Abundant Connections

Today, I was working in my yard. It is something that I love to do. Our property on Sewall’s Point, very close to the bridges to Hutchinson Island, happens to have once been divided by the county line between first, Dade and Brevard, then Palm Beach and St. Lucie County.

I placed the little statue at the corner of our property where the section lines crosses.

For years I have had a sign on a palm tree at the corner of our property declaring this.

The little concrete statue once belonged to Michelle Coutant.

Eleven years ago, I stopped at a yard sale on Indian Street near Old St. Lucie Boulevard. Norie Neff, the daughter of Dorothy and Clyde Coutant was selling the property that had been her family’s for many years.

I can see this statue from my window over the kitchen sink.

It was Norie’s grandmother, Aura Fike Jones, who secured the statue “Abundance” that now stands in Haney Circle.

This image was in a Stuart Woman’s Club scrapbook that belongs to Norie Neff. Perhaps it was a photo Aura Fike Jones’s son , Larry, who knew about the statue sent to her suggesting it would “add a bit of glamor to Stuart.”
The statue “Abundance” did not find its way to Haney Circle where it was originally to be placed in 1950 until Stuart was revitalized in 1991.

A small concrete statue, similar to Abundance, was in the yard sale. It had belonged to Norie’s late sister, Michelle. I bought the statue because of my many connections to the Coutant family in my “world of regional history,” as well of its symbolic connection to the beautiful statue that stands in downtown Stuart.  I placed the statue near the former county line and it has remained there.

Abundant connections bring me much pleasure.

Black youngsters parading down Flagler Avenue in Stuart, Florida.

Sharing Photographs during Black History Month

As is often the case, I was looking for something different and came across wonderful photographs in my computer that need to be shared. The photographs are the work of Clyde Coutant a member of a pioneer family that includes a keeper of a House of Refuge.

Clyde Coutant stands in front of Tropical Photo Shop. The reflection of the Lyric Theatre can be seen in the window.

Following World War II, Clyde Coutant and his brother, Elwin, purchased the Tropical Photo Shop from Virginius Black and Charles Baker. It was located in the Krueger Building across the railway tracks from the Lyric Theatre. Clyde  moved on to other work in the early 1950s.

This youth was photographed on Dixie Highway in front of the Tropical Photo Shop.

Over a decade ago, Clyde Coutant’s daughter, Norie Neff, sold her family’s property on Indian Street. Norie was holding “Garage Sales” and one day I stopped. I was able to make copies of many of Clyde Coutant’s photographs. The ones I am sharing today were among them.  

This is the wonderful photograph that first caught my eye. I was searching for “flags.” The building in the background is the Kitching and Eckess Department Store. Today it is the City Hall parking lot.
This was Scout Troop 36 ca 1947. It would be wonderful to know more about these boys and their Scout activities.
I wish someone could identify these Stuart Training School cheerleaders and share their stories.
Young people in this photo are enjoying themselves in the Guy Davis Bar. Today, Guy Davis Park on 10th Street is being expanded.
If this celebration is in Guy Davis Bar the linoleum is not the same.
These young people are dressed up and having a good time.
STS Majorettes , Cheerleaders and some members of the faculty ca 1952
Barbeque at Log Cabin ca. 1947

That concludes the Black Heritage photographs I happened upon today. I hope someone will add more to their story.

Celebrating Martin County’s Centennial in Many Ways

I must be forgiven for worrying about Martin County’s 100th Birthday being properly celebrated.  Initially, I thought my blog would be the best way for me to share our county’s history.

Then, Gregory Enns said his Indian River Magazine would publish a special Martin Centennial edition and asked me to join Donna and Rick Crary as a writer. My ability to access historical photos was more than helpful.

Michelle Moore-Burney, Indian River Magazine’s design editor, created a charming collage of historic photographs for the centennial cover. The magazine is available at no cost at the Stuart Heritage Museum while they last.

Shortly after the Indian River Magazine came out in January, Stuart Heritage had a change in plans and asked me to present a program on February 11th. It provides a perfect opportunity to share a PowerPoint presentation “Celebrating Martin County’s Centennial.”

The program will take place in the Flagler Building, 201 SW Flagler Ave. at 7:00 pm, February 11, 2025.
Stuart Heritage has this notice on Facebook. http://Stuart Heritage on Facebook

Yesterday, David Yankwitt, of Indian River State College, asked me to give a centennial presentation at the Chastain Campus for his history students and the public at large.  It is tentatively scheduled of March 7th at 11 o’clock in the Susan Johnson room in Clare and Gladys Wolf Center.

Additionally, Martin Digital History is going strong. Georgen Charnes is doing a wonderful job. She has “Martin County is turning 100 years old!” on her publicizing bookmarks. 

