DOWNTOWN
17
ACHIEVEMENTS
BUILDINGS:
1895 Platts/Backus
House — Bought by
Main Street in 2005.
Restoration completed
in 2007. Former home
of artist A.E. “Bean”
Backus. Now the home
of Main Street
The Tickle Tummy Hill
Fort Pierce.
replacement bridge.
1923 Sunrise Theatre — Closed in 1983. Purchased by
Main Street in two parts, in 1997 and 1999. Restored
to look as much like the original as possible. Reopened
in January 2006 with performance by Dionne Warwick.
Given to the City of Fort Pierce. Now on the National
Register of Historic Places.
1925 Historic City Hall — Closed in 1983. Renovated
by Main Street Fort Pierce/St. Lucie Preservation in 1995.
Owned by the city and operated by Main Street.
GRANTS:
Main Street obtained grants and worked with the city to
obtain grants and to raise private donations for a variety of
things: the new downtown library; the Manatee Observation
and Education Center, which opened in 1996; Sunrise
Theatre; historic City Hall; the Tickle Tummy Hill replacement
bridge; Platts-Backus House, and obtained matching
grants from the state to improve the facades of buildings
that needed face lifts.
DATES:
1988 — Main Street Fort Pierce begins with Tom Kindred
Jr. as first director.
1988 — First Sights and Sounds on Main Street holiday
celebration
1989 — First Friday Fest
1992 — Doris Tillman becomes the second manager of
Main Street Fort Pierce.
1995 — Renovated historic City Hall opens.
1995 — Facilitated by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning
Council, a charrette (workshop) that included the
public was held to determine what the vision for the historic
downtown should be.
1996 — Manatee Observation and Education Center opens
with Main Street managing the grant, and private donations
raised by Main Street.
1997 — Main Street develops a marketing plan in line
with the results of the charrette.
1997 — Farmer’s Market opens in downtown Fort Pierce.
2000 — Celebration
2004 — Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne do severe damage
to downtown and the Treasure Coast.
2005 — Hurricane Wilma whips through the county.
2006 — Sunrise Theatre reopens.
2007 — Platts-Backus House restored and reopens as a
permanent home for Main Street.
2010 — Main Street Fort Pierce is named a runner up for
the Great American Main Street Award from the National
Trust for Historic Preservation.
2011 — Main Street Fort Pierce is named a winner of the
Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust
for Historic Preservation.
2013 — 25th anniversary
2014 — The future is wide open.
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