask her if she remembers...
I've heard her tell tales of running around Parrot Jungle at night when she would spend the night there. She always had fun there.
So I was posting as "anonymous" about working in the Jungle.
Which house is the firestation now? The old one on Red Road next to the juice bar? Thenewer one where Mrs Scherr senior lived? Or the older one around the corner from that one where I remember our nursery school bus picking up Patrick (if that was his name..sorry old age ya know ;).
Gosh I wish I could just get in the car and drive over there..but I'm in Houston and stuck for awhile with job responsibilities.
The fire station is in the house that was the Scherr's....remember it had a flamingo or palm tree on the front screen door? They renovated it nicely. It still looks the same. I will try to take a picture of it and post it on here.
You all brought back sooo many memories! I remember moving to Kendall in 1973, my house seemed so new! Outdoor Dadaland, Holsum Bakery,Lights At Chistmas in the Gables (someone remembered the name of the people!!awesome!)There's so much...Dairy Queen on Dixie Hwy. after the pony rides (Miss ol' Freckles scared Dad to death! Guess I wasn't supposed to gallup!)I've since moved to N.Florida & these folks have their memories all the same but nothing like we all had. Miami doesn't seem the same when I go back, but theres still some stuff left...Thanks!
Woman of 50 what is your name ? I worked in the cafeteria from 75-82 do I know you ?
I remember Martha the book keeper my god did that woman chain smoke heard she hit the bottle pretty hard too
I had the opportunity to work in that fire station and was a real old-Florida jewel. My father lived nearby in the 1940's and he told me about gigging mullet in the canal across the street and raising chickens near the lime groves. It must have been a great time to live in Florida.
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