I recently
completed the reading of a selection for St. Johns Reads, a community
reading project sponsored by the
St. Johns Public Library, Florida.
Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and
the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an
Ocean was authored by Les Standiford. Standiford
tells the story of Henry Morrison Flagler, a visionary at best, who
sets out to build the final installment of the railroad in Florida to
link Miami to Key West. Rather than live out his life lavishly on
the prosperous earnings from his work with Standard Oil, Flagler
is resolved to commit his wealth to the design and completion of
the Overseas Railroad. Getting on in age, yet unwavering and without
a thought of retreat, Flagler plows on with the assistance of his loyal and
also deeply committed employees. Obstacles along the way included an
occasional defecting labor force, masses of mosquitoes and other insects,
numerous hurricanes, lawsuits, naysayers, an eventual dwindled
bank account, wildfires and unhappy locals with the arrival of the
railroad. Seven years after commencing his plans, Flagler
boarded his "own iron", Car 91 to make
the inaugural excursion to Key West, where he is met with a
glorious celebration and his dream finally attained. Sadly, the
railroad does not survive a subsequent hurricane that destroys much of
the infrastructure, but not until after Flagler passes.
For all
interested in the history of Florida, this book is worth a
read.
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