Ashley Gang topic of Saturday’s history festival

A presentation on “The Real Story of the Ashley Gang’’ will headline the annual free Treasure Coast History Festival held Saturday in Fort Pierce.

The free festival is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Lucie County Regional History Center, 414 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce.

The Ashley Gang was a large family of criminals headed by John Ashley that roamed the Treasure Coast bootlegging, robbing banks and committing other crimes until four of the gang members were killed Nov. 1, 1924, by lawmen during a trap set for them at the Sebastian River bridge. A debate has raged for nearly a century over whether the shootings were justified and whether the corruption of Palm Beach County sheriffs George Baker and son Bob drove the gang deeper into crime.

The Ashley Gang panel will start at 11 a.m. in the speakers’ tent and will feature historian Steve Carr, who has spent nearly five decades researching the Ashley Gang and donated the memorabilia that now comprises the permanent Ashley Gang exhibit at the Elliott Museum in Stuart. Also during the session, Waylon Wilson will exhibit John Ashley’s Colt .45 and Jimmy Kicliter will exhibit Hanford Mobley’s pistol. Carr will also have an exhibit of Ashley Gang memorabilia that will be displayed at the Indian River Magazine tent at the festival beginning at 9 a.m.

Also appearing on the panel will be Austin Alderman, great grandson of Ashley Gang member Ray Lynn, and Indian River Magazine Publisher Gregory Enns, author of a three-part series that commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Ashley Gang shootings. Indian River Magazine founded the Treasure Coast History Festival in 2018. The St. Lucie County Historical Society produces the festival.

Other speakers include:

• 9:30 a.m. — Cattleman Brad Phares, an eighth-generation rancher who will talk about the history of Florida cowboys.

• 12:30 p.m. — Anne Sinnott, who will give a presentation on pioneer cooking.

• 1:30 p.m. — Steve Hoskins and Terry Howard, who will talk about St. Lucie Village pioneer Hatti Chamberlain.

A storytellers’ tent will also be set up featuring these presentations:

• 9 a.m. - “Growing up in St. Lucie Village’’ by Steve Hoskins, Terry Howard, Julie Lounibus and John and Ron Rohm.

• 11 a.m. - “Florida Fishing’’ by Capt. Sam Crutchfield.

• Noon - “Metal Detecting and Treasure Hunting’’ by Terry Shannon and Fred Banke.

• 1 p.m. - “History of Local Paintings’’ by Billy Johnson.

The festival will also feature historical exhibits, Seminole War re-enactments, music by Uproot Hootenanny and Kyle Kraft, a genuine Summerlin Family Fish Fry and barbecue and Mexican food trucks.

For more information, call 772.462.1795.