Professor Seth H. Bramson, company historian for Florida East Coast Railway and author of Speedway to Sunshine, details the history of Florida's oldest and most famous railway system Saturday, August 24. Bramson will speak at the Blake Library, 2351 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, at 11:00 am for the first presentation. A second talk follows at the Hobe Sound Public Library, 10595 SE Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, at 2:00 pm. Picture displays and models of the railway will be available for viewing.  

  

 

  

The FEC Railway traces its lineage back to December 31, 1885. Under Henry M. Flagler's direction, the Railway founded many of the cities on Florida's east coast including Palm Beach, Hallandale Beach, Miami and others.   

  

Today the high-speed railway operates numerous fast through freight trains between Jacksonville and Miami. It is America's most exciting railroad, one of the most profitable, and the best maintained, run and managed.

  

Bramson is known in Florida as "Mr. FEC" and is the only person in the country to bear the official title of company historian with an American railroad. His book, Speedway to Sunshine, is the official history of the Florida East Coast Railway. Bramson teaches at Barry University, Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University.

  

This presentation, one of several Journey Stories events for adults, is brought to you by a grant received from the Florida Humanities Council, to complement the Museum on Main Street: Journey Stories traveling exhibition presented by the Smithsonian Museum. The exhibit will be on display at the Elisabeth Lahti Library October 19 through November 30. Eighteen months of events exploring Journey Stories themes will take place at Martin County libraries leading up to and immediately following the Smithsonian exhibit.

  

To learn more about the Martin County Library System, pick up a Library Connection at any Martin County library, call 772-221-1403, or visit the website at www.library.martin.fl.us.

  

  

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