Georgen Charnes selects photos of interest for bookmarks. I shared this one long ago when Robert Crowder ran for Congress. http://Martin Digital History

Robert Crowder, an officer in the Stuart Junior Conservation Club, and Robert Routa, also an officer, release Green Turtles nurtured at Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge in Ross Witham’s sea turtle “Head Start” program in October of 1961.  

I looked in my “Sheriffs File” and thought his image illustrates the historical importance of Robert Crowder.

With all the activity launching and selling my daughter, Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch’s and my Pictorial History of Palm City, and preparing for presentations, I have let my blogging lapse.

Now I must be forgiven for promoting the ways I am helping to celebrate Martin County’s 100 years!

Be Careful Saying Something is “The First”

In my last blog I said Dr. H. H. Hipson was Martin County’s first dentist. Thank heaven I said “Martin County’s.”

After he read my blog, Boo Lowery said, “I thought Uncle Charlie was the first dentist.” I hemmed and hawed, trying to make allowances for myself. When I reread my blog I was thankful that I had said that Dr. Hipson was “Martin’s County’s first.”

Stuart’s early dentist, Dr. Charles E. Roberts, Isabel and Mattie Belle Roberts in front of their home in Stuart now owned by Boo Lowery. Photo courtesy of Isabel’s daughter Dorothy Clark
Boo Lowery said “I thought Uncle Charlie was the first dentist.”

Martin County had not been created when Boo’s great uncle was a dentist. Dr. Charles Roberts was said to be the first dentist in Stuart. At the time Stuart was in Palm Beach County.

I found an account of early dentists I had written for my Stuart book but did not use because of space:

Stuart’s first resident dentist was Charles E. Roberts who came to town with his in-laws the Neil P. McQuaries in 1908 and practiced dentistry here until .1917 when he moved with his family to Atlanta.[i]


[i] “Dr. C. E. Roberts Dies in Atlanta,” Stuart Daily News, October 14, 1926

There were many ads for Dr. C. E. Roberts in the Stuart Times and the Stuart News.
The McQuarie and Roberts families lived in house formerly owned by Capt. Thomas and Desimona Hogarth . It is now owned by Boo Lowery.

Young Charles Neil Roberts married Boo’s aunt, Louise Lowery. They lived in Atlanta where Charles was a sports writer for The Atlanta Constitution for 42 years. They visited Stuart as often as possible.

 Books could be compiled using the historic photographs and oral histories Harris R. “Boo” Lowery III has shared with me. The whole idea of blog-writing is a way to share with others what friends like Boo have shared with me.  Even Boo’s questioning helps me along my way.

Centennial History through Dr. H. H. “Dale” Hipson

Dale Hipson used to joke that no one had lived in Martin County longer than he had. That was because he was born on May 16, 1925, a little before the county was created.

Mrs. Flora Hipson with her daughter, also named Flora, and baby Dale who was born in Stuart on May 16, 1925.

Dale’s father, H. H. “Harry” Hipson, was the first dentist to establish a practice in Martin County. He moved to Stuart in 1923 as soon as electricity was available five days a week. Originally, his office was in the Feroe building that still stands as the law office of Kibby Wagner. Later it was moved to a large wooden building that once stood on Osceola Street, caddy corner from the Lyric Theatre.

This rare photograph of the building that held the Hipson dental office on its second floor was taken after Harry Hipson moved into his new building.

In 1941 Dr. Hipson, Sr. moved into a Streamline Art Deco building a block away on Osceola Street. Constructed by Charles Conrad, its style was inspired by the architectural designs of the 1939 World’s Fair.

Dale Hipson shared this photograph of his father’s new building.
This photograph of the Hipson Building was taken on November 29, 2024.

After graduating from the University of Florida, Dale attended his father’s alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, and became a dentist too. After Dale retired in 1992, we became close friends through our mutual interests in the environment and local history. Dale was an outdoorsman and actually lived the history I wanted to learn.

Dennis S. “Corky” Hudson sits on the Hipson front steps in front of Earl Dyer Ricou, Dr. Harry Hipson and later-to-be Dr. Dale Hipson.

Since Dale was an amateur photographer and film maker and one of his two best buddies was Earl Dyer Ricou, a professional photographer, I acquired many images to share.

Dale Hipson poses with his inseparable hunting and fishing buddies , Bud Beckman and Earl Dyer Ricou in 1945.

Dale’s third buddy in what his friends called “The Three Musketeers,” was “Henry C. “Bud” Beckman, Jr. All three loved to explore, hunt and fish. All three were the sons of mayors of the City of Stuart so the three families provide a wealth history to share as we celebrate Martin County’s Centennial.

Expect many more blogs using material I have because of Dr. Dale Hipson.

Half-a-Century in One House

To illustrate the subject of the post.
The Thurlow home since Veteran’s Day 1974 as it looks on Veteran’s Day 2024..

