House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar
(Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge) |
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 301 S.E. MacArthur Boulevard near Stuart, Florida |
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| Built | 1876 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000651 |
| Added to NRHP | May 3, 1974 |
The House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar is a very old building on Hutchinson Island, near Stuart, Florida. It's also known as the Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge or the House of Refuge Museum. This building is the oldest one still standing in Martin County.
This special House of Refuge is the last one left of twelve similar stations built along Florida's Atlantic Coast. These stations were created to help shipwrecked sailors. They were run by the United States Life-Saving Service, which later became part of the United States Coast Guard. Built in 1876, the House of Refuge helped people for almost 70 years. Today, it's a museum where you can see old life-saving tools and how the keepers lived around 1904. On May 3, 1974, this historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the U.S..
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What Was a House of Refuge?
The House of Refuge is located at a place called Gilbert's Bar, which is known for its coastal rocks. These rocks are a unique natural feature along the Eastern coast of Florida. This house was one of ten "houses of refuge" ordered by the U.S. government. Their main job was to be safe places for sailors and travelers who got shipwrecked or lost along Florida's lonely east coast. It's the only one of those original ten houses that you can still visit today.
These houses didn't have big rescue teams like the Coast Guard does now. Instead, their keepers and their families would walk along the beach after storms. They would look for anyone who had been shipwrecked. Their goal was to make sure survivors didn't get lost or suffer from hunger and thirst in the wild areas.
Helping Shipwrecked Sailors
The House of Refuge played a big role in helping people. For example, in 1904, it offered shelter to seven survivors from a shipwreck called the Georges Valentine. The keeper at the time, Captain William E. Rea, helped these sailors.
During the same storm, another Spanish ship, the Cosme Calzado, also wrecked nearby. Fifteen out of sixteen men from that ship survived. They joined the Georges Valentine survivors at the House of Refuge. Most of the men eventually went home, but one, Edward Sarkenglov, stayed and became a local fisherman. Captain Rea and his wife lived and worked at the House of Refuge until May 1907.
Becoming a Coast Guard Station
In 1915, the U.S. Life-Saving Service joined with another group to form the modern U.S. Coast Guard. Because of this, the House of Refuge became U.S. Coast Guard Station #207. The keeper, Axel Johansen, and his wife, Kate, continued their work there. His job title changed from "Keeper" to "Surfman #1." Four other men were also stationed at the house.
During World War I, local young people from the Home Guard helped out at the station. Later, during World War II, the building was used as a lookout point. People there watched for enemy submarines along the coast. In 1955, the Historical Society of Martin County helped save the building. It is now recognized as a historic place on the National Register.
Visiting the Museum Today
Today, the House of Refuge is a museum that shows what life was like along the coast around the early 1900s. When you visit, you can explore several areas. These include the boathouse, kitchen, dining room, and a bedroom. There's also a lookout tower that was built during World War II. A newer exhibit shows a timeline of Hutchinson Island, from ancient times to recent hurricanes.
See also
