The Gardner House
This house, which sits today at 414 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce, is called
"The Gardner House" because it was generously donated by the Maurice
Gardner Family. The house had been owned by the family for sixty years,
1925-1985. The house originally sat on Magnolia Avenue (present day U.S.
Highway 1) at Moore's Creek.
The house has been restored with furnishings that were typical of a lower-middle
class family of south Florida in the early 1900's. None of the furnishings
are original to the house. All pieces have been donated by area
residents. The acquisition of furniture is a continuing project.
Almand Augustus Register came to Fort Pierce from White Oak, North Carolina in
1902. With his young wife, Ida Cain he moved for a time to Lemon
City, a pioneer community on the shores of Biscayne Bay. In 1906 he
purchased land from the McCarty family, lots 4,5,&6 of Block N. He
secured a loan for $200.00 from the Bank of Fort Pierce, to purchase
lumber. Construction began in 1907, using 17,178 board feet of lumber for
a cost of $254.07.
Mr. Register was a coopersmith. Along with a partner A.P. Edge, they
produced barrels for fish, shrimp and potatoes. At the time, barrels
wholesaled at 10¢ and brought 69¢ in the retail market. Their factory
was located near the present day site of the St. Lucie County Public Library on
Indian River Drive. A series of hurricanes, a fire and the Great
Depression destroyed the business.
The Registers had five children. Rossie Lee, Alton A., Annie Breen, Robert
M. "Push", and Edgar C. Annie Breen Register was the only child
born in the Gardner House.
Annie Breen Register ~
Fort Pierce High School Class of 1928
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