VERO BEACH — Friends and relatives of the Kennedy family, who helped firmly plant Indian River County’s world-renowned citrus on the map, braved torrential downpours Saturday night to attend the 14th Annual Pioneer Dinner at the historic Heritage Center.
Attendees quite literally poured into the landmark building for the yearly celebration, which recognizes the profound influence of Indian River County’s earliest residents.
As intermarriages between the early families were numerous, multiple generations of the blended Kennedy clan, along with past recipients, next year’s honorees, and lots of old-time Vero friends, were all on hand to reminisce about the good old days.
“Our family has a bunch of kids so it’s going to be a zoo,” laughed Sue Holbrook, a grandchild of pioneer John Alexander Kennedy, and wife of pharmacist Ed Holbrook.
Her daughter Rebecca Holbrook Loar, an operatically trained vocalist, started the evening off by harkening back to the Heritage Center’s historic war years, performing several beautiful renditions of songs from that era.
As the Kennedy family is best recognized for its contributions to the citrus industry, Sue Holbrook and her brother Ken Kennedy spoke primarily of the early history of Kennedy Groves.
“We’re here to honor those who brought us to the here and now,” said Ken Kennedy.
John Alexander Kennedy moved to the area in 1909 from outside Gainesville, where his family had owned groves since the 1840’s, relocating to become the Gifford station manager for the Florida East Coast Railway.
He planted a grapefruit grove on a 40 acre parcel in the area of today’s Indian River Boulevard and 45th Street, and the family business would eventually expand to include more than 5,000 acres of citrus.
In 1912 he married Carrie Chesser and they had what was described as a “busy and boisterous” family of six children. Carrie was niece to Frank Ayers, who moved here around 1895 and is credited with unearthing the bones known as Vero Man.
Tragedy struck in the midst of the depression with Kennedy’s death in 1929 and oldest son Tom became the man of the house. Carrie’s parents and several siblings moved to Wabasso, with “Grandpa Chesser” becoming “an important father figure and a notoriously horrible driver.”
Uncle Frank Ayers along with the Kennedy brothers – Tom and wife Clyde Hamrick, and Purnell and wife Nannie Lou Reed – teamed up for the Ayers and Kennedy Fruit Market; precursor to Kennedy Groves.
With the entire family pitching in to help the business grow, even a 1966 fire that gutted their facility at the height of the holiday order season was no match for their tenacity. They simply operated out of the parking lot while an enhanced building was erected behind them. The business continues to thrive today, with T.P. (Thomas Purnell) Kennedy at its helm.
Ken Kennedy remarked that for the next generations, “Indian River County will always be part of their heritage.”
At the end of the evening, Heritage Center board president Elizabeth Graves Bass announced the 2014 Pioneer Dinner will honor the Wodtke family.
Previous Pioneer Dinner honorees have included the Sexton, Schumann, Michael, MacWilliam, Graves, Helseth, Vocelle, Zeuch, Cox, Gifford, Holman, Carter, Schlitt, Loy and Guy families.
Proceeds from the event assist in the conservation and preservation of the Heritage Center and the adjacent Indian River Citrus Museum. Built in 1935, the Heritage Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to be a vital link to the history of the community.
