Cutler Bay, Florida

Cutler Bay and its more notable landmarks are rich with South Florida history. Below are some interesting facts on the area and its treasures:

The area covers approximately 9.7 square miles. The boundaries are approximately as follows: on the North by SW 184 Street (Eureka Drive) from the Florida Turnpike to Biscayne Bay; on the West from SW 184 Street following US 1 to SW 112 (Allapattah Road) and then along SW 126 (Hanlin Mills Drive); on the South by SW 216 Avenue and along historic Old Cutler Road, taking a right on SW 224 Street going east to Biscayne Bay. The Eastern Border follows the coastline of Biscayne Bay from SW 184 Street to SW 224 Street.

Cutler Ridge's history began in the 1870's when William C. Cutler visited the area and fell in love with it. Dr. William C. Cutler was the leading practitioner of medicine and surgery in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

Native Americans living in South Florida then referred to the area as the Big Hunting Grounds. It was officially part of the Perrine Grant awarded to Dr. Henry Perrine, in 1838. Dr. Cutler bought a 600-acre tract of this land for $1.25 per acre and wanted to establish a fruit and vegetable plantation.

The only one of Dr. Cutler's friends who became a permanent resident was William Fuzzard. On his first trip to the area in 1882, twenty-year-old William stayed in Coconut Grove while he explored the area. He returned in 1883, setting up a tent before building a wooden two-story home. One of Mr. Fuzzard's greatest contributions to the Cutler area was the path he cut through the wilderness. The road, which was eventually widened to a wagon trail, went from Coconut Grove to his home. This trail was the beginning of what is now called Old Cutler Road. It ran north from Fuzzard's home, went east and joined what is now Coral Reef Drive, Fuzzard's path was declared a public road in 1895. What was once the path traveled by Fuzzard's white mule, Samson, became the beginning of what is now the State Historic Highway of Old Cutler Road. The present Cutler Road, which follows a somewhat altered course, was declared a State Historic Highway in May, 1974, by the Florida Legislature.

It was really not until Mr. David Blumberg began developing the land that Cutler Ridge became an organized community. In the early 1950's Blumberg and his partner, Joe Segal, convinced owner Walter Blumberg to sell him 1,400 acres of undeveloped land. Blumberg actually named this area after Dr. Cutler and the limestone ridge on which the land sits. The first housing development went up in 1954 and the Cutler Ridge Mall opened in 1960. Street names in Cutler Ridge come from holidays and the ports of call Mr. Blumberg visited as a sailor. The area around the mall was called Seminole Plains. What is now Lakes by the Bay was called Lincoln City as the streets and parks were laid out. Black Point was the first post office south of Cutler, opening on February 15, 1904.

More About the Stories Behind the Area and its Names
In the winter of 1904-05, Wilford B. Focht arrived in Cutler and stayed at the Richmond Inn. He was a cousin of Mr. John H. Earhart, who owned 2,000 acres, which included a small farming community called Franjo, after John Earhart and his brother, Francis. Franjo Road (SW 97 Avenue) gets its name from this community.