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S. B. PROCLAMATION HONORING THE CITY OF FELLSMERE ON ITS <br /> NINETIETH BIRTHDAY <br /> The Chairman presented the following Proclamation to Mayor Bob Baker : <br /> i <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> HONORING THE CITY OF FELLSMERE <br /> ON ITS <br /> NINETIETH BIRTHDAY <br /> WHEREAS, the story of Fellsmere is a dramatic account of floods, land "booms" and <br /> land "busts". Named for E. Nelson Fell, Fellsmere was first incorporated in 1911 , and was in the <br /> farthest corner of St. Lucie County and isolated from the communities along the coast, except for a <br /> narrow gauge railroad and rough dirt road to Sebastian; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Fellsmere Farms Land Development Company promoted the area's rich soils <br /> and natural resources and took from the marshland to give to the farmer, and <br /> WHEREAS, by 1915, Fellsmere had a street of commercial shops with two hotels a blacksmith <br /> and a newspaper, as well as a doctor, dentist, lawyer and architect. There were several building <br /> contractors and an electric company with a connecting ice plant and cement factory; and <br /> WHEREAS , Fellsmere also boasted the fact that women could vote , a first in Florida and the <br /> South. The Marian Fell Library was the first library in what was later to become Indian River County, <br /> and the "Prairie-style" architecture of the Fellsmere School was unique and totally American in design; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, in 1915, a disastrous flood resulting in the destruction of much of the Fellsmere <br /> Farms lands , with many of the farmers giving up their lands and leaving. Overwhelmed by torrential <br /> rains and , later, the great depression , Fellsmere struggled until the sugar cane fields brought <br /> Prosperity; and <br /> WHEREAS, these cane fields are gone now, replaced with citrus and winter vegetables , but the <br /> soils are still rich and the natural resources of the marshes still remain. <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY <br /> COMMISSIONERS, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA that the Board extends heartfelt <br /> congratulations and best wishes to the City of Fellsmere for a Very Happy Ninetieth Birthday <br /> Celebration, with many more to come. <br /> Adopted this 20th day of February, 2001 , <br /> BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br /> INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA <br /> '� h <br /> Caroline D. Ginn, Chairma <br /> FEBRUARY 20 , 2001 �7 189 <br /> -4 - <br />