Miami Circle Board	1999

Florida East Coast Railway

Posted by BP on December 01, 1999 at 06:51:53:

I have in front of me an electronic message retrived from http://www.ufomind.com/ufo/updates/1999/feb/m12-029.shtml, submitted by Robert A. M. Stephens.

The message describes an attempt by a contractor for the Florida East Coast Railway to build a narrow gauge extension of the railroad line between 1911 and 1913 (C.E.)

It was to be a 6 mile long, narrow gauge, extension through Miami proper, across the swampy area where the circle was uncovered, and terminating at another branch line.

This construction was to include a twin turntable pier for a Howe-Truss center span bridge (a common type of railroad bridge at the time). The "circle" discovered in Miami is likely a remnant of one of these turntable pits and conforms to the standard design of 1910 for a Howe-Truss, center bearing bridge traverse.

The message goes on to describe the ultimate failure of the project because of the inability of the contractor to build a stable roadbed for this branch line, the project being eventually abandoned in favor on non-rail transport.

The pictures of the "circle" I have seen certainly appear to be similar to other center bearing bridge and rolling stock turntable structures which existed (and which still exist and are in use)throughout the U.S., including the "post holes", which were likely used in an attempt to stablize the ground under the turntable pit. The likely origin of the Native Amerian material found on the site is debris that was dredged up by the contractors attempt to build a stable base for the bridge and railroad roadbed and track.

Is anyone else familiar with this idea? Has it been discussed by the archaeologist who have been working at the site? I can find no other reference to a discussion of this idea.

I would love for this circle to be a Native American Stonehenge too, but it don't look too good.

A serious discussion might be fun, flames will be ignored.

Back to Board