2025 Ornament Is Here!
Century in Paradise
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS!
From 1825 – 1925 Indian River County was part of four different counties, the last being St. Lucie. Then, in 1925, the northern part of St. Lucie was separated to form Indian River County. The governor signed the bill on May 25, 1925. William Jennings Bryan spoke at the victory celebration in Vero Beach.Vero Beach was selected to be the county seat.
Vero Beach, Sebastian, and Fellsmere are three of the original cities in Indian River County. Vero was incorporated in 1919 as the city of Vero. It was renamed Vero Beach in 1925 when it became part of Indian River County. Vero was first settled by pioneers in the 1880’s. Henry T. Gifford was one of the early pioneers. It is said that his wife Sarah gave the town’s new name, Vero, which means “to speak the truth” in Latin.
Early in the 1870’s Sebastian was a fishing village. In 1882 forty new pioneers settled there.The village was named New Haven, but in 1884, it was renamed Sebastian.It was incorporated as a city in 1923. Sebastian is a well-known for great fishing and its natural environment. In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt designated Pelican Island and the surrounding protected waters and islands, as America’s first National wildlife refuge for the protection of nesting birds. This national treasure is in Sebastian.
The US Navy built the Sebastian Municipal Airport in 1943. It was then known as Roseland Satellite Field, a flight training station. Pilots were trained on various aircraft, including dive bombers and night fighters.
Sebastian’s field simulated an aircraft carrier deck. After the war, it was returned to the City of Sebastian.
Fellsmere was originally named Cincinnatus Farms. Starting in 1892 and continuing for three years, Anthony O. Russell of Cincinnati, Ohio purchased a total of 115,200 acres of land west of Sebastian. His goal was to drain 112,000 acres for farming and to provide a place for settlers to live.E. Nelson Fell and the Fellsmere Farms Company promoted agriculture development. Fellsmere was incorporated in 1911.
Fellsmere is also known as the first city in the south to grant women the right to vote in a municipal election in 1915, five years before Congress passed the 19th Amendment giving voting rights to women nationally.
Fellsmere is famous for being the Frog Leg Capital of the World, hosting an annual frog leg festival. It holds two Guinness records for that event.
Fellsmere Riding Club also hosts the Bull Frog Bash Rodeo and the annual Cracker Day Rodeo. These are family friendly events capturing a traditional Florida cowboy culture experience.
The Vero Beach Regional Airport initially started in 1929 and was dedicated in 1930. It became a refueling stop for Eastern Air Lines. Commercial passenger service commenced in 1935. During World War II, the airport became the Naval Air Station Vero Beach. The military used it for training naval aviators. It trained over 2700 men, 300 women marines, and WAVES. The military presence doubled the population of Vero, which was 3,000. In 1947 it was returned to civilian use. The airport continued to grow as Piper Aircraft started building airplanes here in 1957. Recently commercial passenger service has made Indian River County an easy destination to visit.
The original Community Center in Vero was built in Pocahontas Park and dedicated in 1935.During the 1940’s war years, it became the USO for the US military personnel assigned to and visiting Vero Beach. It was later renamed The Heritage Center. The Ocean Grill, built in 1941 by Waldo Sexton, was used as a naval officer’s club. The original county Courthouse was started in 1936 and completed in 1937. It is located across the street from the original community center.
The New York Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team arrived in 1948 for spring training. After school kids would visit the practice fields and watch the Dodgers play. The players were quite friendly and players like Jackie
Robinson, Roy Campanella, Peewee Reese, Duke Snyder, and Gil Hodges signed baseballs for the kids. When the Dodgers moved their base of operations from New York City to Los Angeles, the Dodgers relocated its spring training operations from Vero to Arizona.
HAPPY 100 YEARS TO INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
All proceeds from the sale of this ornament will be used by the Garden Club of Indian River County, Inc. for its projects.
Design by: Bonnie Pfiester
Brochure by: Jack Phillips
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Laura Moss and Nancy Catania showing off the Gardenfest ornament (left). Merrill P. Barber's Granddaughter pictured here after purchasing the 1994 Merrill P. Barber bridge ornament (right)
Last Year
Riverside Theatre's
50th Anniversary Ornament
Each year, our ornaments feature places, people or events in Indian River County near and dear to our hearts. Many residents enjoy collecting and gifting these ornaments, eagerly await their arrival.
The Garden Club Ornament and Designer
on the Beauty and the Beach Radio Show with Cindy Goetz.
The US Navy built the Sebastian Municipal Airport in 1943. It was then known as Roseland Satellite Field, a flight training station. Pilots were trained on various aircraft, including dive bombers and night fighters.
Sebastian’s field simulated an aircraft carrier deck. After the war, it was returned to the City of Sebastian.
Fellsmere was originally named Cincinnatus Farms. Starting in 1892 and continuing for three years, Anthony O. Russell of Cincinnati, Ohio
purchased a total of 115,200 acres of land west of Sebastian. His goal was to drain 112,000 acres for farming and to provide a place for settlers to
live.E. Nelson Fell and the Fellsmere Farms Company promoted agriculture development. Fellsmere was incorporated in 1911.
Fellsmere is also known as the first city in the south to grant women the right to vote in a municipal election in 1915, five years before Congress passed the 19th Amendment giving voting rights to women nationally.
Fellsmere is famous for being the Frog Leg Capital of the World, hosting an annual frog leg festival. It holds two Guinness records for that event.
Fellsmere Riding Club also hosts the Bull Frog Bash Rodeo and the annual
