Floridays

David Gibson also grew pineapples in what's now northern Indian River County in the 19th century. Folks took note of his odd apparel, says Pam Cooper, Florida history and genealogy librarian at the Indian River County main library.

Veteran law enforcement officer Jim Mills of Martin County, now retired, remembers trucks loaded with  moonshine made in North Florida that tried to pass through Stuart en route to Miami.

Some people hunted the big birds during the

Depression.

In the early 1920, Dr. Harry Hipson moved back to Jacksonville when he learned that Stuart had electricity only on Wednesday afternoons. He returned to Stuart about a year later, as soon as he was able to plug in his drill. His son, Dr. Dale Hipson, also a dentist, tells the story.

Reporters from all over the country descended on the St. Lucie County courthouse in 1961, when a judge from Palm Beach County stood trial for masterminding the murder of another judge. Stuart lawyer Rick Crary wrote about the case recently for Indian River magazine.