WHY DO THEY CALL IT LEJEUNE ROAD? (REWRITE)

WHY DO THEY CALL IT LEJEUNE ROAD?

Note; if you are interested the original of this article was posted on this blog on 7/6/11, like most of my original works were.

By Wellborn Phillips


 LeJeune Road, that broad byway, running from the airport south through Coral Gables to Old Cutler Road and north into Broward County takes its name from Charles LeJeune, a wealthy young Belgian who settled here in l899 and once owned what is now the greater part of the Biltmore Section of the Gables.

A wealthy bachelor, he was well-traveled and well-educated, making him one of our area’s first “cosmopolites”. His courtly, “old world” manners, scientific knowledge and social life in the village of Coconut Grove gave him instant prominence in an area just emerging from its frontier era.

LeJeune bought for $2,000 the l40 acre “Jackson Homestead” and soon planted 70 acres in avocados and citrus-- by far the largest grove south of the Miami River. Its only competitors were the 11-acre grove of John Douglas near (what is now) the Douglas Entrance and the l0-acre grove developed by the Merrick Family.

LeJeune had unusual methods. Until then, it was believed that much of “rocky Dade” was worthless for agriculture. Trees could only be planted “helter-skelter” in soft areas, sinks and pot holes. “Not so,” said LeJeune. He was regarded as “crazy as a loon” for blasting the rocky ground so trees could be planted in straight lines.

LeJeune invested $l50, 000 in his grove before he made a penny, then the “loony” methods began paying off as the trees grew. By l913, profits soared and LeJeune was becoming wealthy.

But neighbor George Merrick had other plans. The grove was in the middle of the area where Merrick was planning Coral Gables. By l9l9, Merrick and LeJeune began negotiating and Merrick offered $300,000, which LeJeune turned down. After 5 more years of negotiating, Merrick bought out LeJeune for $2,780,000 (or $17,375 per acre)—half in cash, half in a mortgage. LeJeune had sold at the height of the market. It would be years of inflation before raw land would again bring such prices.

In August of 1924,Merrick platted and put the Biltmore Section on the market. (It was all the land from Coral Way south to Anastasia, from LeJeune west to Anderson).  Sales at first were wonderful. In the first 24 hours, contracts totaled $5,555,850--half in cash, the rest in a mortgage. And there were signs that the Great Florida Land Boom had begun to bust.

In less than 3 years, LeJeune’s mortgage was in default. But it was never foreclosed. It just remained a worthless asset for the rest of LeJeune’s life.  LeJeune died penniless.  The cash from the sale of the grove went to his relatives in Europe who had bankrolled his grove.  His final years were largely spent with daily visits to Lummis Park near the Miami River where he met with friends who regarded him as the most brilliant chess player they ever met..

Years later, the mortgage regained its value for LeJeune’s heirs. To get a clear title, people buying in the Biltmore Section had to settle with the heirs, paying delinquent interest, taxes and getting releases.