Recognized as “the man who helped build Key Largo,” and the first person of color to be fire chief in the community, Enos Mitchell’s contributions to the community are now recognized with a plaque in his honor at Friendship Park.
On the morning of May 28, about 50 people gathered to join the Mitchell family as they unveiled the county’s plaque at the park, located on Hibiscus Drive. A 3-acre park with a playground, baseball diamond, two basketball courts, trees and greenspace and shaded structures. The county purchased the land for the park in 1986.
County commissioners authorized the plaque. Holly Merrill Raschein, commissioner for District 5, served as master of ceremonies. She was joined by the son of Enos Mitchell, Upper Keys Rotarian Willy Mitchell.
Island Community Church pastor Tony Hammon described how his father-in-law and Enos Mitchell volunteered for the early Key Largo ambulance corps and volunteer fire department as he asked for a blessing on the event. People from the community took turns relating stories about Enos Mitchell, his contributions to the community, and the personal interactions they and members of their families enjoyed with him. Mitchell died in October 2023 at the age of 93.
Willy Mitchell told a story about how his father would load up a van with local children and take them up to Disney World.
“Those kids couldn’t afford it otherwise. But my dad said once they were in there they were on their own. He wasn’t going to babysit,” Willy said.
Key Largo Fire and EMS Fire Commissioner Frank Conklin related that emergency services in Key Largo once consisted of “friends and family jumping on a truck. Enos and his family knew heavy equipment and we often needed heavy equipment.”
In the 1970s, Enos worked with Harry Davis Jr., who became the first Black Key Largo fire chief. Key Largo Fire and EMS was represented at the dedication by a truck and local firefighters. Islamorada Fire Chief Terry Abel and member of the Islamorada Councilwoman Anna Richards also attended.
Known as “Powder Man,” Mitchell used dynamite to help carve out Adams Cut along with many other canals and boat basins. One member of the audience commented, “Enos told me that he and the crew had to sleep on a barge way out in the bay. They came ashore to do the blasting when the sun was up because the mosquitoes weren’t so bad in the sun. The mosquitoes drove them back out on the barge at dusk.”
Mitchell founded and ran Mitchell Septic Tank Corp., which is still in business, although the activity moved more toward grease traps and other items that need cleaning.
David de Haas, of de Haas Consulting and Design said, “I did business with Enos for more than 30 years. He was the nicest man and he ran the best company you could ever work with.”
Tom Hill, who was the owner and manager of Key Largo Fisheries, founded in 1972, described Mitchell as “an awesome man and good friend.”
Raschein commented, “There is energy around the idea of naming the entire park after Enos.”
Ara Mitchell, Enos’s wife, said he was a “good man, a good father and the best husband.” Ara joined her family to unveil the large plaque secured to a boulder near the entrance to the park. One man noted, “See how that rock was drilled? I bet Enos blasted it.” He referred to the clear furrow in the side of the rock.
Members of the Mitchell family carry the name Enos out to Enos Mitchell IV. He will not be forgotten.
ANNA RICHARDS/Contributed
