ON THE TRAILLAGOON

Orchid/Narrows Road (now Jungle Trail) was the first road on the barrier island. It started out as a small pathway known by many different names. Early settlers like Captain Forster, Seaborne Jones and A.B. Michael regularly utilized the small, jungle-like trail utilized the small, jungle-like trail to travel between properties, access the beaches, and to move fruit, vegetables, and fish to and from docks scattered along the Trail. The Trail became a formal County Road through a “Post and View” survey in 1920. Today, the Trail survey in 1920. Today, the Trail remains reminiscent of its original condition and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It provides visitors with a unique opportunity to travel along Indian River Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon and experience the historical landmarks along the way.

Richard Milton Jones grew upin a small two bedroom home onthe shores of the Indian River Lagoon.The Jones family settled in the area in the late 1890’s along a scattering of other settlers like the Kroegels, Forsters, and Michaels. The Jones family was known for Michaels. The Jones family was known for the first commercial dock located on Jungle Trail (previously called the Orchid/Narrows Road). Mr. Jones grew citrus so famous that boaters would make a special stop at the historic dock to puchase the fresh fruit.

Established in 1903, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is the Nation’s first refuge and Paul Kroegel was named the first warden by President Theodore Roosevelt. Paul was a staunch supporter of protecting the wading birds who nested on the small 5 acre island and vigilantly guarded the birds 5 acre island and vigilantly guarded the birds from hunters.He was known to fire warning shots at all who dared to attempt killing the beloved birds. Paul’s homestead, located adjacent to the County-owned Kroegel Homestead Conservation Area, had an excellent view of Pelican Island from the top of Barker’s Bluff (#2). The Bluff was top of Barker’s Bluff (#2). The Bluff was also used as a navigational marker and lookout point.

Barker’s Bluff wasreportedly as large as a football field and many feet high.Two Dollar Bluff is the location of a famous midden dating back to the early Ais Indians who discarded their Indians who discarded their broken pottery, bones and oyster shells in great mounds. The Ais’ region stretched the entire length of the Indian River Lagoon and was named by the Spanish the “River of Ais”. The Ais made friends with the Spanish in the made friends with the Spanish in the early 16th Century. Jonathan Dickinson journaled his interactions with the Ais noting that their diet consisted of fish from the Lagoon, berries and shellfish. Midden material was frequently used to fill low areas for roads, the railroad and bridgeheads.roads, the railroad and bridgeheads.

The Archie Smith Fish House, locatedon the western shore of the Indian River Lagoon, was built in 1926. The Fish House and associated structures including the Ice House (originally the old Roseland Railroad Depot) were in operation until the Depot) were in operation until the 2004 Hurricanes Frances & Jeanne caused significant damage to the site. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, the Archie Smith Fish House was a part of a vital and thriving fisheries community in Sebastian which brought in fresh fish from the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Families like the Semblers, Judahs and Smiths made their livelihood through the healthy, diverse Semblers, Judahs and Smiths made their livelihood through the healthy, diverse and rich fishing trade supported by the nearby Inlet and healthy Lagoon waters.

Until 1920 there were only two ways to cross the Indian River Lagoon in what is now known as Indian River County.The first bridge connecting the mainland to the barrier islandwas located in Vero Beach and opened in 1920. The Winter Beach Bridge was opened in 1924 and provided access to the Jungle Trail (which was then Highway A1A). The Bridge Tender, his wife and children lived in a small house on the island Tender, his wife and children lived in a small house on the island next to the Winter Beach Bridge. His job was to hand-crank open the bridge to let cars over, or boats sail by. There was a local dispute as to who had the first car - either Doctor David Rose or Paul Kroegel, and it remains a mystery as to who ran the first car over the bridge. The Winter Beach Bridge crossed from North Winter Beach Bridge Road (now 69th Street) to Winter Beach Road (now Old Winter Beach Road). The County Road (now Jungle Trail) (now Old Winter Beach Road). The County Road (now Jungle Trail) originally went from the County line with Brevard County to Vero Beach. When the State built A1A, much of the private land along the Lagoon was exchanged for right-of-way along the ocean.

c5,eno1 _ N

{ijLAGOON ~ 0ARCHIE SMITH FISH HOUSE

The Archie Smith Fish House, located \ \ on the western shore ofthe Indian \ River Lagoon, was built in 1926.

The Fisli House and associated structures including the Ice HouseA BARKER'S (originally the old Rose land Railroad

UBLUFF Depot) were in operation until the 2004 Hurricanes Frances & JeanneTWO caused significant damage to the site.

