Planning for these monuments began in 1923. News accounts of the time show that Fort Capron received temporary markings as early as 1923, with formal monuments erected in 1925 and 1927.
The article at right was published in the Tampa Tribune on January 17, 1923 and reads:
The January meeting of Cora Stickney Harper Chapter, D.A.R., was held Tuesday afternoon at the home of Mrs. V. G. Anderson, West street, with Mrs. Anderson and Miss Elizabeth N. Chandler as hostesses. Mrs. W. R. Jackson the regent, opened the meeting and took occasion to stress the importance of the proper respect to the flag. Mrs. W. E. Tylander, chairman of the historic spots committee, reported the authentic location of the site of old Fort Capron, at St. Lucie, and that temporary markings had been put up there.
The article below was published in the Palm Beach Post on July 26, 1925. A full text transcription follows the images below. An interesting fact about our chapter is that Mrs. D. T. McCarty (Frances L. Moore McCarty) was the mother of Florida’s 31st governor, Daniel McCarty, and her great-granddaughter is a member of our chapter today!
Many people gathered to the marker of Old Fort Pierce which is near Old Fort to see the unveiling of the monument which had been erected there. The National song “America” was sung after which the Invocation was given by Dr. E. P. Thompson pastor of the First Presbyterian church. This was followed by a speech by Mrs. D. T. McCarty “Aims and Purposes of the Daughters of the American Revolution.” Then came the grand feature of the unveiling of the markers for Old Fort Pierce by Little Miss Eloise Sample and John McCarty.
The “Star Spangled Banner” was played by the Fort Pierce band. Mrs. Edgar Lewis gave an historical sketch of Old Fort Pierce after which a salute volley was given by the firing squad of the American Legion.
Benediction was prounounced by Dr. Frederick Cook the Episcopalian minister. Those present went to the site of Fort Capron which is north of Fort Pierce at St. Lucie at which place a similar program was carried out. W. I Fee, historian of the Fort Pierce Chamber of Commerce, delivered the historical sketch of this fort. Fort Capron was unveiled by Louise Taylor, Betty Thomas, Gracena Taylor and Eddie Kluppelberg which was very beautifully done. The Cora Stickney Harper chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution with the cooperation of the Stephen N. Gladwin post of the American Legion are the ones to whom credit is given for this program.
All article images in the public domain.
