The Owsley Tidepool
Old Florida
Col. Henry Theodore Titus
&
The Beginnings of Titusville
Titusville's earliest known aboriginal settlement history was established from the Indian burials at Windover, as dating back to 6,000 B.C. This site served as the focal point the novel People of the Lighting by archaeologists Kathleen and W. Michael Gear.
Later The Cape Canaveral seashore was the site of a settlement of Timucuan Indians. The site of this settlement was documented in the papers of the Spanish explorer Alvaro Mexia in 1605.
The establishment of the first U.S. Post Office and trading post in Titusville which was then known as Sand Point took place in 1859. The first store in Sand Point was opened by John Joyner and P E Wagner in 1866 and the first sawmill was established by B. Einig about the same time.
"Then on a balmy day in October 1867, a big man waded ashore at the cape of the mosquito infested Sand Point to found a town which would in time bear his name. At forty-five years of age he had a commanding presence of dark brown eyes, hair, and beard; standing over six feet in height and weighing over two hundred pounds.
Now he was ill, racked with rheumatism and neuritis, soon to be confined to a wheelchair. Confederate Colonel Henry Theodore Titus had left his family in New York and had come to a wilderness where the climate better suited his health with the idea of building a town on land he owned along the Indian River" deeded to his wife from the Florida Provision Company. His wife, Mary Evalina Hopkins, the daughter of General Edward Stephen Hopkins, and five children followed in March of 1869.
During his first decade in residence he planted live oaks along the sandy streets and established the Titus House, well-known gathering place and hotel on Washington Street. He also campaigned to have a canal built that would link the Indian River with the Halifax River to the north.
Col Titus aided rebel forces and offered sanctuary to deserters during the Civil War. Col Titus was often observed surveying his holdings from his wheelchair on the porch of the Titus House (hotel) with a loaded rifle across his lap. He was also quite a story teller as he embellished his military escapades to free Cuba from the Spanish to any one willing to listen.
After the Civil War in 1869 the Post Office was reestablished with John P. Harvey as its postmaster.
By the end of the War the town also featured a a prosperous mercantile and dry goods store, owned by Titus and JW Joyner and also a a stage line and mule transport for hauling both goods and people. In 1870 Andrew Gibson opened a Barber Sop and a seafood restaurant across the street from the Titus House. A second hotel was established by T W Lund of the Jacksonville and Salt Lake Steamers.
Titus, who served as the town's postmaster, won the right to rename the town of Sandpoint after a challenge match of dominoes against Capt. Clark Rice in 1873. Henry and Mary donated the land to build a court house and four churches.
During the late 1870s Titusville continued to grow as the distributing and shipping hub for all points in Southeast Florida.
East Titusville later became known as Joynerville after its prominent busman and saloon owner J.J. Joyner. And 1880 county boundaries were adjusted and Titusville which had been part of Volusia County became part of Brevard County. It now boasted a population of 150 and was designated the county seat.
Col Titus died on August 7, 1881.
St. Gabriel's Church built in 1887 The Old Titusville Playhouse
Titusville in the 1880s became famous for its Indian River Citrus from Dummitt Grove. Also the mid 1880s were marked with the opening of the first bank, the founding of two newspapers, and the prospering fishing Industry.
In 1887 St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church was finished featuring a gabled roof, pointed arched windows with beautiful Victorian stained glass, and tall slender steeple at southeast corner of Palm Avenue.
By 1890 Titusville also included a population of approximately 200 and over twenty businesses including its first bank, Then Indian River State Bank, Titusville Electric Company and an Ice Factory. Other businesses included a notions mercantile owned by a Mr. McKenzie, a drug store operated by John Dixon and a sporting goods store and taxidermy business run by Mr. Scrimgeour. GW Tyler had established a Furniture and Bedding Outlet and fresh baked goods could be obtained from Valine Gailer. Thomas Smith the proprietor of the local boarding house and the second restaurant had been opened by George Warren.
In 1892 the railroad from Jacksonville that ran along the East coast was extended to Titusville.
Then on the eve of 12 December 1895 most of Titusville business district was devastated by arson including the loss of forty-two buildings. And so then began its second chapter and the difficult task of rebuilding.
(from the History of Brevard County by Jerrell Shofner published in 1995, Borders of Paradise edited by Dana Ste. Claire published in 1995, Florida's Past by Gene Burnett published in 1991, Hopes Dreams & Promises by Michael Schene published in 1976, The Episcopal Church In Titusville by Rev Jack B. Horton, published in 1987, and Brevard County, Florida by John Eriksen published in 1995 and the website History - City of Titusville, Florida)
Titusville's
History Through Its Places
