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USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Jungle Trail Indian River County, Florida Page 10 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section 8 Page 4 (Narrative Summary of Significance, Continued) History of the Jungle Trail The St. Lucie County Commission declared, in 1920, that a public road be built on the barrier island, from the Vero Beach Bridge to the Brevard County line(the boundary between Township 30 S and 31 S). It was hoped that the road would encourage additional settlement on the barrier island, which had a population of only 126 in 1919 (Johnston 2000:47). The proposed road was to connect and improve the series of footpaths, trackways, and trails that already were being used by settlers. When completed, the road would be 14 miles long. Only one bridge was under construction, at Vero Beach, when this new pubic road was planned, but the Quay Bridge Taxing District (1922-1924)and the Wabasso Taxing District(1927-1928)were soon formed to raise funds for additional bridges. The entries in the transcripts of the St. Lucie County Commission for April 6, 1920, provide the following description of the south end of the proposed road: Beginning at the south end of the Orchid and Narrows road running southeast 592 feet to the division line between the McDonald and Dannell land, thence east 2088 feet to the south east corner of the McDonald land, then due South between the Dannell and Asher land to the Indian River 1508 feet corner with J.J.P. Hamilton, then along the river to D.G. Mathis N.W. corner, then along the Indian River to the south west corner of Government Lot No. 8 Sec. 36, Tp. 31 east to a cabbage tree in front of the Ed. Walker house, thence south 45 degrees east to the south corner of lot No. 8 Sec. 18, Tp. 32 R. 40 E., then %Z mile south on %section line, then E. 900 feet, then 18 degrees E. of south to Public Schoolhouse, then same direction to a point along beach 4375 feet to Palm Avenue, then West of Palm Avenue, 3450 feet to Indian River Drive, then South on Indian River Drive 450 feet to Live Oak Avenue, then 1000 feet south on Lantana Avenue then West to Bridge. Said road to be 30 feet wide[St. Lucie County Commission 1920:392]. This first entry is interesting since it mentions many of the property owners in the area, along with other features, such as the schoolhouse. The area described runs from the vicinity of Gem Island (where the first post office of the Narrows had been, thus the end of the Orchid to Narrows Road)to the Vero Beach Bridge. A later entry, made in the commission record on November 3, 1920, provides the following description of the north end of the proposed road: Beginning on the township line, dividing township thirty(30)and thirty-one (31)at a post bearing section three (3)and four(4) running south thirteen hundred and twenty(1320)feet, thence meander around east side of Mangrove Swamp to same section line, twenty-six hundred and forty(2640)South, thence South thirteen hundred and twenty(1320) feet to the corner post of section bearing nine (9)and ten (10), thence south '/z mile on the line dividing sections nine (9)and ten (10)thence South four hundred and seventy (470)feet to Indian River, thence in a southeasterly direction on the bank of the Indian River four thousand (4000)feet thence east one thousand (1000)feet, thence south twenty-six hundred and forty(2640)feet, thence east twenty-six hundred and forty(2640)feet, thence south 3960 feet, thence east 3390 feet, to intersect the Orchid-Narrows road. Said road from start to end is five (5)miles. Radii of the curves to be not less then 100 feet [St. Lucie County Commission 1920:4521.