Coral Gables had humble beginnings as a local farm for the Merrick family in the late 1800's. The Merrick family migrated from the northeast as did many families to escape the harsh northern winters. They purchased the parcel of land for just $1,100 in the summer of 1899. They built a beautiful home they coined "Coral Gables" on the land which still stands today at 907 Coral Way. Over the next 13 years, the property was operated as a grove for avocados, grapefruit and vegetables and became the largest agricultural enterprise in South Florida. While the groves were quite successful, George Merrick who inherited the land from his father in 1911, had other plans in store for the land. Merrick pursued his dream in developing the property into one of the finest suburbs in the United States, appropriately named Coral Gables for the original plantation which started his venture in South Florida real estate.