On February 14, 2008, Palm Beach County purchased the 230 acre Hatcher/Halperin property, which is located in Jupiter Farms, immediately west of Riverbend Park. The central portion of the property was extensively mined for shell rock in the 1950's and 1960's and effectively destroyed any historic resources that were present, so the remaining historic resources are located along the edges of the property. Even so, these areas are as historically significant as those located in Riverbend Park.
There are several prehistoric Native American sites located along the eastern portion of the Hatcher/Halperin property. These consist of habitation sites, middens and a burial mound. Also located in this area is an old military trail used to transport supplies between Fort Jupiter and Fort Van Sweringen during the Seminole Wars (1838-1855). The road was also used by General Eustis to bring artillery up during the Seminole War battle that tool place at Riverbend Park. The “Old Wire Trail” also crossed the property during the 1860's - 1913. This trail was a telegraph wire path used to connect Indiantown to Jupiter and it might have been the first telegraph route in all of Florida. Along the northern boundary of the property near the present day Indiantown Road is the earlier alignment of the Old Indiantown Grade. This section of road was used between 1915 - 1955 and this same section of road also cuts through the County’s Cypress Creek Natural Area.
Another interesting point of history in North County is Dubois Park. Over six thousand years ago a member of an unknown Native American group broke a pot along the southern shore near the eastern end of what would become known as the Loxahatchee River. This small broken piece of pottery marks the earliest known occupation of Dubois Park. Local historians have written that Jonathan Dickinson, a Quaker merchant, was brought to the site in 1696 after being shipwrecked. It is thought that Native American tribes calling themselves the Jaega were living at the site by then. It is likely the Jeaga that are responsible for Dubois Park’s most unique feature, the 16' tall shell midden that the DuBois Historic home sits on top of.
In 1897, Harry DuBois bought the property and moved a pineapple packing shed to the property to live in while he constructed a larger home on top of the old Native American shell midden. The pineapple shack is still on the property and represents one of the older homes in Palm Beach County. The first DuBois home was a single story building, but in 1903, the home was enlarged and the second story was added. The DuBois family lived on the property, farmed various crops, raised ferns, ran a restaurant and an apiary (a place where bees are kept for honey). The DuBois family charged people to picnic, swim and enjoy the property. Around 1917, the shell midden was reduced by approximately 900 feet long in order to make roads for a new development known as Kelsey City, which is known today as the Town of Lake Park.
Palm Beach County purchased the home and surrounding property in 1971 for park property and the DuBois home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. In 2006, the home was included on Palm Beach County’s Register of Historic Places. The home is currently operated as a museum by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, Inc.
As always, if I can be of assistance in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 355-2201 or by e-mail at kmarcus@pbcgov.com.
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