Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Bridges
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, April 10, 2019
1. The Bridges Marker
A parade of Model T automobiles crossed the first bridge to span the Indian River on Labor Day 1920. This made Vero the first community with a bridge to Orchid Island. Made of sabal palm pilings and rough-cut planking, it began on the mainland side from a causeway created from dredged fill, and curved in the middle where the bridge tender's house was located. The bridge tender would open the metal swing span by hand for boat traffic. The tolls varied from $.05 for pedestrians to $.10 for a horse to $.35 for a two-ton delivery truck. In the 1950s, after successful lobbying from Florida State Senator Merrill P. Barber, a new bridge was constructed using an extension of the dredged-fill causeway for its bridgehead. The Merrill P. Barber Bridge was designed in the Mid-Century Modern style, and had a steel bascule span with a booth for the bridge tender. In the 1990s, a new mainland approach was established to the north and the Barber bridge is fixed, and is tall enough that the Atlantic Ocean can be seen clearly to the east. The old causeway and bridgehead became Royal Palm Pointe, a residential and commercial corridor with a city park on the river.
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Erected 2018 by The Indian River County Historical Society, Tourist Development County of Indian River, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1023.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1920.
Location. 27° 39.023′ N, 80° 22.495′ W. Marker is in Vero Beach, Florida, in Indian River County. Marker can be reached from Royal Palm Boulevard, half a mile east of Indian River Boulevard (State Road 60), on the right when traveling east. Marker is located at the end of the road in Royal Palm Pointe Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Royal Palm Boulevard, Vero Beach FL 32960, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Peace Tree (approx. 0.4 miles away); POW★MIA Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); World War I 1917 - 1918 Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lest We Forget (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary (approx. 0.4 miles away); To Those Who Paid The Supreme Sacrifice (approx. 0.4 miles away); Heroes All (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vero Beach.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, April 10, 2019
2. The Bridges Marker with the new bridge in the background
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, April 10, 2019
3. The Bridges Marker
The original bridge passed through this spot on the pointe.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 175 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 30, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
