Titusville in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Happy Creek Garden
Garden #1
— in honor of Herman Ray & Carroll June Benecke —
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, April 9, 2022
1. The Happy Creek Garden Marker
Inscription.
The Happy Creek Garden. Garden #1. Originally named by pirates who distilled rum on its shores, "Happy Creek" was a nearby inlet on North Merritt Island and home to Henry and Carolina Benecke who settled there in the early 1890's and raised six children. Henry was a hunting and fishing guide who made his own fishing nets, boats and guns. This tradition was carried on by his son Herman who taught his three sons. Herman Ray was born in 1919, graduated from Titusville High School in 1938, and was a veteran of world war two and Purple Cross recipient. Carroll June was born in 1927, and was running back and a star player for the Titusville High School football team, graduating in 1947. Ray and June established "Happy Creek Hunting and Fishing Lodge" in the mid 1940's on North Merritt Island with fully equipped rental cabins. They hand constructed their own nets and fishing boats, provided hunting and fishing guide services, and fished the Indian River Lagoon Estuary. In the early 1960's Happy Creek was included in NASA's land acquisition for development of Kennedy Space Center, and in 1961 the families closed the "camp" and moved off the island and settled in south Titusville. Ray and June continued to commercially fish the Indian River together until Ray retired in the early 1980's and June in 1995.
Originally named by pirates who distilled rum on its shores, "Happy Creek" was a nearby inlet on North Merritt Island and home to Henry & Carolina Benecke who settled there in the early 1890's and raised six children. Henry was a hunting and fishing guide who made his own fishing nets, boats and guns. This tradition was carried on by his son Herman who taught his three sons. Herman Ray was born in 1919, graduated from Titusville High School in 1938, and was a veteran of WWII and Purple Cross recipient. Carroll June was born in 1927, and was running back and a star player for the Titusville High School football team, graduating in 1947. Ray and June established "Happy Creek Hunting & Fishing Lodge" in the mid 1940's on North Merritt Island with fully equipped rental cabins. They hand constructed their own nets and fishing boats, provided hunting and fishing guide services, and fished the Indian River Lagoon Estuary. In the early 1960's Happy Creek was included in NASA's land acquisition for development of Kennedy Space Center, and in 1961 the families closed the "camp" and moved off the island and settled in south Titusville. Ray and June continued to commercially fish the Indian River together until Ray retired in the early 1980's and June in 1995.
Location. 28° 36.642′ N, 80° 48.476′ W. Marker is in Titusville, Florida, in Brevard County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of South Washington Ave. (U.S. 1) and Pine Street. Marker located within the Pritchard House Gardens. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 424 S Washington Ave, Titusville FL 32796, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regarding The Happy Creek Garden. These family history gardens were sponsored by descendants of early families that settled in
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, April 9, 2022
2. The Happy Creek Garden Marker
Titusville and North Brevard County. The plaques record family histories and stories of the development of the local area.
Also see . . . Family History Gardens. (Submitted on April 20, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 20, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 20, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
