University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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Ever since 1926 Hurricane football has been the focal point of campus activity, c . 1943.

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cafe of what Mem argued that the county should raise what- ever amount of money was necessary to keep the University alive because to let it die would offset any advertising about the city that they could possibly do. UM gave the community a cultural image and was partly an attempt to overcome the idea of Miami as nothing but a large recreational area. With a noble effort in mind, the Board of Regents made their first moves to establish UM on a great tidal wave of economic expectation. The Florida land boom was at its apogee in 1925-26. Don-

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Donation pledges had been made and Flori- da ' s economy was ex- panding so rapidly that no one doubted the pledges would be paid in full. Sorority teas were frequent and well-attended during UM ' s early years, c. 1947. ation pledges had been made, and Florida ' s economy was expanding so rapidly that no one doubted the pledges would be paid in full. The single most important donation came in the form of a gift of land. The area that the campus now occupies was fur- nished by George Merrick. At the time, the land was nothing but uncleared woods. Money was soon raised to construct the University of Miami ' s first structure - an administration building. Sitting amidst acres of forest, the cornerstone was laid on February 4, 1926. The event was widely noted in the small community and a throng of 7000 attended that initial ceremony - the first public function of the University of Miami. The three-story, 50 x 600 foot structure was projected to open for business on October 15 the first day of University operation. But financial complications and a failure to raise needed capital due to the bad rep- utation of the Florida land business forced the Board of Regents to plan an alternative. There was no way for the Merrick Building to be completed on time. On June 11, the incompleted Anastasia Hotel, a large triangular structure in Coral Gables, was taken over by the Univer- sity. Planned as a temporary building,