Sharing the wealth
Once a haven for the rich, Bay Tree Lodge serves as a retreat for Kiplinger employees
An original snowbird
What manner of man residing in the tiny village of St. Lucie on the banks of the Indian River in frontier Florida enjoyed such favor from the president of the United States?
Mike’s flag rises from the sea to welcome a stunning sunrise on Vero’s beach. JOE SEMKOW
Saluting a man and his cause
Flag-raising above the Boiler Wreck symbolizes hope for and dedication to popular diver and his beloved ocean reefs
Hurston was known for her short stories and essays. She published several books while alive and her works continue to be released posthumously. ANTHONY INSWASTY PHOTOS
Reviving Zora’s Legacy
A foundation is working to open a community center that will pay tribute to writer Zora Neale Hurston and her time in Fort Pierce
Vero Beach Bridge was one of three manned drawbridges that helped keep Vero Beach residents safe during World War II. JANET WALKER ANDERSON PHOTOS
War along the river
There was a time when bridge tenders weren’t just maintaining the safe passage of water and vehicle traffic. Other voluntary duties came in handy when World War II broke out.
In the early days of Vero Beach, Florida Theatre on 14th Avenue was the center of entertainment for the community. BRACKETT COLLECTION, ARCHIVE CENTER, IRC MAIN LIBRARY
Cornucopia of creativity
In the 1920s, even before there was an Indian River County, there was entertainment. Movies were shown at Vero Theatre, where, it’s said, Sheriff Billy Frick and his wife, Adelaide, former entertainers, created Vero Follies, featuring talented people from the community. The Civic Players presented plays in the 1930s and the seasonal Tourist Club had a mixed chorus that sang in community concerts and put on variety shows.
The first House of Refuge in Florida, built by the U.S. Lifesaving Service at Bethel Creek in 1876, was one of the first European-style buildings constructed on what is now Vero Beach. The Houses of Refuge were built along Florida’s coast line to provide a safe haven for people shipwrecked. The houses were located about 15 to 20 miles apart, a day’s walk from one another. This photo of the House of Refuge at Bethel Creek was taken in 1908. VANDIVEER COLLECTION, ARCHIVE CENTER, IRC MAIN LIBRARY
From barren to beautiful
With mosquitoes as thick as the dense palmettos and being only accessible by boat, the barrier island of Vero Beach was deemed uninhabitable by early settlers.
Downtown Vero Beach has changed since its incorporation in 1919, yet it continues to maintain its quaint feel with a nod to its historical past. CHRISTINA TASCON
Center of progress
When walking the streets of downtown Vero Beach today, it is difficult for anyone to imagine the Vero of 100 years ago. By 1919, when the small hamlet of Vero was officially born (“Beach” would not be added to the name for six years), the population was less than 800 souls, for the most part farming families who came here to leave the cold north behind for the promise of a better life. What there was of downtown existed primarily at the intersection of Osceola Boulevard and Seminole Avenue, now 20th Street (State Road 60) and 14th Avenue.
