5th Annual Merritt Island Pioneer Day Set For Feb. 13, Celebration of Early Settlers

By  //  February 6, 2016

features history, art, music and fun for nature lovers

Pioneer-Day-Merritt-Island-580-5
A celebration of the early settlers of Merritt Island is planned Feb. 13 for Pioneer Day, an event held at two locations that features history, art, music and fun for nature lovers. (Merritt Island Pioneer Day Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A celebration of the early settlers of Merritt Island is planned Feb. 13 for Pioneer Day, an event held at two locations that features history, art, music and fun for nature lovers.

The event is a partnership between Sams House at the Pine Island Conservation Area and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located on a narrow winding stretch of North Tropical Trail just north of the barge canal on North Merritt Island.

Events take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a wide variety of activities. Most will be free of charge. Complete information can be found by visiting www.pioneerday.com and www.facebook.com/pioneerdaymerrittisland.

Kevin Gidusko of the Pine Island Preservation Society, the non profit organization associated with the EEL Program at Sams House, and Joyce Young of St. Luke’s are co-coordinators.

They have organized activities from past years and woven in many new surprises for this family friendly day.

Parking is available at both locations with a suggested donation of $1 per car. There is also free Shuttle service every 20 minutes between the two locations.

Summary of Events at the Sams House, 6195 North Tropical Trail Merritt Island:
• Living history demonstrations and educational exhibits
• Local products and arts and crafts
• Historic house and cabin tours provided by Environmentally Endangered Lands program staff and volunteers in period costumes
• Display of Sams family artifacts and toys on loan from the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science
• Florida folk music performed by Chris Kahl, the Celery City String Band, D. Scott Taylor and Laura Clark
• Children’s pioneer games and nature crafts
• Foods for purchase including barbecue, hot dogs, corn on the cob, kettle korn and more

Summary of Events at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 5555 North Tropical Trail Merritt Island:
• Ongoing self-guided historic chapel and cemetery tours
• Display of artifacts from the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, home of the FHS Archaeological Institute
• Policicchio Groves- Growing oranges on North Merritt Island since 1920
• 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Ais, Timucuan, and Seminoles- Their Lives and Culture presented by Jim Sawgrass
• 12 p.m.: Homemade soups ($5)
• 12 p.m.: Lessons from Windover: a Glimpse into Ancient Florida- Dr. Rachel Went, writer/archaeologist
• 1 p.m.: Trail of Tears- A brief history of the forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation in 1838-39. Johnny Kee will sing Amazing Grace in Cherokee, a song that was sung many times along the Trail of Tears.
• 1 – 4 p.m.: Cemetery tours with Molly Thomas, Historic Preservation go Cemeteries
• 3 p.m.: Windover: Past Present and Future with Patrisha Meyers, Director, Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science and the Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute.
• 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.: Fish Fry Dinner (advanced ticket sales at 321-452-5260)