DOWNTOWN
72
and after passenger
train service ceased
in the late 1960s, was
eventually moved to a
site just north of Pocahontas
Training service dogs for
veterans and non-veterans to
be the ears that hear smoke
alarms; paws that tap a 911
phone; legs that provide
stability, and a life-long partner
to recognize and ease the
effects of post-traumatic stress.
City of Vero Beach 1919-2019 VeroBeach100.org
Park. Today it is
headquarters for the
Indian River County
Historical Society.
Farmer’s Bank also
opened in 1914 on the
corner of Seminole and
Osceola. It operated
until failing during
the Great Depression.
The building later was
occupied by Indian
River Citrus Bank and
today is home to Vero
Furniture Mart.
Electricity was a
luxury in pioneer days.
The first power provider,
Vero Utilities Co.,
was privately owned,
but the town soon
outgrew the operator’s
ability to provide for it.
So the plant was sold to the city in 1920. A new brick diesel building
opened next to the railroad and continuously expanded until
a new plant, nicknamed Big Blue, opened in 1961. The old diesel
plant continued to operate during peak usage times until 1968. It
sat vacant for many years, but in 2017 was renovated and became
the American Icon Brewery. Big Blue ceased operations earlier this
year and the entire city electric company was sold to FPL in 2018.
Mosquitoes were the scourge of pioneers’ existence. It was
not unusual to see people and animals walking around with a
black cloud swirling around them. Homes and businesses placed
smudge pots at the front door or entrance to keep them away,
substituting the black cloud with black smoke. >>
(772) 567-8969
dogsforlifevb.org
org
1230 16th Avenue
Vero Beach, FL 32960
PHIL REID
Vero Beach’s first library, which now is home to the Woman’s Club, stands across
from today’s main library.
CASSENS COLLECTION
The Woman’s Club, built in 1915.
SMITH POST CARD COLLECTION, ARCHIVE CENTER, IRC MAIN LIBRARY
Rail transportation arrived in Vero in 1893 and
its first station was built in 1903.
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/VeroBeach100.org
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