| The Winter Sailor: Francis R. Stebbins on Florida's Indian River, 1878-1888 Contributor(s): Lewis, Carolyn Frances Baker (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0817351299 ISBN-13: 9780817351298 Publisher: Fire Ant Books OUR PRICE: $28.45 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: November 2004 Annotation: "The Winter Sailor is a historical adventure that details the yearly winter travels of Francis R. Stebbins, a writer from Michigan, to Indian River on Florida's east coast. Beginning in March of 1878, Stebbins and his traveling companions made annual pilgrimages to relish its pristine beauty until 1888 when tragedy struck. Being an observant traveler, Stebbins began a series of descriptive articles for his hometown newspaper that chronicled these explorations, detailing his activities, such as hunting and fishing in the teeming lagoons and mangrove hammocks, exploring Cape Canaveral and the Jupiter lighthouses, savoring tropical fruits and the exotic plant life, and excavating ancient Indian mounds. What Stebbins enjoyed most was sailing down the river interviewing townspeople and examining local attractions as he went. His 49 articles describe the lifestyle of the region, its food, fashion, industry, history, environment, and changes that occurred over time, especially to the coastal regions. Unique among 19th-century travelogues, this document of Florida's past is a primary resource for modern scholars as well as a delightful, fasinating glimpse into the Indian River wilderness. "Provides a wonderful record of the shifting of the coastal lands through that time period, as inlets open and close and human land use shifts accordingly and in response to newly developed technologies."--Patricia C. Griffin, author of "Mullet on the Beach: The Minorcans of Florida, 1768-1788 "A counterbalance to the promotional literature that has served as our main source about old Florida. Here is the Florida coast without dredging, docks, marinas, and condos. Yet even in the late 1800s 'old, unspoiled' Florida was changing before Stebbins' eyes."--Susan R. Parker, Florida Division of Historical Resources Carolyn Baker Lewis is an independent scholar who has published several articles on postbellum agriculture and settlement in Florida and South Carolina. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Travel | United States - South - South Atlantic (dc, De, Fl, Ga, Md, Nc, Sc, Va, Wv) - Social Science | Popular Culture - History | United States - State & Local - South (al,ar,fl,ga,ky,la,ms,nc,sc,tn,va,wv) |
| Dewey: 975.927 |
| LCCN: 2004002836 |
| Series: Alabama Fire Ant |
| Physical Information: 0.69" H x 6.48" W x 9.28" (0.95 lbs) 248 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - South Atlantic - Geographic Orientation - Florida - Cultural Region - Southeast U.S. |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: A unique guide to Florida's frontier history along Indian River. The Winter Sailor is a historical adventure that details the yearly winter travels of Francis R. Stebbins to Florida's Indian River. Stebbins, a writer from Michigan, visited Florida in March of 1878 and became entranced by its pristine beauty. Subsequently, Stebbins and his traveling companions made annual visits to Indian River--until 1888 when tragedy struck and ended Stebbins' yearly journeys. Being an observant traveler, Stebbins began a series of descriptive articles for his hometown newspaper that chronicled his journeys to the Indian River area. Stebbins's articles tell of his own personal experiences during his leisurely visits, which included such activities as hunting and fishing, studying the natural surroundings, and excavating Indian mounds. What Stebbins enjoyed most was sailing down the river interviewing townspeople and examining local attractions as he went. His articles also detail the lifestyle of the region, food, fashion, industry, history, environment, and changes that occurred over time. Stebbins's articles not only entertained and informed but also became a travelogue for his readers. He inspired northern travelers to go south and visit Florida, which contributed to the beginnings of large-scale tourism in the region. The Winter Sailor combines Stebbins's 49 articles along with three by his companions, to provide an enjoyable, historical guide. Unique among 19th-century travelogues, this fascinating look into Florida's past documents a decade of change to the Indian River wilderness and becomes Stebbins's gift to the present. |