LIVING HISTORY
the property. Talley said it was the happiest day of her life when Emma
Kitching handed over the deed. After eight years of marriage, she and Evans
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had a home of their own. Their sons, Evans Jr. “Sonny,” and William
Frederick “Buddy,” were 6 and 4 respectively.
Crary retired from the Senate in 1954 and returned to his Stuart law
firm, where he practiced with Sonny. In 1961, Buddy joined the firm.
NAME TO REMEMBER
Among the many local improvements Evans Crary fought for during his
years in the Legislature were the bridges connecting Stuart with Hutchinson
Island. They were called “the Bridges to the Sea,” the “Ten-Cent
Bridge” and the “Twenty-Five Cent Bridge,” reflecting the tolls charged on
them until 1962. Finally, while William E. Owens was in the state House
and the controversy surrounding the construction of the bridges had been
forgotten, they were officially named at a dedication ceremony in 1966.
The bridge between Stuart and Sewall’s Point became the
Evans Crary Sr. Bridge and the bridge between Sewall’s Point
and Hutchinson Island became the Ernest F. Lyons Bridge.
During the ceremony Crary proclaimed it was a great day
for him and thanked the Stuart Jaycees for sponsoring the
ceremony. He continued, saying “I’m also pleased with the
evidence of the new spirit of cooperation in Martin County.”
The preservation of Crary House did not come about
exactly with a spirit of cooperation, but it was accomplished
because key people were convinced it was a worthy cause.
Now the Stuart Heritage Museum, housed in one of the last
remaining false-front, frame vernacular commercial buildings
in South Florida, is flanked by two significant residences
that are serving as commercial offices. All three structures
are owned by the City of Stuart and each is a fine example of
historic preservation and adaptive reuse.
Evans Crary Sr., relaxes in the front parlor of his home in
the late 1930s.
ED DRONDOSKI
The Crary House, now an example of adaptive reuse, serves as Congressman
Tom Roony’s Stuart office.
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