WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Think preserving the city's history is important? Be on hand at the City Council meeting Monday, Nov. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd., to show it's important to you. The Council is scheduled to decide on our proposal for a museum and library in the lodge and eventually a static display in the 1917 house.

REGGAE AND PETS AT RIVER NIGHT

The night was cool and breezy and the music was reggae at the November 14, 2019, River Night, organized by the city's Recreation Department. Our Port St. Lucie Historical Society board member Dianne Aguiar, left, was one of the many attending with their dogs. Also on hand at this popular family event were board members Paula Lewis, right, and Mary Dodge. The evening of island music was staged between the river and the two historical houses at Westmoreland Park, next to the PSL Botanical Gardens.

JOIN US AT RIVER NIGHTS

Reggae Rainfall will be at the Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2019, River Nights on the shore of the St. Lucie River next to the Botanical Gardens ... and so will we. Come say hello. Join now for 2020. Great music, great setting ... behind the the Historic Houses from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

PSL ROTARY LEARNS SOME LOCAL HISTORY

History was the subject of the day July 23, 2019, Port St. Lucie Rotary Club's luncheon at the 19th Hole on the Sandpiper Bay Saints Golf Course. PSL Historical Society Secretary. We thank them for their interest and gift to the Society. Mary Dodge outlined how the Society started and provided some background information on the historic homes moved from the Peacock Ranch to the Westmoreland Boulevard site. This was followed by the tale of famed local fishing guide Burt Pruitt. Visit our Virtual Museum for this and other historic tales.

WE'VE UPDATED OUR EMAIL ADDRESS

Now you can reach us at our updated email address ... info@pslhistory.org. Our old web address will remain in effect for the time being.

RESEARCHING BURT PRUITT AS AN ANCESTOR

What happens when you discover a some secrets about an ancestor who had been in the fog of the past? Local historian and Jensen Beach native Rachel Heid, a PSL Historical Society Member, shared tales of her journey learning more about her great-grandfather Burt Pruitt, famous local fishing guide. He was known not just for his skills, recognized locally and by many rich and famous fishers, but for the wild parties, bootlegging and other questionable behavior at his fish camp on the North Fork. By the time he sold the last of his property to GDC in 1970, he was known as a local environmentalist.

Rachel is shown below flanked by her daughters Kaitlin (left) and Emilee. To learn more about Burt Pruitt, click here.

The talk followed a lovely buffet dinner at the Santa Lucia River Club at Ballantrae. More than 40 members and guests attended and stayed to chat following the meeting.

Shown below are members (seated left to right) Lee Hicks, drawing winner Marilyn Lawless, standing Diane Gallagher and Chair Patricia Christensen.

DOO WOP AND SUNSET AT RIVER NIGHTS

We were at the last River Nights of the season on Thursday, April 11, to share memories with music that was popular just before and when PSL was started. Doo Wop City Band was bringing back memories for lots of folks. A lot of interest continues to be shown in the two historic houses at the park on Westmoreland. Many thanks to Kelly Tiger and the PSL Park and Rec department for making our participation in the seasonal event a breeze.

SUNNY NIGHT, CARIBBEAN MUSIC

The extra hour of sunlight was a perfect for the River Nights event on March 14 and the reggae music by Rainfall. We were there to answer the questions many of the visitors had about the historic houses now on their foundations. It will be slow but eventually these will be refurbished to provide a museum and other community uses. Stop by and see us at the next River Nights on April 11, last of the season

HISTORY DAY AT ST. LUCIE SCHOOLS

As we have in the past, the Port St. Lucie Historical Society volunteered to judge the at the St. Lucie Schools History Day. The number of entries at the Feb. 26 event at Indian River Community College were down from previous years. Nevertheless, it is always rewarding to see high school students excited about history.

LEARN AND SHARE AT OUR FIRST GATHERING OF THE YEAR

Get up-to-date on what's happening with the historic houses and our group. It's a great time to join or renew at our first gathering of the year Feb. 20, 2019. Reservations are absolutely necessary, so let us know who's coming by emailing pchristensen@summit21.biz. We'll be welcoming some of the new members who signed up at Botanica.  Click the attached invite for more information.

GREAT DAYS AT BOTANICA

What's better than a beautiful day in the outdoors ... two days. The PSL Historical Society was at the Botanica Plant Sale at the Botanical Gardens on the weekend of February 9 and 10. We answered questions about the historic houses being settled on their foundations in the Westmoreland Project and Riverwalk. And, we signed up 13 new memberships. Saturday was gorgeous on the shore of the pond. The wind came up Sunday but didn't deter our volunteers.

VISIT US AT BOTANICA

Come see us this weekend, Feb. 9 and 10, at the Port St. Lucie Botanica Plant Sale. Join and receive a free eco-cruise on the North Fork or a gift certificate for the Shell Bazaar. If you're a new member you can get one of our history books for $10. Come see the beginnings of the historic village.

CELEBRATING TREASURE COAST HISTORY

Our busy week was capped with the Treasure Coast History Fair in Fort Pierce on Jan. 12, where we participated for the second year in a row.  Our thanks to the sponsor, Indian River Magazine.

We met lots of nice people and were able to share lots of tales of the days before the city became the largest on the Treasure Coast -- in fact, when it was mostly undeveloped Florida scrub. But even then it had history.

Part of that reminiscing was with the operator of the next door booth, Indian River Hauntings (tour shown below), operated by Larry Lawson, who was a PSL Police detective in the 1980s.

BACK AT RIVER NIGHTS

We again had our booth at the City of Port St. Lucie River Nights on Jan.10 on the shores of the North Fork. The band was Solid Gold, a trio of which our board member Jack Kelly, right, is a member.

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.