Early Life In The Florida Keys

Early Life In The Florida Keys. . Early pioneers built their homes along the island chain's Atlantic edges to take advantage of the ocean breezes. Before the age of pest control and electricity, wind provided a rudimentary means of pest control and worked as a cooling element. Prior to the arrival of Henry Flagler's Over-Sea Railroad, the Florida Keys communities were boat cultures that relied on favorable sailing conditions to connect with the outside world for food staples, ice, mail, and visiting family and friends. The Russell, Pinder, and Parker families, all Bahamians who sailed for the Florida Keys, were the first to make homestead claims on Upper Matecumbe Key, the heart of Islamorada., "Many of the leading merchants own tracts of land on the Keys which are entirely devoted to the culture of pineapples, tomatoes, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, cassava. tapias, beets, carrots, turnips, and various tropical truly; which flourish in abundance. The average shipments of pineapples alone will reach more than $200,000 per annum.", "Key West Column," December 27, 1884, Fort Myers Press, To learn more, open your phones camera feature and hold it over the OR code. Follow the link provided., (captions) , Pineapple production In the Upper Keys , The Parkers of Upper Matecumbe Key