This scrapbook chronicles the early days of Riomar life. The Rathbone house was a gathering place for social events on the island.
Serendipity plays a part in many a life, perhaps none more so than the lives of the Fitch family of New York City. Our story starts in 1919 when three doctors from Cleveland wanted to find a location in Florida to escape the cold Lake Erie winters. They explored the coast until they came across the small town of Vero.
Forming the East View Development Company, they purchased a large tract of land on a barrier island across the river from the little town. At that time, the barrier island was literally a jungle covered with giant vines, palms and a thick canopy formed by the limbs of live oak trees accented with orchids and draped with swaying Spanish moss.
In no time, the doctors made a plot plan, started construction of a nine-hole golf course and built a “clubhouse” with a kitchen, dining room, recreation room and screened porch. Now, it just so happened that the Cleveland doctors had friends in New York City, and it just so happened that those friends were acquaintances of a gentleman named Winchester Fitch who just so happened to be looking for a winter place in Florida.
True Tails is a series written by Amy Robinson for Vero Beach’s dog lovers. Ask Amy about your dog’s behavior by clicking below.
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