The New Smyrna Odyssey

When I was told that there was some Greek history in New Smyrna I was sure that information was wrong because the Greeks came and settled in the Tarpon Springs area.  However, I learned that from 1768 - 1777, Greeks were among the first immigrants to New Smyrna. The Greek community built a beautiful memorial here to their Greek ancestors.

On the inside walls of this structure the history is written for all to read.  It was compiled by T.C. Wilder, Jo Anne Sikes and Gary Luther.

It is a story of hardship , endurance and survival.  After Spain gave Florida to the British in 1763, the British offered large land grants to encourage colonization. One group of religious colonists was composed of different nationalities but all wanted freedom and a better life. This became the largest British attempt at colonization of the New World. The city got its name from one of the three organizers of the land grants, Dr. Andrew Turnbull, as his Greek wife was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor.

There were 1,403 colonists who pledge up to 10 yrs of labor for the passage & land in the New World. The voyage took 3 months and 148 died aboard ship. When they arrived they found provisions for only 500 of the 1,255 who survived the trip. Food had to be rationed......they began the hard labor of building huts, digging wells and creating miles of irrigation canals in swamp land. Death was a daily part of this life...450 died in the first year!

Knowing they had been deceived, the Greek and Italian colonists rebelled and once this was subdued there was a trial. Three of the leaders were found guilty and two were hung by the third man who was granted a pardon to be the executioner! Only the religious faith of the colonists allowed them to endure and survive.

In April of 1777, a group of 90 colonists walked from New Smyrna to St. Augustine to see the Governor about the cruelty, bad treatment and murder by overseers. They were freed from their labor pledge and soon 600 more deserted to St. Augustine.

These men eventually became merchants, farmers and fishermen. The New Smyrna colony failed but the colonists SURVIVED!

Right in front of our dock is a large lovely park.

A wooden playground in the park that accommodates many children all at once.

 New Smyrna was having a Downtown Music Festival this weekend. This street band had a crowd around them.

I have never heard so many sounds come out of a steel drum....the man was singing “Lean on me” and no one could sit or stand still...he was good!

What a pretty voice this lady had as she sang some folk songs.

This was one of the best Jazz singers I have ever heard.

There were also lots of outdoor cafes.

Walter and I walked over the bridge we had come under yesterday...Our intention was finding a grocery store that was suppose to be just 1.4 miles away...but it had been moved another half mile away!  We got some wonderful views from the bridge. Our dock, Miss gg and park.

This is that wooden playground from above.

Walking along Riverside Dr. which goes along the ICW I found these interesting houses. This is the side of a three story house I liked.

I couldn't count all the windows in this house.

I love wrap around porches....took two photos for me to capture the porch.

We have rocked quite a bit here at this dock and the tide is huge....bringing our fenders nearly above the dock. The Captain checked on them a lot last night.  So we will be moving on tomorrow. The weather has been wonderful, high 60s & perfect for the First mate.... however, I suspect the Captain wants it a bit warmer........not too late to turn south, right?