BREVARD HISTORY: Annual Pioneer Day Festival Will Celebrate Merritt Island History Feb. 11

Sams built the oldest standing home in Brevard County in about 1875

Pioneer Day is held near the birthday of John Sams, a citrus grower and the first Superintendent of Brevard County Schools.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 11th Annual Pioneer Day will be held on Saturday, February 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Sams House/Pine Island on north Merritt Island at 5555 N. Tropical Trail.

Pioneer Day is held near the birthday of John Sams, a citrus grower and the first Superintendent of Brevard County Schools.

Sams built the oldest standing home in Brevard County in about 1875. The cabin is now a museum within the 1,000-acre Pine Island Conservation Area, which is owned and operated by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program.

Sams also helped to build St. Luke’s Chapel in 1888, where he is buried in the church cemetery.

Primary parking for the event is available at St. Luke’s, with limited parking at Sams House. Free continuous shuttle service will be provided between venues. Lunch will be a variety of homemade chilis, traditional, white and vegetarian, and loaded baked and sweet potatoes.

■ 10:15 a.m.: Guided Cemetery Tour – “Founding Families”  Early Merritt Island settlers who were also the founders of St. Luke’s

■ 11 a.m.: Porcher Family History with Michael Boonstra (Local Historian, archivist and Librarian) – This talk will focus on the family’s history before they came to Merritt Island and reveal some little-known facts.

■ 11:30 a.m.: Pioneer Hymns (Organ Music and History)                 

■ 12 noon: St Luke’s Chapel: A Gem of Gothic American Architecture – How an American style that merged Old World and New World architecture came to America’s raw southwestern frontier, Florida.

■ 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Cemetery Stroll – Hear from some of the inhabitants of this historic cemetery.

 On-going Events:

■ Self-guided tour of St. Luke’s Historic Chapel and Cemetery

■ Impromptu guided tours of the historic cemetery

Events at Sams House, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6195 N. Tropical Trail:

■ Florida living history demonstrations and educational exhibits that include archaeology and anthropology, historic reenactors, encampments and artifacts on display

■ Live music throughout the day by Celery City String Band, Chris Kahl, Pine Trio, and Boylston Fish

■ A Pioneer “parade” throughout the grounds at 11 am, led by drum and fife, of those dressed in historic attire

■ Local exhibitors from Brevard’s historical societies, the Florida Historical Society, Field Manor, Pritchard House, Lawndale Museum-The H.S. Williams Home, Green Gables, Rossetter House Museum, Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation, and others

■ Local exhibitors from Brevard’s natural lands and environmental organizations such as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore, Save The Manatee Club, Space Coast Audubon Society, Florida Native Plant Society, Florida Master Naturalists, Brevard Backyard Beekeepers, and others

■ Brevard Veterans Memorial Center with a World War II Jeep on display

■ Vintage, crafts and farmer’s market vendors such as the Spade and Trowel Garden Club, Miss Mango’s Herb Appeal, Vintage Island Designs, and others (also quilts, local honey, Florida landscape oil paintings, books, etc.)

■ Pine Island guided nature trail hikes throughout the day courtesy of the Florida Trail Association and Brevard’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program

■ 1888 Sams House tours with rarely seen antiques on display

■ Pine Island Preservation Society tent with vintage pins, doilies, finger puppets, hiking sticks, nature-themed t-shirts, note cards, postcards, gifts for sale and raffle items including a local fruit basket

■ Children’s crafts and games – Hay Dive, Steer Roping, Cornhusk Dolls, “Cow” Milking and Tic Tac Toe

■ Heidi’s Miniature Goat Petting Farm until 1 pm

■ Local food trucks and kettle corn!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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