BREVARD HISTORY: Old Haulover Canal On Merritt Island Built In 1854, Linked Mosquito Lagoon With Indian River

By  //  July 22, 2017

constructed by slaves of local citrus grower

Located in the narrowest part of Merritt Island, the Old Haulover Canal linked the Mosquito Lagoon on the east with the Indian River on the west. (Brevard County Historical Society image)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Brevard County has a rich and diverse history, spanning nearly five centuries of recorded activities that include the earliest European explorations of America and the moment that humans first left this planet to explore worlds beyond our own.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Located in the narrowest part of Merritt Island, the Old Haulover Canal linked the Mosquito Lagoon on the east with the Indian River on the west.

In 1854, the federal government spent $5,000 to construct the canal-based upon an investigation by Lieutenant Wright.

The canal was located at this point as it served as a traditional crossover point for travel down the inland waterway and, until its construction, cargo was hauled over the island and then loaded on boats which continued southward.

The canal was 3-feet deep and 10 to 14 feet wide and was constructed by the slaves of a local citrus grower.

The Old Haulover Canal was abandoned in 1884 when the new Haulover Canal was built a little to the north.

In the 30 years of its use, the Old Haulover Canal served as a vital transportation link in Florida’s inland waterway system.

– Source: Brevard County Historical Society

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