The Melbourne Beach Pier has seen its share of wear and tear, but when Hurricane Matthew blew through in 2016, the unofficial gateway to Melbourne Beach had to be closed.
But only temporarily.
After two years and $73,000 in FEMA reimbursements and capital projects, along with a $30,000 grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND), the town officially reopened the historic landmark pier on Oct. 17 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Over two dozen people were in attendance including town commissioners, the contractor, David Jacobs from Land and Sea Marine, and FIND Commissioner Jerry Sansom.
“The Melbourne Beach Pier is an important part of the county’s economic history and an artifact of the importance of the waterways in the early development of the state of Florida,” Sansom said. “The town is to be commended for maintaining this historic structure. FIND is pleased to partner with the town in this effort.”
Also on hand at the event was local historian Bruce Morgan, a resident of Melbourne Beach since his family moved to the area in 1969.
At 15 years old, Morgan surfed the local waters, later becoming an ocean lifeguard. He recently retired from 25 years as a county mailman and now enjoys volunteering for the town as part of the Environmental Advisory Board and the History Board.
“Today the pier looks even better than when it was first built, 130 years ago,” Morgan said. “The structure is made completely from wood, with no use of modern composites, so it is remarkably similar to the original.”
One difference, he said, is that the two finger piers on the north and south sides were at one time much larger than they are today.
“This was necessary to accommodate the many boats which used to dock at the pier,” Morgan said. “Over time, only the side railings have been added. And of course, the railroad tracks no longer run out along its length, as automobiles have replaced the rail cart that used to carry passengers along Ocean Avenue to the beach.”
Built in 1888-1889 and situated at the west end of Ocean Avenue, the pier was originally the only way to reach the barrier island area. It was used for docking by both passenger and freight ships. A ferry delivered mail to residents three times a week and it cost 25 cents for a round-trip ticket to Melbourne. Through the years, various improvements and refurbishments have been made to the pier. The recent work included repairs to the steel-roof pavilion, decking and the finger/loading piers.
“Over the past century there have been several periods of temporary closures of the pier due to storm damage, most notably after a hurricane in the 1930s, when funds for repairs were nonexistent,” Morgan said. “It has been preserved as an icon not just for Melbourne Beach, but for all of South Brevard County, to remind us of our history and the pioneers who struggled to create our communities which we so enjoy today.”
Designated as a historical structure by the State of Florida, it was important to the town that the original footprint of the structure be maintained. The pier is part of the Melbourne Beach Historical Trail and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
“For 35 years after its construction, until the Melbourne bridge was built, the only way for people to access the beaches from the mainland was to boat across the Indian River Lagoon to the Melbourne Beach Pier,” Morgan said. “Although today boating is not the practical necessity it was in years past, the pier is still popular for fishing and sightseeing, especially when residents have guests visiting from out of town.”
As the contractor on the project, David Jacobs, president and CEO of Land and Sea Marine, Inc., said they had originally completed the first phase of restoration to the pier approximately six months after Hurricane Matthew hit.
The storm left the northwest corner of the platform and roof severely damaged, along with the north and south “T” piers. “We had to install new pilings on the northwest corner, return the roof to its original orientation and rebuild the northwest corner of the main platform,” Jacobs said. “We also rebuilt both ‘T’ piers in their entirety, and then we installed new decking on the entire western portion of the structure, from the ‘T’ piers west.”
Phase two of the restoration was completed about three months ago and consisted of all new decking and handrails on the remaining 500 feet of the eastern portion of the pier. “I’m also pleased to say that the work that we performed on the pier in the aftermath of hurricane Matthew survived very successfully in the aftermath of hurricane Irma,” Jacobs said. “This work gave the pier a much newer and fresher appearance, as well as added safety from decaying material, splinters caused by the decaying material, etc., and added to the serviceable lifespan of the overall structure.”
Jacobs said he feels honored his company was selected to complete the work.
“Being a native of Indialantic and having played on the Melbourne Beach pier as a boy, it had a special meaning to return as a construction professional to restore this structure with such a valuable history, as well as the vivid memories I have of it as a boy that came back to life during the process,” Jacobs said. “I have vintage photographs of the pier that hang on the wall of my office and knowing that I’ve played an important role in maintaining the integrity and character of it is very humbling.”
To learn more about the Melbourne Beach Pier and other local history, visit the Old Town Hall History Center, open Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm, at 2373 Oak Street in Melbourne Beach.
