Vero Beach Power Squadron Presents The History of Vero Beach
When visiting the City's 90 th Anniversary Celebrationon Friday, October 16,be sure to check out a slideshow by the Vero Beach Power Squadron inside the Heritage Center from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. The slideshow, produced by Daniel Thomas, Ed.D., Education Officer for Vero Beach Power Squadron and Fleet Captain of the Vero Beach Yacht Club, reveals scenes of a very early Vero Beach from the rapid growth in the 1930s, to the 1950s when Vero Beach became known for "Sun, Sand and Lots of Fun." The thirty minute slideshow will display pictures of very early Vero (before it became Vero Beach) where hard work and the efforts of many people brought growth to our little section of Florida. It continues (all the while playing music from each period of time) as Vero grew and we saw the Driftwood, the McKee Jungle Garden and an early Community Center appear. Vero was very much a part of the efforts during World War I and II and as shown through pictures of the "Home Guard", the Vero Train Depot and very early schools and churches.
Discover how the airport was taken over by the federal government and became a U.S. naval air training station and how local establishments were appropriated to house, feed, and entertain the troops. It was during this period of time that the "Miracle Mile" was developed and the Dodgers came to town.
Wonderful beaches and tourist attractions began to put Vero Beach on the map after World War II. Many unique buildings and attractions developed including the Ocean Fishing Pier, Sexton Plaza, bridges over the Inter coastal Waterway and the construction of additional churches and schools.
Continuing to the present time, the slideshow will show current photos of today's Vero showing the changes that have taken place since 1919.
The slideshow is in part contributed to by Beth Moulton of Vero Beach Magazine, Art Neuberger of the Antique Automobile Association of America, Tony Young of the Indian River Genealogical Society, Mosquito Control District - Rich Wilson, Doug Carlson, George Heinlein, John Plate and Bill Walker from the Vero Beach Yacht Club. Bill's TV Service Center and Bill's Audio & Video Innovations are donating the use of a television for the presentation.