Stuart Historical Timeline
Morris Johns (far right side) with other single male pioneers to the Stuart area. Many bachelor’s settled here, established their pineapple fields before seeking brides.
The first church building in Stuart, built in 1895 near the railroad tracks. It was a community church (used by other denominations) but built by the Methodist congregation. Across the track was the small juice stand settle up by Stanley Kitching in 1902 and the larger 1901 George Parks Store.
In the Potsdam neighborhood, to the left was the new Robert McPherson home and nearby to the right was the Stuart Hotel.
Scene of Frazier Creek with a small narrow wooden bridge across and homes nearby. That path would eventually become Avenue D, then Alabama Ave and by the late 1920s named U.S. 1.
Stuart’s commercial road, Railroad Ave (later renamed Flagler Ave). First building on left side is the Stanley Kitching 2nd store -very expanded, then the George Parks store, next but not in view was the Noah Parks home and the Broster and Susan Kitching’s business building with a boarding house upstairs.
Two story school built in 1909 for all grades. Fully accreditation was by mid-1910s and the first high school graduates were the Stuart High Class of 1916. It continued to serve as the only school until a new one was built in 1923. Afterward, it served for years as the..Read More
Along St Lucie Ave and corner of Osceola the first bank on the left was built in 1912 and in 1913 the Feroe Building on the corner of St Lucie and Flagler Avenues for businesses was constructed.
The Feroe Building (colorized) with its early tenants – Stuart Drug Store and the Hogarth Real Estate and Insurance office.
The ferry used to bring people, cars, and packages from one side of the St Lucie River to the other.
The construction of the first concrete auto bridge across the St Lucie River. There was no bridge, other than the railroad bridge across the river. The auto bridge opened in Feb. 1918.
At the Intersection of Railroad (Flagler) and St Lucie Avenues was the dedication of the US flag pole and flag. The larger train depot was to the right and had been built in 1913.
In the Potsdam neighborhood was Avenue A – later named Camden Ave. On this street were residential homes and apartment buildings.
The popular auto concrete bridge, sometimes called the Flagler Bridge across the St Lucie River. It served from 1918 to 1934, when the first Roosevelt Bridge was built and opened.
The E. G. Ricou fish house in Stuart out in the St Lucie River (approximately where the far end of Flagler Park is today).
At the Intersection of Railroad (Flagler) and St Lucie Avenues is shown the park on the corner opposite the Feroe Building, then the large Kitching-Eckess Store. Closer to the river beyond the park was the home of Stanley Kitching and then the St. Lucie Hotel.
Built and operated by the Coventry family, the far left is the Coventry Hotel built in 1914 and then right side is the Coventry Apartments built in 1922.
St Lucie Avenue with the Feroe Building (Post Office came in 1916) and the Stuart Drug Store and various business offices upstairs. Then the 1912 bank building. Across Osceola the new Fuge / Osceola Building constructed in 1921. The Stuart Bank was housed in the corner location after it opened...Read More
The Martin County Courthouse used the former 1909-1923 school building. A jail was built behind the courthouse.
county celebration parade with many floats. This float done by Casa Lumber Co. traveling in front of the Kitching-Eckess Dept Store on Flagler Ave. Thousands of people participated in the parade and thousands watched the parade (many coming from neighboring counties.)
A celebration of the creation of Martin County from the northern portion of Palm Beach County and the southern end of St. Lucie County. Parade covered several street, this portion traveling along Flagler Avenue. The new Lyric Theatre still be constructed in the background. It would open in March 1926.
On St Lucie Avenue, the St Lucie Hotel on the left was built in 1913. More rooms were needed so the St Lucie Hotel Annex was built in 1916 at the end of the street and along the St Lucie River.
The large Kitching-Eckess Dept. Store. To the left was built the 1926 Peacock Arcade with a hotel and stores.
The El-Bit-Lor Apartments at the intersection of 4th St (East Ocean Blvd) and High School Avenue. The name was changed by new owners in the 1930s to Atlantic Court Apartments. It was a popular rental apartment located next door to the Stuart High School.
The third Lyric Theatre constructed and it opened in March 1926. First Lyric opened in 1914 and along Osceola St. beyond Belle Flora Ave. (Colorado Ave). A larger theater was needed by 1918 and the new one was built on Railroad Ave (Flagler). That 2nd theatre was moved one street..Read More
The Kimberly Apartments built in 1913 along the St Lucie River on Seminole St, just beyond where the Coventry Hotel would be built in 1914. Its name was changed to Riverview Apts by new owners in the 1930s.
A popular restaurant on U. S. 1 in Stuart was Chisholm’s Restaurant. It served meals to locals and visitors as well as a meeting area for local civic organizations. It was torn down when U. S. 1 was widened in 1964.
Flagler Ave along the railroad tracks. The lots with Flagler Park between Flagler Ave and Osceola St. The three-story building was constructed in 1927, mainly a furniture store with rental offices upstairs. The vacant lots would not be built on until the 1940s into the early 1950s.
The Lighthouse Restaurant, with its mock lighthouse to the right, was located north of the St. Lucie River, just off of the Roosevelt Bridge. A popular restaurant and lounge for Stuart and visitors. It was destroyed in a fire in the late 1950s.
Along Frazier Creek and across from Shepard Estate (later Shepard Park) was the three-story France Apartments built in 1927. Each apartment is 1 bedroom, 1 bath and has remained a popular apartment complex over the decades.
Looking down Flagler Avenue, the train depot on the right, the water tower in the distance, the Stuart Dept Store on the left, then St. Lucie Avenue, next the Feroe Building housing on the first floor the Rexall Drug Store, then a couple small business shops before the impressive 1926..Read More
Flagler Avenue with scenes of the former Peacock Arcade, which by 1949 was named Victory Hotel (so named during the WW II war effort). Next to the Victory is the Stuart Dept. Store, then owned by Ben Eckess. The Victory Hotel was renamed in the 1950s, The Commodore and burned..Read More