A New Tale of Arabian Nights: Opa-locka’s Dove

By Alex Van Mecl

As children, our innocence and infinite potential encourage us to have grand visions of what our futures will hold. For me, and growing up minutes away from Thomas Edison’s winter estate in Fort Myers, it was to be an inventor and, more specifically, to own a historic home. One part of that long-held dream came true on September 30, 2021. 

The city is Opa-locka and the street, funny enough, mirrors my middle name: Jann. Before this, had no awareness of this oddly named city before the discovery and was determined to learn more about Opatishawockalocka, its origin story, and my first home, as it adorned a then-rusted historical marker that designated it as a city landmark. 

Since arriving, I connected with the staff of the University of Miami Richter Library and HistoryMiami Museum who were gracious enough to provide me full access to their collections of Opa-locka history. The former houses the collection of Opa-locka architect Bernhardt E. Muller’s near-complete collection of drawings, photographs, and editorials, which surfaced three original elevation drawings of my home from November 1926 for a W.T. Dove, a first in decades for this home. The latter afforded me the discovery of Emily Perry’s papers, a preservationist from the 1980s who conducted extensive cataloging of historic sites here. Emily’s work unearthed another critical piece of my growing knowledge: a 1928 Opa-locka Census named Walter, a gardener, and his wife Carrie, as the original occupants of my home.  I was flabbergasted and even more encouraged. 

Since then, various online sources revealed this: Walter Thaddeaus Dove of Maryland was a war veteran and early founder of the American Legion in the city, was the superintendent of the Opa-locka Company papaya farm, had tragically died of a stroke at age 46, and was buried here in Miami at Woodlawn North. He left behind his wife and four children, Jack, Bob, Martha, and Betty, who would stay in the home until 1934. 

When I think of Opa-locka, I think of the dreamers who came here to make this city the special place it was meant to be: an Arabian and cinematic-inspired fantasy that provided to and activated its residents. Walter, Carrie, and their children were part of this movement and famed aviator Glenn Curtiss’ dream of creating a robust community unlike any other, one that had an abundance of activities for all and a unique aesthetic that would make heads turn. Indeed a “great city.” 

With time, this will happen again. There’s a coalition of good that’s happening, including the recent Florida Main Street designation, the soon-to-be completion of historic city hall’s restoration, as well as an aggressive city-wide beautification campaign. For myself, I’d like to think that Walter and his family are looking down on my husband and me in absolute awe of the stewards we’ve become to restore their home, affectionately named The Dove House, to the time when this city was in its glory. 

I may not be an inventor, but to be at that level you have to be a visionary, something I pride myself in being and what I certainly hope will inspire others to follow suit and rally behind an attainable and bright new future ahead.