LIVING HISTORY
An “Old Florida” Treasure... On the Treasure Coast
26
Jones lived his entire life along Jungle Trail, except when
he served in North Africa during World War II. He worked
as a commercial fisherman, fishing guide, dockmaster and
grower. Always the consummate storyteller, he loved to spin
yarns to folks strolling or biking past his home, many of
whom were snowbirds from nearby condominiums.
Once there was a different kind of passerby.
Jones was on his porch one day after the war, when a contingent
of 200 Army Scouts and Raiders and Navy demolition
men from Fort Pierce marched by. He said they were heading to
Sebastian Inlet, which was not navigable during the war. They
had surplus TNT and planned to use it to blast the inlet open.
“That was a foolish idea,” Jones said. “It blew straight up
in the air and it came right back down in the same spot. But
they got rid of the explosives. That was the objective.”
Anyone who was acquainted with Jones would describe
him as a character. People up and down the river knew him,
since the pier was a well-known stopover for boaters. He
helped people pick out guavas or coconuts or grapefruit.
In his final years, he spent most of his days relaxing on the
porch, but his stories never lost their punch, especially those
about fishing.
He told an interviewer that speckled trout seemed to
possess almost human intelligence.
“The big trouts, the ones we called the ol’ gator trouts, any
that were 10 or 12 pounds, were pretty sharp,” he said. “I’d
put gill nets around them. A lot of times, they learned to lay
down on the nets!”
Within a year, county officials expect the property to be
opened to the public on a monthly basis, or by appointment
for groups. Folks will be able to walk out onto the pier, enjoy
a picnic, hike a trail and learn about the Jones family at the
visitors cottage.
“People who walk by tell us they’re so happy this is being
preserved,” DeBlois said.
H I S T O R I C
LITTLE JIM
BAIT & TACKLE
— Est. 1944 —
Beer • Bait • Food • Music • Fun
Open 7 Days
601 N. Beach Causeway, Fort Pierce 772.468.2503
Richard Jones and his wife, Mary, lived in this simple house for six decades.
Mrs. Jones died several years ago.
/www.cultural-council.org