We Thurlows moved into our new house on Banyan Road on Sewall’s Point on Veteran’s Day 1974. It is hard to believe it was 50 years ago.

Dick Granfield designed our house and Paul Siefker of Indiantown’s Martinique Construction, was our contractor.

Years later, when we needed a handicap bath downstairs, Dick’s architect son, Stewart Granfield, designed a pleasing addition.

The three Thurlow children Jenny, Jacqui and Todd stand in front of their home-to-be before the driveway was poured.

Dick Granfield placed our house near the street with a big circular driveway that came close to our front door. Visitors have easy access.

The driveway was great when our kids were little. Other neighborhood children liked to bring their scooters and Big Wheels to our house because of the driveway was not on a busy street and had a gentle slope. Later it was skateboards.

This shows the empty lot next door.
Jenny and Todd, confront each other on our driveway.
Our dog Nifty sits in the lower story of Todd's chair-house.
Across–the-street neighbor, Kimberly Burkey, and Todd enjoy a two-story structure made of lawn chairs.

A noble black man, Charles Lynn, designed and poured our driveway. Ten years later, when Mr. Lynn put in a walkway at the side of our house, I realized he was an artist in his trade who appreciated the beauty of proper proportion and gentle curves.

Starting at left: Bob Johnson, Dale Hudson, Mary Thurlow Hudson, Sandra Robson, Chuck Schad, Jane Greenwasser, Sarah Johnson.

Old and new friends respond to an open invitation to sit in the Thurlow driveway on Friday evenings.

So now our driveway that was so popular with the youngsters is popular with the oldsters. Friday, driveway gatherings that began during COVID 19, continue.

Starting at lower left, Bob Johnson, Sandra Robson, Bill Robson, Margie Dunn, Liz Dunn, Brooks Bahner, Courtney Bahner, Bryson Bahner, Tom Thurlow Chuck Schad, Jackie Burkey, Sarah Johnson.
It is always a highlight when younger family members drop by.
Starting a left, Mark Puchalski, Cathyi Puchalski, Sandra Robson, Bill Robson, Tom Thurlow, Chuck Schad, Jackie Burkey, Sarah Johnson.

Tom Thurlow, in the orange shirt, is no longer with us but his friends continue to gather in his driveway on Friday evenings. Notice the small ramp that allowed his wheelchair to access the driveway.

Starting at left, Gloria Fike, Thresa Schober, Chuck Schad, Margie Dunn, Dale Hudson, Mary Hudson.
Driveway guests become aware of the length of days as the months go by.
J J the turtle and Chuck Schad.

Neighbors, like Curt Grimmer’s Sulcata Tortoise sometimes drop by on Fridays. Chuck Schad is amused.

Chuck Schad, Bella Thurlow and Sarah Johnson,
Our cat, Bella, enjoys driveway gatherings. Here she is expecting a treat from Sarah Johnson. She sits in a chair as soon as they are put out and waits for the guests to arrive.

Our most regular guest is Chuck Schad, who was Tom Thurlow’s classmate in Liverpool, New York, and who came to visit him by bus after the Thurlows moved to Stuart in 1952. He and his wife, Audrey, moved to Stuart, in 1963 where Chuck’s local banking career began with First National that is now Seacoast.

Deanna, Nat, Julia, Mary and Todd Thurlow, Tom and Sandy Thurlow,  Ed and Jacqui Thurlow Lippisch, and Jenny, Mike and Evie Flaugh,
Robert Holland photographed our family standing on our driveway in July 2018.

Thank you, Mr. Lynn. Thank you, Dick Granfield. Thank you, Paul Siefker.

I love my 50 year-old house.

Martin County’s Centennial Year is Coming Soon

On November 9, 1950, The Stuart News put out a 110-page Historical Edition. It had a cover piece showing the plaque at the right of the courthouse entrance that was to be unveiled on Veteran’s Day, two days later. 

This plaque installed 74 years ago is still near the front door of the Court House Cultural Center.
The 110-page Historical Edition of The Stuart News published November 9, 1950 contains a great deal of Martin County History including many first-hand pioneer accounts.

When our family purchased the negatives of local photographer Arthur Ruhnke, the ones immediately appreciated were of the 1950 Veteran’s Day celebration. The Martin County Council for the Arts had just moved into the 1937 addition to the old courthouse.

My favorite shows Dale and Mike Clark sitting on a car trunk in the foreground. Dale Clark had been my husband’s Stuart High School teacher and “Mike,” whose real name was Ella, was a co-founder of the Environmental Studies Center on Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach. Dale Clark was Principal of Jensen Beach Elementary School on Savanna Road when our kids attended.

Martin County Courthouse
Arthur Ruhnke captured this scene on Veteran’s Day 1950. The man wearing a straw hat suspenders adds a vintage quality to the photograph.

