History
The island has a rich and varied history. Pottery shards found indicate Native Americans inhabited the island as early as the year 240. Franciscan friars doing missionary work with the Apalachee Indians named the island St. Vincent in 1633. Creeks and Seminole Indians inhabited the island in the 1750’s.
The first individual owner of St. Vincent Island appears to have been Col. Robert J. Floyd, an Apalachicola lawyer. His son, Gabriel Floyd, married Sarah Gorrie, daughter of Dr. John Gorrie. During the Civil War, a small fort called Fort Mallory was built off of Dune Road. In 1868 George Hatch purchased St. Vincent Island at an auction for $3,000. His grave is the only marked burial site on the island and is located west of the cabin shown on the map.
Dr. Raymond V. Pierce purchased the island from Brigadier General Edward P. Alexander. Dr. Pierce spent close to $50,000 developing the island and imported old world game to hunt. The Sambar deer, a 400-600 pound deer native to Southeast Asia, remains on the island to this day. He also raised beef cattle and developed 30 miles of roads/pathways, cottages, barns, dams, and sluice gates for duck ponds.
After Dr. Pierce’s death in 1914 the island was sold in 1925 to Vernon Price-Williams, a Miami land-boom speculator. He then sold the property in 1928 to Big Four Investment Co. The island was sold again in 1932 at public auction back to the Pierce estate. In 1940 the first oyster leases were granted for the bay waters and the first timber was logged off the island via a bridge. The Loomis brothers bought the island in 1948 for $140,000 and continued with the game preserve, introducing zebras, elands, and a variety of exotic birds including peacocks. During the 1960’s St. Vincent Island was logged again.
In 1968, The Nature Conservancy purchased the island for $2.2 million. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service then purchased St. Vincent with Duck Stamp funds. All exotic animals except the Sambar deer were removed at this time.
Pottery shards found on St. Vincent indicate Native Americans inhabited the island at this time.
Franciscan Friars named the island while visiting Apalachee tribes.
Creeks and Seminoles, offshoots of the Creek nation, entered area and inhabited the island.
George Hatch bought the island at an auction for $3,000. Hatch’s grave is the only marked grave on the island.
New owner, Dr. Pierce, spent about $60,000 importing Old World game animals.
Island-grown beef cattle were sold to Apalachicola markets.
First oyster lease granted. Pierce Estate sold first pine saw timber. St. Joe Lumber Company built a temporary bridge to island for timber removal.
Loomis brothers bought island for $140,000 and imported zebras ,elands, black bucks, ring-necked pheasants, Asian jungle fowl, bobwhite quail and semi-wild turkey.
St. Vincent purchased by Nature Conservancy for $2.2 million. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service repaid Conservancy with money from “Duck” Stamp sales. Established as St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.
