Resolution 028-2006
Commissioner Rice
RESOLUTION NO. 028-2006
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY SUPPORTING EFFORTS BY THE
HISTORIC FLORIDA KEYS FOUNDATION TO INCLUDE THE
OLD SEVEN MILE BRIDGE IN AMERICA'S 11 MOST
ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES OF THE NATIONAL TRUST
FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
WHEREAS, South Florida, in general, and the Florida Keys, in particular
were remote outposts of America until the early 1900's when Henry Flagler
built a railroad allowing convenient travel and facilitating development of South
Florida's mainland and the long chain of islands reaching 130 miles towards
Cuba; and
WHEREAS, the old railroad bridges became the roadbed for the bridges
after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935; and
WHEREAS, the Overseas Highway, as 120 miles of the road and
connecting bridges became known, has enabled the Florida Keys to become
America's island vacation destination for millions over the years, providing easy
access for the rest of the nation to a tropical paradise and its historic
treasures, including many historic homes and museums; and
WHEREAS, the saltwater environment eventually caused such
deterioration to the old bridges that new bridges were constructed for vehicular
traffic in the late 1970's and early 1980's; and
WHEREAS, three of the old bridges - the Old Seven Mile, Long Key
Bridge, and Bahia Honda bridges - were placed on the National Register of
Historic Places on August 13, 1979; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County did
pass Resolution No. 059-1992, designating the three bridges as historic and
cultural landmarks; and
WHEREAS, the Old Seven Mile Bridge still provides pedestrian access
from the approach to the new Seven Mile Bridge to Pigeon Key, a small island
which was once the base for a toll-keeper cottage and upon which several
historic cottages are maintained and operated as a museum by the Pigeon Key
Foundation under contract with Monroe County, the owner of Pigeon Key; and
WHEREAS, until recently, when the State Department of Transportation
deemed the old bridge too unsafe to continue vehicular traffic of any nature on
Old Seven Mile Bridge 1
the old bridge, a trolley transported visitors to Pigeon Key and the bridge
enabled art festivals and other community events to be staged on Pigeon Key;
and
WHEREAS, continued use of the old bridge for any purpose is threatened
by insufficient state funds to maintain, despite collaborative efforts of the
County and State agencies over the years to find funding to maintain the
bridge and to incorporate it into the Overseas Heritage Trail; and
WHEREAS, the Old Seven Mile Bridge constitutes a treasured landmark
to many while to others it simply represents an important piece of Keys
heritage; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, that:
1. Monroe County deems the Old Seven Mile Bridge to be a significant part
of the heritage of the Florida Keys,
2. Monroe County fully supports the efforts of The Historic Florida Keys
Foundation to have the Old Seven Mile Bridge, or at least that portion
connecting Pigeon Key with Knight's Key, designated by the National
Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America's 11 Most Endangered
Historic Places,
3. This Resolution shall become effective upon the date of its adoption
herein,
4. The Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to The Historic
Florida Keys Foundation.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Mqnroe
County, Florida, at a meeting of said Board held on the eightein~ dg at:::!
January, A.D, 2006. ~n~ ;::::1 ::;;
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Mayor McCoy
Mayor Pro Tem Nelson
Commissioner Neugent
Commissioner Rice
Com!lli~sioner Spehar
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
(Seat}
,Nte!lt:. DAN~' Clerk
BG~
Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE NTY, FLORIDA
By:
Old Seven Mile Bridge 2