VERO BEACH — The 11th annual Pioneer Family Dinner, this year honoring the Carter family, will be held on Saturday, May 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center. Each year Vero Heritage, Inc. honors a family who has contributed to the growth and progress of Indian River County. Tickets to the dinner are $45 per person.
In the early 1900’s, R.D. Carter came to our area as one of the engineers tasked with surveying property for the Indian River Farms Company of Davenport, Iowa. He drove the first stake into the ground for the future town of Vero, surveyed McAnsh Park, helped to build the Wabasso Bridge and surveyed and designed what is now State Road 60. His son, Egerton, and grandson, Marvin, followed in the engineering tradition and the firm of Carter Associates continues today. R.D.’s granddaughter, the late Millie Carter Bunnell, led the charge to save the landmark building now known as the Heritage Center when the City of Vero Beach planned to demolish the building in 1991. She was a leading proponent of historic preservation in the community.
The Sexton, Schumann, Michael, MacWilliam, Graves, Helseth, Vocelle, Zeuch, Cox/Gifford, and Holman families have been honored at previous dinners.
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Heritage Center, a building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Reservations: Call 772-770-2263 or e-mail veroheritage@bellsouth.net