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.

RIVER NIGHTS UNDER THE MOON

With the darker nights, the riverside atmosphere was something special ... reminiscent of Old Florida. River Town band played and hundreds of Port St. Lucians sat, had a drink or two and relaxed under the moon in one of of the most historic sites in the city. Some even came by boat to the November 9, 2017, River Nights. Some even came by boat. Of course the PSL Historical Society was there, l to r, Mary Dodge, Jack Kelly, Dianne Aguiar. 

BACK AGAIN AT RIVER NIGHTS

When River Nights started again in October, the Port St. Lucie Historical Society was there. We'll be at all this season's nights along side the St. Lucie River with books, brochures, membership cards and information. Stop by. 

The Westmoreland Boulevard site is slated to be the future home of a museum for the city's history, before and after General Development Corp.

FUN, SHARING, NEW MEMBERS AT RIVER NIGHTS

A beautiful April night on the edge of an historic section of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River was the setting for the city Park & Recreation Department's River Nights celebration on the site of the Westmoreland Project. We were delighted to have a spot to share the stories about the people and places that make this one of the most historic locations in Port St. Lucie -- a perfect location for a museum. A visit by the Mayor topped off the evening. Hundreds of people were on deck to enjoy the band, some refreshments and a fantastic view. 

PSL Historical invited to speak to PSL Rotary

Vice Chair Dennis Grabhorn and Secretary Mary Dodge took the PSL Historical Society story "on the road," all the way to the 19th Hole of the Sandpiper Bay Saints golf course club house on Tuesday, April 9, 2017. An active question and answer session followed the brief presentation about the city's and the society's history.