The Magic of Little Haiti…by Gespie M. Metellus

The Haitian community of South Florida is a socio-economically and culturally vibrant community that has enriched Miami-Dade’s multiethnic character. Little Haiti, walled by I-95 and the Florida East Coast Railways, spans from 54th to 87th streets. It has a viable business district along NE 2nd Avenue, which is of great social and cultural significance to the Haitian Diaspora because it is the only geographical area in the history of Haitian immigration primarily inhabited by Haitians. It bustles with Haitian owned and operated businesses, where the aroma of Creole cooking, multi-hued artwork, the rhythm of the Haitian compass, and the expressive tone of Haitian Creole greet residents and visitors alike. The name of a cultural icon graces a major thoroughfare in the heart of Little Haiti; NE 2nd Avenue is now known as “Avenue Felix Moisseau Leroy” and it leads directly to Toussaint Louverture Elementary School. Over a relatively short period of time, Haitians have changed the character of the neighborhood and have revitalized the area that was once known as the pre-Miami community of Lemon City. One of the distinguishing characteristics is the colorful and distinctive Caribbean signage along the business corridors. Miami’s Little Haiti has earned a national and international reputation.

Atelier Duval-Carrie
225 NE 95th St.
One of the few artist studios/workshops of the area, Duval-Carrie is talented, rooted in Haitian culture and history, while still very –versed in art history and artistic styles. His works of art are intellectually stimulating

Lemon City Post Office
6045 NE 2nd Ave
This historic 1902 drug store and post office is one of the few remaining buildings from the pioneer community of Lemon City. When Dr.John DuPuis, who was fondly called the “Lemon Doctor”, constructed it it was the only concrete building north of downtown. DuPuis was also the father of the 1915 Dade County Agricultural High School, later renamed Miami Edison.

Notre Dame D’Haiti/ Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center
NE 2nd Avenue at the corner of 62nd Street
This church and neighborhood social service center bears the name of a recently canonized Haitian saint. It was formerly known as Notre Dame Academy, a Catholic high school for girls. Today, it is a place of worship for Haitian Catholics and is a significant religious, social and cultural focus point for Miami-Dade County’s Haitian-American community.

Toussaint L’ouverture Elementary School
120 NE 59th Street
In 1986,Bernard Zyscovich designed this unique award winning school that captures the quality and character of Haitian and Caribbean architecture. It honors Toussaint L’ouverture, the legendary Haitian leader who helped lead the nation toward independence from France in 1804.

Grace United Haitian Methodist Church
6501 N. Miami Ave.
Grace United Methodist Church, formerly Lemon City Methodist, was organized in 1893 and is the oldest church in continuous service in Miami-Dade County. The present sanctuary, built in 1959, is the church’s third building. The second, built in 1905, still stands at 6311 NE 2nd Avenue. Both Grace Methodist and the Bethany Baptist Mission, that occupies the former Grace Methodist church building on 2nd Avenue, serve the Haitian community with services in Creole.

Miami Edison Middle School
NW 2nd Avenue and 62nd Street
A beautiful restored award-winning 1928 Prairie-style school designed by H.H. Mundy, which was formerly Miami Edison High, is now the home to a largely Haitian student body. It is the ancestor of the 1915 Lemon City Agricultural High School, the second high school in Miami-Dade County. The ornate auditorium interior, designed by Pfeiffer and Robertson in 1931,is one of the finest high style Art Deco interior spaces in Greater Miami. Richard Heisenbattle was the restoration architect.

Edison Courts Between NW 62nd and 67th Streets and 2nd and 4th Avenues
During the Great Depression, the works progress Administration (WPA) hired many local architects, contractors and workers to construct public works projects in Miami. The 345-unit Edison Courts, completed in 1941 and designed by the firm of Paist and Stewart with associate architects Robert Law Weed, Vladimir Virrick and E.L. Robertson, provided public housing for white people. It was similar in scale and design to Liberty Square for Blacks (1936) designed by the same firm. Both projects were integrated in the 1960s.Edison Courts has maintained most of its historic ambience and is a wonderful example of WPA craftsmanship and design.

Villa Paula/Lucien Albert MD Medical Center
5811 N. Miami Ave.
This medical clinic is housed in a majestic house called “Villa Paula” that was built in 1926 as the Cuban Consulate. Surviving periods of vacancy and vandalism, the Villa has been beautifully restored, from the white columned gazebo and statuary outside to the stained glass windows.

Radio Carnivale, WRHB 1020 AM 185
NE 84th St.
Radio Carnivale is Little Haiti’s first Haitian-owned 24-hour radio station.