0DOLLAR Llsted on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, the Archie Smith Fish House was aBLUFF part ofa vital and thriving fisheries community in Sebastian which brought in

Barker's Bluff was fresh fish from the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Families Hke the reportedly as large as a Semblers, Judahs and Smiths made their livelihood through the healthy, diverse football field amfmany feet ~ and rich fishing trade supported by the nearby Inlet and liealthy Lagoon waters. high.Two Dollar Bluff is ~ the location of a famous midden '; f)KROEGEL HOMESTEADG dating back to the early Ais ~ Indians who discarded their e PELICAN ISLAND NWR broken pottery, bones and Established in 1903, Pelican Island National oyster shells in great mounds. Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is the Nation's first The Ais' region stretched the

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' refuge and Paul Kroegel was named the first entire lengtl:t ofthe Indian River warclen by President7'heodore Roosevelt. Lagoon and was named bi the Paul was a staunch supporter of protecting Spanish the" River ofAis' . The Ais the wading birds who nested on the smalf made friends with the Spanish in the 5 acre island and vigilantly guarded the birds early 16th Century. Jonathan Dickinson from hunters. He was known to fire warning journaled his interactions with the shots at all who dared to attempt killing the Ais noting that their diet consisted .,· beloved birds. Paul's homestead, located of fish from the Lagoon, berries and adjacent to the County-owned KroegelI.shellfish. Midden material was Homestead Conservation Area, had anIfreq_uently used to fill low areas for . excellent view of Pelican Island from the roacls, the railroad and bridgeheads. .I top of Barker's Bluff(#2). The Bluffwas

I also used as a navigational marker and.~HISTORIC I , lookout point.. w,JONES' PIER .' 1

.HISTORIC JUNGLE TRAIL\

Richard Milton Jones grew up \ Orchid/Narrows Road (now Jungle Trail) ... Peli<:cnin a small two bedroom home on ' \

1 was the first road on the barrier island . ... f•lcnclthe shores ofthe Indian River Lagoon. It started out as a small pathway known The Jones family settled in the area in the by many different names. Early late 1890's along a scattering ofother settlers like Captain Forster, Seaborne settlers like the Kroegels, Forsters, and ! ~ Jones and A. B. Michael regularly

Horses/,OjiMichaels. The Jones family was known for I ~ \ utilized the small, jungle-fike trailIs/end,1 Middl.:the first commercial dock located on : \ • t-- to travel between properties, access

lslc.nd ,(,o,l'i I bi fiJungle Trail (previously called the Orchid/ • the beaches, and to move ruit,

Is/1!.,"1 \ ~ I d fl h d fiNarrows Road). Mr. Jones grew citrus so • ~ vegetab es, an 1s to an rom famous that boaters would make a special \ '> docks scattered along the Trail. stop at the historic dock to puchase the '- ?- The Trail became a formal County

De"vi,r • ,_ • Road throuf,h a" Post and View"fresh fruit. orfl, /sfchcf - • - •.... \• ' survey in 920. Today, the Trail

0)1s"hr PIii[, I \ remains reminiscent of its 1)/cncl I.dc.ncl • . Id didI \ \ origina con ition an is iste

& uf;i Oysfer • \' on the National Register of lslc11d A, \ Historic Places. It provides

.Prec.cl1ers ~•'•• 1

visitors with a unique ls/end \ ' \ opportunity to travel along

..,. , ; \ Indian River Lagoon and Ii experience thenistorical

j , landmarks along the way.

! \\ (t CAPTAIN FORSTER M;::d~ t@=-~ Wc6: sso J;!~ MMOCK PRESERVE

~ Capt. Frank Forster, a Gennan born immigrant,tlBRIDGE TENDER'S SITE{ij ~ ran away at an early age and reportedly saifed all \ over the world. After sailing t1ie Indian River

fjOLD WINTER BEACH RD Lagoon, Capt. Forster acquired land to the\ '\' north and east ofthe current Wabasso Bridge. Until 1920 there were only two ways to cross the Indian There he built his first home, established a

River Lagoon in what is now known as Indian River County. post office named Orchid, and docked hisThe firstbridge connecting the mainland to the barrier island sailing vessel "Dood". His flrst citrus groveswas located in Vero Beacli and opened in 1920. The Winter were started between 1884-86. In 1894-95Beach Bridge was opened in 1924 and provided access t o the . a freeze ruined his Fve and he replanted Jungle Trail (which was then Highway Al A). The Bridge

I \1 immediately with additional winterTender, his wife and children lived in a small house on the island \ ve~tables that he sold to the Flaglernext to the Winter Beach Bridge. His job was to hand-crank open \

Railroad and others. Capt. Forster the bridge to let cars over, or boats sail by. There was a local \

re~dlyhad some ofthe best citrusdispute as to who had the first car - either Doctor David Rose or \ available, and along with other earlyPaul Kroegel, and it remains a mystery as to who ran the first car 0 settlers like the Michael famil}'" created

over the bridge. The Winter Beach Bridge crossed from North 1\ the now famous Indian River Citrus Winter Beacn Bridge Road (now 69th Street) to Winter Beach Road

\ industry.(now Old Winter Beach Road). The County Road (now Jungle Trail) originally went from the County line with Brevard County to Vero Beach. When the State built A 1 A, much of the private land along the \\Lagoon was exchanged for right-of-way along the ocean.

Jol,ns l\orfh S; •. /,.t ls/end

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