Soda Pops ready to Celebrate Centennial

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MIAMI — In 1911, this building was one of the first poured-in-place concrete structures to be constructed in Miami after the fire destroyed most of the wood buildings in 1909. The concrete was in abundance being a byproduct of the mines. The structure was originally comprised of a two-story building on the West lot only. The downstairs housed a Millenary store that sold fine clothes and accessories. The upstairs housed the offices of Cleve Van Dyke, the founder of Miami his secretary, Miami Title Company and the Land Office.

In about 1916 the building to the East was constructed with a second story. The town upper stories were married together to form even more office space with addition of a lawyers office. The bottom level originally was divided in to two separate stores. A common dividing wall separated the space into two twelve-foot wide stores. The space to the extreme East was the Western Union Office while the middle space was a cigar and candy store.

In the thirties, the middle common wall was removed and the East stores became one and has been many things over the years. The upstairs was abandoned in the middle thirties and over the many years people helped themselves to the furniture that was left. Many pieces can be found in other stores in the Globe area.

In 1998 Ron and Marcia Hughes purchased the property and started restoring the building back to their original glory. The Millenary houses the Soda Pops Antique Store specializing in Soda Machines, gas pumps, pedal cars, arcade games, toys, radios, and clocks all restored by Hughes Restoration in-house.

The building to the East is Soda Pops Soda Fountain, which is a restored and working 1914 soda fountain serving in-house ice cream, sodas, candy and other delights to be enjoyed during the Centennial Celebration.