History
It is easy
to understand the naming of Hobe Sound if
viewed in relation to nearby neighboring
communities of Tequesta and Jupiter. It is
also helpful to understand that in the late
1600’s three predominant cultures interacted
in Hobe Sound including Native American
tribes (Jove/Jobe, and Tekestas), Spanish
and British descendants. Hobe Sound has
welcomed visitors since 1696 when a British
ship, in convoy from Jamaica to
Philadelphia, sank north of Jupiter Inlet
close to the shore. Carrying 25 passengers
and crew and it most notable passenger
Jonathan Dickinson, the barkentine (three
masted) ship, named Reformation,
had cargo of sugar, rum, beef, molasses, and
Spanish currency.
The Dickinson party
encountered two groups of Indians, the
inhabitants of the area, during their
unplanned visit. They were greeted by
perhaps the forerunners of the modern
“natives” who now greet visitors whose trips
are planned. The Tekestas (from which
Tequesta got its name) and the Jove Indians,
whose name the Spanish pronounced "Ho-bay"
and who gave Hobe Sound its name, were
helpful to the small Quaker party.
Officially, Hobe (sounds like Robe) Sound
got its original identity by 1699 according
to the Florida WPA Guide.
Parts of Hobe Sound were
included in the 12,000 acres of the Gomez
grant given by Spain to Don Eusebio in 1815.
In 1821, Gomez sold 8,000 acres, including
Jupiter Island, to Joseph Delespine, for $1
per acre.
Shortly after
the turn of the 20th century, Henry Flagler built his railroad along
the east coast of Florida passing through Hobe Sound. This gradually created
many opportunities including jobs, the birth of tourism, and other related
industries.
During the land boom of
the 1920’s elaborate plans were announced
for Hobe Sound by the Olympia Improvement
Corporation. Their goal was to create a
town, in Greek style, where motion pictures
could be produced. Street names bore the
Greek theme with names such as Zeus, Saturn,
Mercury, Mars, Olympus, Plutus and Athena.
For a brief time Hobe Sound was renamed
‘Picture City’ and plans were presented for
a movie picture production center. The boom
collapsed after a devastating hurricane in
1928 and the original name was restored.
Street names remained, however, as did the
cement streetlights along Dixie Highway.
In 1924, the building
which soon would become the new schoolhouse
in Hobe Sound was constructed. The Martin
County Board of Public Instruction secured
the use of the new school building from
the Picture City Corporation in 1925, and in
October of that year, the Olympia School opened.
The school was designated the “Picture City
School” of Martin County. It remained in use
as a school until 1962. There is a local
interest in restoring the school, now known
as the Apollo School.
Other mementos of the
past are gone, including the ice plant,
which was south of Bridge Road, and the old
train station, which now, refurbished and
relocated west of Hobe Sound, serves as an
office building for Becker Groves.
Hobe Sound is positioned
at the southern end of
environmentally-sensitive Martin (named
after Governor Martin) County. It has been
stated that at Hobe Sound’s front door lies
the Gold Coast and that at her back door
lies the Treasure Coast. Thus, Hobe Sound
can lend to both while retaining its proud
heritage and unique personality. Hobe
Sound’s proximity to the coast affords
immediate access to the Atlantic Ocean and
the deep-channeled Intracoastal Waterway, a
1,200-mile water route that provides a
sheltered passage for boats along the
eastern seaboard.
Hobe Sound, in Martin
County, has been tossed about not unlike the
ship that discovered her, with its waterway
and lands, and that once belonged to:
St. John’s County
1821-1824
Mosquito County
1824-1844
St. Lucie County
1844-1855
Brevard County
1855-1866
Dade County
1866-1909
Palm Beach County
1909-1924
Despite 7 county
identities in Hobe Sound’s history, Martin
County is now indeed graced with pride as
Hobe Sound is a Jewel in any
treasure or gold coast.
Sources: Shipwrecks in
Florida Waters, Robert F. Marx; Places in
the Sun, Bertha E. Bloodworth and Alton C.
Morris.
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