NEIGHBORHOODS
22
No doubt this advertisement for St. Lucie Estates, which appeared in the
March 1926 issue of South Florida Developer, attracted buyers. Though
Mediterranean Revival was the most predominant architectural style of the
subdivision’s earliest houses, this ad features another popular style, the
Tudor Revival.
to the fantasies and aspirations of Northerners looking to enjoy
the fruits of Roaring Twenties prosperity in a warm climate.
PINEAPPLES AND PIONEERS
By the 1890s, several of Stuart’s pioneer families were
growing pineapples in the Stuart area. By 1894 a new wave
of settlers arrived, thanks to the extension of Henry Flagler’s
railroad to Stuart.
Among these newcomers were John and Katharine Dunscombe,
who in 1907 purchased property and began growing
pineapples on land that became St. Lucie Estates. Their son,
Carroll Dunscombe, was just 23 when in 1922 he founded
Florida Growers that cultivated 520 acres of pineapple fields.
Before Martin County was formed, Stuart had been part of
Palm Beach County. Locals wanted their own county, so in
1924 a committee was formed to push for it, and in 1925 a bill
was passed to create Martin County. On the committee were
Carroll Dunscombe and others who had established St. Lucie
Estates the same year.
The newly formed county gave the city of Stuart greater
autonomy. As proof of their faith in the new county, Dunscombe
and a few of his fellow committee members created a
development corporation called St. Lucie Estates Inc. Between
December 1924 and July 1925, the corporation platted
the first four sections of St. Lucie Estates and built roads and
other infrastructure.
Lots were sold exclusively through Lyons, Atkin & Innes of
which Harry Lyons was a partner. Lyons was part of the cam- >>
/www.johnsislandrealestate.com