HOLIDAY GATHERING A FESTIVE EVENING

New friends and old helped us celebrate the end of another year of the Port St. Lucie Historical Society during its holiday gathering on December 12 at the Santa Lucia River Club in Ballantrae. An open bar, buffet table and lots of prizes added to the evening festivities. 

The room was decorated lavishly for the holiday and before it turned dark a wide view of the river was available. Lots of laughs and memories shared, plus some ideas for next year.

PSL HISTORICAL ON SITE AT RIVER NIGHTS

Members of the PSL Historical Society were back on the shores of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River on December 13 to enjoy the music of For Now and some Bahamian conch during the monthly River Nights. The site on Westmoreland, next to the Botanical Gardens, has some interesting history, which members are happy to share. The city holds these outdoor events monthly on the second Thursday during the fall and winter season. The Solid Gold Band, which includes society director Jack Kelly, will be at the Jan. 10 event.

JOIN US FOR HOLIDAY GATHERING

Put on your Holly Jolly and join us for our Port St. Lucie Historical Society 2018 Member Holiday Gathering on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

Social begins at 5:30 PM, dinner at 6:15 PM. Come join us for some holiday cheer. Bring a guest or two. Buffet dinner and cash bar. Surprises, raffles and prizes.

$20 donation per person, Santa Lucia River Club, 3325 Ballantrae Blvd., Port St Lucie. You must RSVP by 12-9-17 to get into the gate. RSVP to pcchristensen@summit21.biz

TALES OF OLD PORT ST. LUCIE

Growing up in Port St. Lucie in the early years had its challenges. Tracey Steele amused and informed PSL Historical Society members on what it was really like at the Oct. 17, 2018, gathering at Linda's Too cafe, next to Shell Bazaar. The sit-down dinner, served by Andy and his mother Linda, was a first for the group. One more gathering, a holiday event at the Santa Lucia River Club at Ballantrae, will top off the 2018 season on December 12.

HISTORIC HOUSES ON WESTMORELAND SITE

How exciting to see the two historic Peacock Ranch houses on site at the developing recreational site on Westmoreland Boulevard. Lots of work left to be done before they can be used to welcome and educate residents and visitors alike, but we're excited to see them in such good shape. Hat's off to the movers!

Watch a YouTube of this amazing move Click here 

SANDPIPER BAY COMMUNITY LEARNS OF ITS PAST

Native American hunting grounds, the riverside community of Spruce Bluff and the fables and foibles of fishing guide Burt Pruitt were among the bits of history that we shared with Sandpiper Bay Community members recently. The community contains some of the most historic spots in the city.

It was the maiden voyage of our new slide projector. Mary Dodge and Patricia Christen made the presentation. Dennis Grabhorn and Christine Williams manned the table selling books and DVDs. Most of the members were relatively new residents, post-2000, and seemed to enjoy the look into the past.

OLD FRIENDS AND NEW ONES AT WINE & CHEESE

Tales were swapped, wine was sipped and cheeses were nibbled at the "meet and greet" social for Nina Baranski (right), author of the city's history book, PORT ST. LUCIE AT 50: A City for All People. Many were friends from her days as PSL Mirror reporter and editor, and as the architect of city's Communications Department.

More than 30 guests joined her and her husband Bill at Rick's Diner, for the event. Those attending not only shared food and drink but were able to save on the book and have it signed by Nina. Several new members joined during the event.

PSL'S FIRST RADIO STATION SUBJECT OF APRIL GATHERING

Carol and Gregg Wyatt kept us entertained and informed Wednesday night, April 18, 2018, with tales of the early days of WPSL, the first radio station licensed to Port St. Lucie. Coming from the heady media world of California, they purchased the station in 1993 from Fox News chief and GOP powerhouse Roger Ailes, who owned the station for two years. It was founded by stunt pilot Ray Sherwood, who got the FCC license in 1983 and went on the air in 1987.

The Wyatts said, because of streaming, they now have listeners around the world and have heard from many of them. The company includes three AM stations: WPSL 1590/WSTU 1450/La Gigante 1330

JOURNALIST TED BURROWS OPENS SEASON

Members new and old gathered for food and fellowship on the evening of Feb. 21 for the first gathering of 2018. Former Stuart/Port St. Lucie News editorial page editor Ted Burrows shared his memories of coming to the county when he was 13, being a student as Indian River Community College began and working as a desk clerk at the Port St. Lucie Country Club (Club Med) before going off to college. He rounded out his talk with tales of being in the  Audio-Visual branch of the White House Communications Agency during parts of the Johnson and Nixon administrations. City Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo, a society board member, provided an update on the moving of  two historic ranch buildings to the Westmoreland site and planned to be a museum.

RIVER NIGHTS ENDS FOR SEASON

The sun set, or was about to, on the River Nights at the Westmoreland site on shore of the St. Lucie River. We were there April 12, 2018, and hope to return when the popular city Parks and Recreation Department event returns in the fall. 

We got to meet lots of nice people and spend some time on the site we hope will be the home of our museum. 

PIONEER DAY AT SAVANNAS PRESERVE STATE PARK

Thanks to the Friends of the Savannas Preserve State Park, we joined the exhibitors at Pioneer Day Saturday, March 31, 2018. 

Visitors were of all ages, but most were families with young children who learned the joys of using a washboard or making a cornhusk doll. Hikes, hay rides, live music and other events made it a fun day. We had a spot inside which gave us a chance to premiere our digital slideshow.

Shown are PSL Historical Society chair Dennis Grabhorn and new member Rachel Heid. Also on hand were Mary Dodge and Dianne Aguiar.

WINNER OF OUR SPECIAL HISTORY FAIR AWARD

Lexus Guthrie, a Port St. Lucie High School junior, was the winner of the Port St. Lucie Historical Society's Special Award for her exhibit on "Fly Girls in World War II" in the St. Lucie County Schools History Fair in late February.

HISTORY DAY FOR ST. LUCIE STUDENTS

Members of the PSL Historical Society were among the volunteers judging the St. Lucie County high and middle school students' submissions in the Feb. 20, 2018, History Fair on the campus of Indian River State College in Fort Pierce. This is the fourth year the society has provided judges. Students presented exhibits, web sites, documentaries or performances on the theme "Conflict and Compromise." Volunteers were Deb Mock, secretary Mary Dodge and Chair Dennis Grabhorn, shown here with judging teammate Stephanie Morgan, City Councilwoman.

PSL HISTORY GOES TO FORT PIERCE

Port St. Lucie Historical Society Board Members got to spread the word a bit wider on Saturday, January 13, 2018, when they were invited to take part in the Treasure Coast History Fair in Fort Pierce. Displays lined 2nd Avenue, while speakers held court in the Black Box Theater of the Lyric. Here Dennis Grabhorn and Christine Williams trade tales with one of many who visited our booth.