Yesterday, I transcribed an historic article by Edwin A. Menninger written in the Stuart Daily News‘ special edition dated February 27, 1937. This rare find, shared from the library of Mr. Knight Kiplinger, was published in celebration for the opening of the Stuart to Ft Meyers Cross-State Canal.(https://jacquithurlowlippisch.com/2018/03/28/ironic-insights-the-dream-of-floridas-cross-state-canal-by-edwin-a-menninger-stuart-daily-news-1937/)
Today, we will open this exceptional document and see what’s inside, on page two…
There are five ads on the page. Each one is a peek into history, and for me the final ad from the commercial fishing industry is the most interesting! But first, let’s look at the left hand top of the page.
There is an ad for The English Tavern, south of the Roosevelt Bridge, that welcomes the yachtsman; with ample parking space. This sounds like fun! Why wouldn’t there be ample parking in 1937. 🙂
To the right of that is an Enjoy Sailfishing in the Gulf Stream ad. It ask you to write, wire, or Phone 47-J for reservations. (Note today we have a three-figure area-code and six numbers!) The ad notes: Marine Ways Storage; Marine Supplies Repairs; and Boat Building at Toley’s Boat Yard, Salerno. (Ironically the grandson of Toley, Shawn T. Engebretsen, is my husband’s oral surgery business partner!)
The next ad, on bottom right, is from Stuart Metal Works where one can investigate the opportunities for building in the beautiful St Lucie River Region, Phil Pence, Proprietor. “Plan to make your home in the yachting wonderland!”
And the last of the foursome, in bottom right, is an ad by the Fort Pierce Financing and Construction Co., 208 Orange Avenue, Fort Pierce, stating that “Completion of the Cross-State Waterway is a mark of progress for South Florida.” (People of that era loved this word “progress,” and my mother still uses it!)
~Like when I was a kid, I would see a mowed down forested area made for a parking lot and she would say: “It’s progress honey!”
And last, but not least this insightful ad from the Commercial Fishermen’s Industry of Martin County that reads below a gigantic every-day catch of that era, a gargantuan pile of speckled sea-trout:
“The Commercial Fishing Industry of Martin County, Producing an Annual Revenue of More Than $1,00,000, Requests The Cooperation Of Officials On Charge Of The Lake Okeechobee Project To Maintain Discharge Of Fresh Waters From St. Lucie Canal At A Minimum During The Fishing Season From November To March.”
If you had the time to read yesterday’s blog, Edwin Menninger’s article stated that “Construction of the St Lucie Canal began in 1921 when the fact dawned on the Everglades pioneers that canals through muck lands were useless – they refused to carry water out of the lake. Four of them had been dug, and were utterly worthless. The St Lucie was completed in 1924 and for 13 years has been the ONLY functioning outlet from Lake Okeechobee to the sea.”
The concerns of Stuart’s nationally recognized and often President-visited waters are well documented in my mother Sandra Henderson Thurlow’s book Stuart on the St Lucie. Nonetheless, I never knew that from approximately 1924 to 1937 the St Lucie canal, today’s C-44, was the only outlet for Lake O. Yikes!
The wonderful thing about history is that there is always something to learn!
To be continued….
Jacqui
Jacqui, you’re mining this rare document of mine for so many gems of local history…thank you!
It’s worth noting that, after the devastating hurricanes of 1926 and 1928–with more than 2,500 drowning deaths in towns around Lake O in ’28 alone–all of Florida was begging Congress to build a tall dike around the Lake, to save future lives, and direct the excess water to the sea. That’s today’s Hoover Dike.
This is a great historical example of “The Law of Unintended Consequences”, and “Be Careful What You Wish For.” Everyone thought that this plan, and the widening of the cross-Florida canal, was a great idea, even future environmentalists like Stuart News Editor Ernie Lyons.
The hurricane seasons of 1947 (the most active on record) and 1949 cemented regional support for all these Corps of Engineers project.
It took us all a long time to acquire the wisdom we have today about not trying to alter natural forces of nature, like water flows to the Everglades. Now we know better…
Fascinating that, in the ad above for the Martin County Commercial Fishermen’s Association, they “Requested the cooperation offficials in charge of the Lake Okeechobee Project to maintain discharge of fresh waters from St. Lucie Canal at a minimum during the fishing season from November to March.” Wow…they knew even then, but they had no idea what volume of water would someday be released in the summer rainy season.
Thank you, Jacquie. We live and learn…
— Knight Kiplinger, Sewall’s Point
Thank you Knight! Yes, agree! & we’ve got 35 more precious pages to go! 🙂
Fantastic email blasts, Jacqui! I so look forward to receiving and reading them. Thank you so much for keeping us informed.
Best, Darlene DeVault 15 Lantana Lane
>
Take take take and never put back—Tons of calcium bones(in fish)) being removed from lagoon and not put back—this went on for thousands of years—The lagoon can give no more
So interesting Jacqui….I went to see the commercial fishing docks in Salerno a few weeks ago when I was in town, as had been wondering how many/how active they still were.(father’s side of the family had one of the first fish houses where Shrimper’s now stands)..was surprised to find it very active with many boats although most harvesting ocean waters with hook/line only. Seems they still do quite well wth the mackeral this time of year. Will look forward to seeing more of your document reveal in the coming weeks!
Very cool Kim! Did not know that wonderful heritage of yours. The Port Salerno story is one of my favorite and thankfully the area has kept so much of its history and character. Thanks for sharing about the fishing community. I do see their boats-glad they are doing well. I know the net ban in 1996 was a huge issue.
“The English Tavern” in 1937, was owned by Allen Fox and managed by Jack Adolphus.
Thank you Alice! Names that ring a bell.
Thanks for keeping History alive and not forgotten Jacquie
Thanks!!! 🙂