When the 1937 addition to the old Martin County Courthouse became the Court House Cultural Center, Mark Taylor who taught photography at FIT, colorized a black and white print of the crowd in front of the flag draped building. Before the days of PhotoShop it was very special. The framed photograph may still be on the wall of the Court House Cultural Center.

Lottie Martin, the former Governor’s wife, looks up at her husband at the podium. County Commissioner Arthur Sims stands behind Mrs. Martin, R. V. Johnson, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Governor John W. Martin, Judge A. O. Kanner , Stuart Mayor Drew W. King and Senator Evans Crary are also standing.

The plaque installed in honor of Governor John W. Martin, for whom our county is named still can be seen on the front of the Court House Cultural Center.

Back to the Beginning

My first blog was about compiling A Pictorial History of Palm City with my daughter Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch.  The books have arrived from Southeastern Printing, now located in Hialeah. It is time to get them in the hands of those who want them.

Southeastern Printing delivered our books on October 3, 2024

We are having a launch party on the patio of the Palm City Social, a trendy new restaurant in the location of the former Palm City Grill in Martin Downs Village Center on November 21 from 4:00 -7;00 pm. Everyone who wants to buy a book is invited.

Since I had never visited Palm City Social, I drove by and peaked in at the patio after the books arrived. It does seem like a perfect place for our book launch.
A Pictorial History of Palm City, Florida
Beautiful coffee table display.

The beautiful coffee-table style book with its watercolor of palms by acclaimed artist Jerry Rose on its cover should in every Palm City home after Christmas.

Jerry Rose painted the scene soon after he and his wife bought waterfront property from Val Martin, Martin County’s first real book merchant. The painting was a “thank you” to Val.

In 1972, Val Martin sold his bookstore in Stuart located across from Memorial Park and founded Florida Classics Library. He began publishing many valuable out of print books, beginning with Jonathan Dickinson’s Journal. When he died in 2021, at the age of 89, his niece, Julie Alexander took over Florida Classic Library located at 11300 SE Dixie Highway in Hobe Sound.

https://floridaclassicslibrary.com

The painting that graces the dust jacket of A Pictorial History of Palm City was on the wall in Florida Classic Library. Realizing it would make a beautiful cover for our Palm City book, I asked and received permission to use it from both, Julie, the owner, and Jerry, the artist.

Russell Holloway

Pelican Hotel

To know the King sisters who grew up in the Pelican Hotel is to know about Russell Holloway.

Recently, I talked to Nancy Crawford, oldest of Bill and Nina King’s five daughters who told me “Russell raised us.”

I asked how she felt about Russell Holloway living in East Stuart during the years of segregation. Nancy said that was “just the way it was.”

Movie star Fabian Forte with his wife Kate Regan and Pelican Hotel chef Russell Holloway in 1969.

A picture of Russell Holloway surfaced among images collected by Alice and Greg Luckhardt. It showed Russell with Fabian Forte and his wife Katie Regan. It was taken in 1969 during the filming of the movie about the “Notorious Ashley Gang.” Scenes were taken in the Pelican Hotel and some of the cast and crew of the movie stayed there.

Actors – Karen Black and Fabian as Laura and John in 1969 movie (Luckhardt Collection)

When I reread a 1987 newspaper article about Russell Holloway by Sallie Hughes of the Miami Herald, his life story amazed me. The article was published when Russell was 67, after his Pelican Hotel days. Hughes photographed Russell cooking chicken in an East Stuart convenience store but at that time of his life he was also preparing huge dinners for the Macedonia Baptist Church in Gifford where he was pastor.

Pelican Hotel
East Stuart
Russell Holloway
Russell Holloway who, during his heyday, cooked in the Waldorf Astoria during the summer season, is shown here cooking in the Speedy Mart on Tarpon Avenue in 1987.

From the Hughes article we learn that Russell was born in Albany, Georgia and moved to Stuart with two of his sisters in 1939. His brother-in-law, George Mitchell, head chef at the Pelican Hotel, taught him to cook and hired him to work at the hotel. Before Russell perfected his cooking crafts he was drafted into the U.S. Army. In Massachusetts, he was preparing to go overseas when he met Gen. George Patton in a chow line. Patton, who knew a good deal about the quality of camp fare asked, “Who’s the cook?” Russell replied, “I’m the cook.”

Sgt. Russell Halloway went with Patton to victories in Morocco and Tunisia, through the siege of Sicily and into Nazi Germany.

When Sallie Hughes asked if he fought? Russell said, “Everybody fought. I have the scars to prove it.” Of course, he also cooked. Provisions were good. A Patton favorite was lamb stew that Patton insisted all the men have when he did.

The fighting cook returned to Stuart and became the Pelican’s top chef.

I know my friend Kay King Norris still uses some of Russell Holloway’s “cooking tricks.”