The Benecke Family Garden

The Benecke Family Garden. Garden #14. Originally from Germany, Henry and Carolina met in New York. Henry traveled to Merritt Island with a friend in the early 1890's and cleared enough land to receive his Homestead Certificate in 1895. Henry built a small sailboat for living quarters and transportation and hacked through dense foliage, building a primitive home in the area known as "Happy Creek." Henry and Carolina taught their six children how to live off the land, make their own guns, fishing boats and sails. They taught their children how to play the piano, violin, and dulcimer, eventually having a studio grand piano barged from Jacksonville to the homestead. A hunting and fishing guide, Henry taught his children the same skills. His son Herman continued that tradition with his two sons, Herman Ray and Carroll June who operated the Happy Creek Hunting and Fishing Lodge. Lillie was a hunting and fishing guide and wrote stories of her experiences that were published under the name of "Uncle Dudley," to hide the fact that she was a 16 year old girl. Lena caught alligators that she sold to tourists, earning her the name "Alligator Lena." Anna worked as a seamstress in a dress shop in Titusville and Laura crocheted and tatted. The youngest daughter Rose loved to swim and play with her homemade dolls.