The Stuart News
By RJ Harrington
Posted September 30, 2009 at 2:23 p.m.
Martin County Scavenger Hunt of Historic Places clues
STUART — Historic Preservation Month in October promises to be one filled with events memorializing the past of many areas of Martin County.
From the kickoff reception at the newly dedicated Cassidy Center in Golden Gate to the gala “Meet Me at the USO” costume ball at Flagler Center in downtown Stuart, practically every day has a presentation focused on an historic home, Indian burial grounds or a classic car show.
Prior to the opening ceremonies Oct. 1, there will be a 2 p.m. Heritage Tour of Stuart leaving from the Stuart Feed Store, followed by a discussion of Seminole History conducted by Lucille Rights at the Stuart Heritage Chickee. This will be repeated each Thursday of the month.
The contributions to Martin County from people of the Bahamas will be highlighted during the Bahamian Festival at the Port Salerno Civic Center beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
The festival continues Saturday followed by an open house at the Fish House Art Gallery on Desoto Avenue in Port Salerno.
“We have planned some really exciting events for this month,” said Linda Prange, chairwoman of the Historic Preservation Board. “Our board has worked really hard for months to pull this together.”
She was particularly grateful to Martin County Commissioner Ed Ciampi, who attended board meetings and has been a consistent supporter of their efforts, she said.
Each Wednesday throughout the month, at 5:30 p.m., there will be a lecture at the Cummings Library in Palm City. The first, on Indiantown, will be given by Iris Wall. That will be followed on subsequent Wednesdays by noted local historian Sandra Thurlow on Martin County historical buildings and their stories, Stuart News writer and historian Joe Crankshaw on the county’s history, and Willie J. Thompson on the history of East Stuart.
There will be classic and antique cars at the Palm City Festival Oct. 17.
On Oct. 20 and 27, Thompson will conduct tram tours of East Stuart. Call ahead at (772) 600-1258 for reservations. Tours depart from the 19th Street Recreation Center.
Music will be abundant during the month. In addition to the Junkanoo bands and dancers at the Bahamian Festival, OPM performs during Rockin’ River Walk on Oct. 9, and on the 16th it’s Stuart Music Fest at the Edelweiss Café. That will preview Oktoberfest beginning Oct. 23 and big band sounds through the decades at the crowning costume ball on Oct. 30.
The Stuart News will carry clues each Thursday and Sunday during the month for historic locations as part of a scavenger hunt. The clues are also available on www.TCPalm.com. Those who take photos of themselves in front of the largest number of the historic sites will win a prize to be awarded at the big party Oct. 30.
