III PRESERVATION TODAY NEWS Fall 2006
Historic Dice House Restored! Dade Heritage Trust, Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation, the Miami, Dade Historic Preservation Board and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson celebrated the restoration of the Historic Dice House at a special dedication ceremony in Continental Park on August 18, 2006.
The Dice House suffered from water damage. termites and a gaping hole in the roof.
DHT President Judy Pruitt. Beatriz and Bernardo Junco. DHT CEO Becky Roper Matkov. Grace Howard. Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson and Miami-Dade Parks Director Vivian Rodriquez at the restored Dice House ribbon cutting.
Built in 1917 and the oldest surviving house in Kendall , the Dice House was the original home of pioneer David Brandly Dice. The wood frame structure was designated as a historic site by the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board in 1989. The Dice House was saved from demolition by Dade Heritage Trust and relocated from 9840 S.W. 77th Ave in Kendall to the 14-acre Continental Park in March, 2005. Dade Heritage Trust collaborated with Miami-Dade County Parks and the owners, Bernardo and Beatriz Junco, to save and restore the historic structure for use as a community meeting and recreation center. The Dice House preservation project was made possible by a grant of $450,000 from the Quality Neighborhoods Improvement Program, allocated through the efforts of Commissioner Katy Sorenson. Previous bW'lers Bernardo and Beatriz Junco provided $45,000, and Dade Heritage Trust contributed additional funds to complete the $540,000 Dice House restoration.
Grace Howard, who traveled from Georgia to attend the dedication, recalled childhood memories growing up in her Kendall home now known as the Dice House. She marveled at the restoration, where old meets new. The inside of the Dice House recalls its history with early 20th century furnishings including a sewing maching, piano stool and wooden roll-top desk. The renovated kitchen, two bathrooms and air conditioning lend modem comforts to the historic structure. Now open to the public, the restored Dice House is a welcoming meeting facility and recreation center and remains an important landmark for the community to enjoy for years to come.
Workers began restoring the Dice House at its new location in 2005 .
The restored Dice House opened to the public in Continenal Park on August 18. 2006.