Museum Deering Estate at Cutler - Miami

The Deering Estate with its 440 acres is one of the largest contiguous protected areas on the coast of South Florida. This property is located approximately 15 miles south of Miami. In the area there are historic buildings and archaeological excavations and conservation parts. Since 1985 this property in the possession of the Dade County and is now an important historical landmark in the history of South Florida.

The Deering Estate belonged to Deering Family till it was bough by the Dade County. Charles Deering was born on 31 July 1852 as the eldest son of William Deering the founder of the Deering Harvesting Machinery. After his service in the Navy until 1881 Charles Deering joined his father’s company. In 1904 the Deering Harvester Company merged with the McCormick family to International Harvester Company and Charles Deering was from 1904 till 1918 Chairman of this new company.

Charles Deering was the half brother of James Deering the builder of Vizcaya in Miami. Like his half-brother he loved and collected art and antiques. Some of his favorite artists were Goya, Degas, Greco, but also artists of his own living time such as Ramon Casas and Miguel Utrillo.

1913 Charles Deering came to South Florida and lived first in the area which is now downtown Miami. With the increasing urban development Deering did not liked it any longer in Miami and in 1913 he started to buy the site at Old Cutler Town to create there his future winter residence.

When the hotel Richmond Cottage in Old Cutler Town was closed in 1915 he bought this building and made it to his first winter residence. In 1918 he built the Carriage House, the Powerhouse and the Pump House and the jetty with a 1-mile channel into the Biscayne Bay.

In 1922 he built Stone House which became later the main house of his estate. The production costs for this building at that time amounted to $ 66217. In these costs were not included the electricity and water equipment and the lift. The installation of the elevator cost $ 4274 extra. Additional costs were caused by the bronze and copper doors and windows as well as the Cuban shingles.

Five years after the completion of his Estates Deering Charles died on 2 May 1927 at the age of 75-year in this place. In his will he decided that his estate could only be sold after the death of his last direct descendants. This clause was fulfilled in 1984 when his youngest daughter died at the age of 94.

On 9 August 1985 the State of Florida bought the property through its Conservation and Recreation Lands Acquisition program of $ 22.5 million and presented it to the public as a museum and studying place. Since March, 16th 1986 the property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Stone house

The Stone House was built in 1922 in Mediterranean architecture and consists of approximately 60 cm (= 2 feet) thick massive cement exterior walls which are clad with limestone. Hand-made clay bricks formed the weakly curved tile roofs and ancient ornaments of the window grille complete this style. Deering hired Phineas Paiste who built several buildings in Coral Gables like the Colonnades Building and the Venetian Pool for the construction of his house.

Charles Deering was afraid the fire and therefore avoided the wooden fixtures inside and outside the house. Ornaments which look like wood are made from cement and stucco. There are no kitchen and no dining room in the Stone house. For this reason the every meal was prepared and eaten in Richmond Cottage.

During the lifetime of Deering the Stone House was filled with Chinoiserie and Chippendale furniture which belonged to his collection. A large part of his collection which could not be placed in his house Deering lend to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1922. After his death the borrowed items were donated to the Institute.
The Stone House has a large wine cellar. In the year 1920 the production, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited because of the 18th Amendment of the Constitution. Charles Deering therefore hides his wine treasures in a vault in the basement of the stone house under the library.

During the hurricanes of 1945 the basement was flooded and the vault doors began to rust. After round about 40 years this vault doors in the cellar were re-opened. All in this vault stored bottles, wines, champagne and liqueurs were spoiled. The salt water had damaged the cork and insects had eaten away the cork so that the alcohol is evaporated from the bottle and spoiled the rest of contents. Original old bottles are now displayed on the tasting tables.

When Dade County bought the Deering Estate in 1985 from the heirs the house was almost empty. The heirs had donated, sold or taken away the interior. For this reason Hurricane Andrew on 24.8.1992 found not much to destroy. To the re-opening of the Estate after the hurricane in 1999 some family members donated art works and other heirlooms to the Deering Collection Facilities of the property.
 
Richmond Cottage
The Richmond Cottage is the last building in the historic town of Cutler and was built in 1886. At that time in 1886 Cutler Town was one of the best-managed branches in Dade County. The city had 3 vessels piers and was an important port for transporting passengers and cargo. Even post office, school, shops and a saw mill were available.

In 1900 there was the opening of the Richmond Cottage: the best Hotel in Cutler Town located between Coconut Grove and Key West. Most residents of Cutler Town were hoping that the railway to Key West would be built nearby. When the railway finally was constructed near the town Perrine this town attracted many former residents of the Cutler Town and they moved there with its shops.

Only a few families remained in Cutler Town and the town deserted.
In 1913 Charles Deering began with the purchase of land in this area. When the hotel was closed in 1915 Deering also bought this house and changed it into his winter residence.

Until the construction of the Stone House in 1922 the Richmond Cottage was the main building of the Estates and the entire life took place there. Later the Richmond Cottage was primarily used as a kitchen and dining area and as a guesthouse for visitors of the Deering.

During Hurricane Andrew in 1992 a part of the Richmond Cottage broke down. After the storm the people in the area looked in the rubble for original parts of the house to use these pieces for the reconstruction of the Cottage.

The Richmond Cottage is a good model example of the Florida Frame Vernacular Architecture. In this design technique there are mainly used the direct surrounding materials. The buildings have a gable roof and large overhanging porch roof. Inside the house you find long passages hall with large windows and doors. These provide maximum natural ventilation of air and moisture in the building.

To visit the Deering Estate is necessary to reserve sufficient time to discover the large area by yourself and on the other hand listen to the guides who tell very interesting details about the property.

The best visiting time is during the morning hours because at that time often Manatees can be seen in coastal areas. A short rest on the porch of the Richmond Cottage with a fantastic view over the Atlantic Ocean is also a must.

 

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