Forgotten Santa Lucia

This is Paul Janensch with a Treasure Coast Essay about the outpost called Santa Lucia.  I didn’t know anything about it until I saw an article in Indian River Magazine.  Had Santa Lucia survived, it would be the second oldest still-occupied European settlement in the continental U.S.  St. Augustine, the oldest, was founded in September 1565.  Santa Lucia was founded two months later, on December 13th, the feast day of Santa Lucia, patron saint of the blind.  It was set up by Spanish soldiers as part of an effort to subdue the Ais native people.  But the Ais overwhelmed Santa Lucia, and the Spanish fled.  Where was it?  Somewhere between Fort Pierce and Jupiter.  No one knows exactly.  But we still can wish Santa Lucia a happy 450th anniversary!  I’m Paul Janensch.