HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Native American"The Native American"
On August 12, 1974, Meta Chesser Bolinger presented the City Council with a
painting of a Seminole Indian, which bore a small brass plaque dedicating the
painting to her father Captain Robert Hardee. The painting was to have been
hung in the "new" community center which had it's opening in 1974.
Captain Hardee was born in 1872 and moved with his family to Sebastian in
1889. At the age of 19 he planted the historical oak to which we refer today as
the "Hardee Oak" on Main Street. The tree is listed on the Florida State Historic
register.
Captain Hardee twice served on Sebastian City Council. He also served as
postmaster from 1904 to 1906 when this area went from being a part of Brevard
County to St. Lucie County, and he was one of the Sebastian residents who
represented the area in Tallahassee when Indian River County was formed in
1925.
Meta Chesser was the first daughter of Robert and May Chesser and served as
the first female member of City Council from 1953 to 1955.
The Hardees built a fourteen -room mansion on Main Street close to the Indian
River Lagoon, but it was later destroyed by fire in 1936.
Captain Hardee owned the "Eagle Dock" at the foot of Main Street and was
honored for his love of the Indian River Lagoon by a commemorative plaque at
the foot of Main Street.
From the time City Hall moved into the old elementary school building in 1983,
the oil painting was stored on the dusty second floor of City Hall. When plans
began to unfold to restore the old school building and build a new City Hall, the
City Clerk asked Council's blessing to have the painting restored.
Sebastian River Art Club members Richard Dougherty, Henry Pitt, Shirley
Warwick, Geri Dougherty, and Alice Russell volunteered their time, expertise and
materials to the painting restoration project at the old Chamber of Commerce
Building, use of which was donated by the Chamber. They had almost
completed the restoration when the hurricanes hit our coastline so the painting
was moved back to the old City Hall for safekeeping, and on to safe storage off -
site for completion.
We are happy to present the restored painting aptly named "The Native
American" for display in the , and commend
the members of the Sebastian River Art Club for their dedication in restoring this
piece of Sebastian's history for future generations to enjoy.