1st down and 11

The Miami River shines its way into downtown and the towering business district at sunrise.

My natural reaction to the beginning of each new year is a mixture of hope, resolve, and regret. And just like a 12-step recovery program, I spent most of January going through the stages of trying to right my tiny boat and keep a weather eye on a distant, passionate horizon. The process repeats itself regardless of the previous year's outcome because I'll probably always be someone a hell of a lot more interested in where I'm heading, than where I've been.

In Miami, however, the future and past keep knocking heads with each other and the history of my life and family. Last weekend I shot an assignment for People en Español along Ocean Drive, photographing a very nice girl named Lulu among the palm trees of Lummus Park. These days the park is ground zero of the modern South Beach "experience," but it was once just a pretty stretch of grass in front of the ocean that my great, great grandfather (J. N. Lummus) gave to the newly formed city of Miami Beach as its first mayor.

Yesterday while heading back from Calle Ocho in Little Havana I slowed down as I neared the interstate on-ramp to take a look at Wilbur Auto, a garage on SW 8th St. that my mother's father worked out for 4 decades, servicing the Cadillac’s of celebrities like Jackie Gleason and Art Carney during the post-war boom era of the city. Inside the old shop I saw a quick glimpse of an old man who is surely my great uncle, and the last of Grampie's living siblings. I was on deadline for The New York Times, so I headed on home, but I'll be stopping back by once the Uber Bowl insanity has left town.

I moved back to South Florida in part to rediscover a place that my family had helped shape and grow into the confusing, amazing, and overwhelming land it is now. And over the last year as I've become acquainted, both again and for the first time, I've begun to formulate a new project idea that I'm going to turn into my first book. I'll write about my process along the way once I've completed a chunk of the work, but in the mean time here is another recent image I made in Lummus park.

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Comments (5)

My daughter was surfing through the Lummus name and came upon your article. My father was Lynn F Lummus, son of J.N. Lummus Jr, who was the son of J.N. Lummus. I have spoken with my children about the early history of our family and our families involvement in the early history of Miami/Miami Beach. It is quite fascinating. I was surprised to see the spelling of your last name is different than ours. My side of the family moved from Georgia in the late 1800's and was part of the very early days of Miami. Our family owned the land that Lummus Park is located on. It is my understanding that the land was donated to the city of Miami Beach as the taxes were unpayable after the great depression. JN and JE Lummus were big into the banking business and had a lot to do with the early financing of the development of Miami. JN Lummus Jr also served as tax accessor for many years. Thanks Lynn Lummus

Stumbled across your website while in search of something else and enjoyed it immensely. I'm a former native Miamian (grew up in Miami Shores, lived in Europe for a number of years) .

Possibly related to you. Or not.

Cynthia Loomis Gurin now lives in Stuart, Florida with her husband Bob.
She has achieved recognition in both the Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal for innovative marketing techniques. She considers the Personal Ad, through which she met her husband, to be her most rewarding literary endeavor. Several of her Short Stories For Children Age 8 through CEO, are featured at BedtimeStory.org

I knew Lynn F Lummus very well.. actually dated him on and off for almost 8 years.. right up until the time he married and I remarried almost 49 years ago. I have his Edison class ring, and if either his son or daughter would be interested in having it, I would be more than glad to pass it along. It was cut down to my size but in original shape. I was saddened to hear of his death some years ago and still remember him fondly. A genuine gentleman, good, caring and honest. Am only sorry that he never made Judge, which was his goal when attending Law School at Washington & Lee.

My fiancee and I live in the J.N.Lummus Jr. home in Miami Shores. As we have been told, we are the third family to live in this precious "Golden Oldie". First family having been J.N. Lummus Jr., his wife Martha and their children. We would love to get in contact with any of the family members who can give us more insight into the lives that have been lived in our home. We have heard bits and pieces and would really love to hear more...to pass on to our children some day.

Lynn Fort Lummus was my Grandfather (my mother's father). Mother and I would be interested in possibly having you pass the ring back to the family. It was very considerate of you to offer to return Mandaddy's High school ring. As I am going to college at Thomas Edison State College in NJ, having the ring would be a treasured memento. Looking forward to hearing from you. You can contact me at jdsmitherebel@yahoo.com

Thank You!
J.D. Smith

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