0511-JIREad-IRMag 4/11/11 11:02 AM Page 1
YACHT CLUBS
54
TREASURE COAST BOATING
It’s your lifetime.
Spend it wisely.
Quintessential 4BR Beach Cottage On 1.27± Acres
6423± SF, Exquisite Architecture & Ocean Views
Gourmet Kitchen, Guest House, Private Location
620 Ocean Road : $5,850,000
Beautifully Renovated 2BR+office/2BA Golf Cottage
1800± SF Open Floor Plan, Bright Interiors, Golf Views
201 Shady Oak Lane : $795,000
Gorgeous 4BR Custom Home On Cul-de-Sac
5200± SF, Private Water Views & Boat Dock
330 Palmetto Point : $4,190,000
Exquisite Panoramic Golf & Water Views
Lot-and-a-half, Close to All Club Activities
270 John’s Island Drive : $2,300,000
772.231.0900 : Vero Beach, FL
Exclusively John’s Island
www.JohnsIslandRealEstate.com
The main clubhouse was originally the Naval Study Hall. Lumber from the
chapel was used to expand the structure.
ED DRONDOSKI
Ruhl Koblegard Sr., Leland Matheson, Rollin Matheson, Garland
Hayes Jr., Buddy Pitts, Andy Tucker, Sonny Jennings,
Johnny Rae, Hybert Smith, George Archer, A.J. (Buck) White,
Ruff Ruffalow (a retired Catholic priest), and Doug Silver.
The men used their boats to patrol the coast, alerting the U. S.
military of enemy activities. Registered to assist were Rowell’s
30-foot cabin cruiser, Ruffalow’s 32-foot water taxi the
“YO HO,” Koblegard’s cabin cruiser and Lealand Matheson’s
fishing boat. They worked closely with the Coast Guard detachment
on the south side of the Fort Pierce inlet.
Little did these patriotic men know that they would soon
be hosting more than 140,000 Navy troops. In 1943, the Navy
took over both beaches north and south of the Fort Pierce
Inlet to establish the U. S. Naval Amphibious Training Base.
Special forces such as the Scouts and Raiders, Navy Combat
Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams began
training in Fort Pierce.
When the war ended in 1945, the somewhat idle Coast
Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 8 began to talk about forming a
yacht club. Both Rowell and Gladwin took a keen interest
in the project and made the necessary steps to get the ball
rolling. Auxiliary Flotilla 8, Division 1, Inc., sponsored and
officially started the Pelican Yacht Club in 1946.
They were able to obtain choice waterfront property just
south of the Coast Guard Station from the Fort Pierce Financing
and Construction Co. Gladwin was in charge of building
the club, so he set to work securing buildings.
The auxiliary bought three Navy buildings — the study
hall, chapel and post office — that were left after the base
shut down. They hired architect Maurice F. McManus to
build what they would call the Pelican Yacht Club. The study
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Owned by its equity members, the Pelican has grown from its humble
beginnings 65 years ago.
/www.JohnsIslandRealEstate.com
/www.JohnsIslandRealEstate.com