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New Smyrna Beach, Florida
History
Golden Sunrise on New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Come have fun in the sun
Evidence points
to aboriginal populations at least as early as 2000
BC. Centuries of oyster feasts contributed to an estimated 33,000
cubic
yards of shells covering 2 acres and about 50 feet high at famous
Turtle Mound (8 miles south on A1A). It is the largest, but only one
of many. By 1769 Dr. Andrew Turnbull, a Scot, had recruited 200
Greeks, 110 Italians and 1190 Minorcans to homestead his royal land
grant of 101,000 acres. He named the colony "New Smyrna." Shortages,
mosquitoes and disease led to the failure of that colony ten years
later. Turnbull had even started his "palace" on yet another shell
mound but only got as far as the "coquina" block foundation.
"Coquina", composed of millions of fused together tiny shells was
the Florida coastal building material of choice in those days. You
can still see the foundation at the corner of Julia and North
Riverside Drive today.
The Spanish regained control by swapping the Bahamas for Florida in
1783 and then sold it to the new United States in 1819. Depredations
of the wars of 1812 and Seminole in 1835 destroyed whatever was
developed. An "elegant" hotel built on the original Turnbull
foundation was shelled to oblivion by Union sailors. After the Civil
War the hotelier Sheldon rebuilt his hotel which served as the local
"shopping center" until 1896. Throughout the 1800's military
necessity caused the building of several roads; one from St.
Augustine to the New Smyrna stone wharf and later two from Forth
Mellon on Lake Monroe. With the Civil War behind them railroad and
steamboat transportation spurred development.
As early as 1835 settler Kemble, Depeyster and Cruger from New York
built a sugar mill to process the cane of nearby plantations. The
mill ruins are preserved for viewing today just off Route 44 and Old
Mission Road. In March of 1887 the Blue Spring, Orange City and
Atlantic Railroad reached New Smyrna and steady growth began in
1892. A wooden bridge connected the peninsula with the mainland and
it became a regular vacation spot for Orlando, Deland and Enterprise
families. Between 1900 and 1920 the town grew 400% with 4 churches
and many businesses. It was incorporated as a city in 1903.
The 20's were rough on the local orange groves and after the stock
market crash of 1929 almost 1/4 of all Floridians were on relief.
The war years with limited travel gave way to unprecedented
development both in small beachside developments and high rise
towers. New Smyrna's more quiet family approach was an alternative
to Daytona's glitter and crowds.
Turtle Mound and the southern end of A1A became part of the
Canaveral National Seashore Park and New Smyrna's downtown underwent
tasteful renewal. A soaring south causeway bridge and a higher north
causeway "draw" all but eliminated the beach traffic bottlenecks.
Tight control of beach traffic and protection of nesting sea turtles
helps maintain the naturalness of the beautiful beach. Along A1A,
Route 44 West and U.S.1, shopping centers serve about every
commercial need and New Smyrna's many festivals, galleries and
theater serve the spirit.
Atlantic Center for the Arts, located just north of the municipal
airport, is a resident community for all discipline with meeting and
gallery space and in a pristine setting. Bert Fish Medical Center,
recently expanded, is surrounded by medical offices and clinics of
every description. Marinas along the north causeway and downtown,
park and boat ramp access to the river and scores of fine dining
spots make New Smyrna a prime destination.
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