BREVARD HISTORY: Annual Pioneer Day Festival Will Celebrate Merritt Island History Feb. 10

Sams built the oldest standing home in Brevard County in 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 12th Annual Pioneer Day will be held on Saturday, February 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Sams House/Pine Island on north Merritt Island at 6195 and 5555 N. Tropical Trail, respectively.

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 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 and loaded baked potatoes.

Date:
February 10th, 2024
10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Event opens to the public at 10:00 a.m.

Locations (events at both sites):
Sams House/Pine Island and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

6195 & 5555 N. Tropical Trail, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Cost:
FREE admission

$2 suggested donation for parking with FREE shuttle service between the two venues

Events at Sams House (10 am to 4 pm):

■ Florida living history demonstrations and educational exhibits that include archaeology and anthropology, historic reenactors, encampments and artifacts on display
New: Captain Kim Cullers, with his 22 ft sailboat on display, will discuss river travel and the importance of the postal route that was maintained by sailboat (as early as the late 19th century locally).
■ 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 on history and nature from Brevard’s historical societies and museums as well as from Brevard’s Indian River Lagoon, natural lands, and environmental organizations
■ Brevard Veterans Memorial Center with a World War II Jeep on display
■ Vintage, crafts and farmer’s market vendors (baked goods, quilts, local honey, herbs, Florida paintings, books, etc.)
■ Pine Island guided nature trail hikes throughout the day
■ 1888 Sams House tours with rarely seen antiques on display
■ 1875 Sams Cabin with exhibits on the Sams family pioneers, early Native Americans, and Ice Age fossils
■ Pine Island Preservation Society tent with vintage items, hiking sticks, t-shirts, gifts, etc. for sale; raffle items include 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!
■ About Sams House at Pine Island:

The Sams House at Pine Island is a historical complex owned and operated by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. The 1875 Sams Cabin onsite is the oldest standing home in Brevard County. A larger 1888 two-story home is also onsite. John Sams, a citrus-grower and the first Superintendent of Brevard County Schools, built both houses. The Center is located at 6195 N. Tropical Trail, ½ mile west of SR 3 and 5 miles north of SR 528. For information call, (321) 449-4720.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pine Island Preservation Society/Sams House

Events at St. Luke’s (10 am to 4 pm):

Perrine Hall: Lunch includes a variety of homemade chilis (traditional, white and vegetarian), grilled hot dogs and loaded baked potatoes.

■ 10:15 am CEMETERY: Guided Tour “Military and Space” Highlighting a few of our military veterans from the Civil War to Vietnam as well as people associated with the Space Program

■ 11:00 am CHURCH: “Life on the Indian River Lagoon” Dixie Crossroads proprietor and environmental activist Laurilee Thompson will talk about growing up as a 4th generation Floridian in Brevard County’s seafood industry over the past six decades

■ 11:30 am CEMETERY: Guided Tour “Founding Families” Early Merritt Island settlers who were also the founders of St. Luke’s

■ 12:00 to 12:15 pm CHURCH: “Community together in Prayer”

■ 12:15 pm CHAPEL: “St. Luke’s Chapel: A Gem of Carpenter Gothic Architecture” Jonathan Rich, author of Spires in the Sun: The Carpenter Gothic Episcopal Churches of Florida, will give a talk on how this unique style of architecture came to the Florida frontier of the 1800s. Signed copies of the book will be available for sale

■ 1:00 pm CHAPEL: Pioneer Music

■ 1:30 pm CHURCH: “Ais, Indigenous People of Merritt Island” Before pioneers, the Indigenous people called “Ais” lived on Merritt Island. Learn more about the original settlers from David McDonald

■ 2:00 pm CEMETERY: Guided Tour “Through the Ages” A glimpse of Brevard History from the life stories of locals spanning the decades

Ongoing Events: Self-Guided Tours of St. Luke’s Historic Chapel and Cemetery

Exhibitors include: Moore Memorial Museum & Park, Brevard Zoo Aquarium, Brevard Genealogical Society, American Space Museum, Central Brevard Sharing Center, and Animal Safehouse Program

Vendors include: Recycled Tire Art, Glory Bells Designs, Coastal Lost Treasures, Author Jay Heavner, Zabs, and Banana River Soapworks

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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