10/13/2026
Stuart's First Recorded Automobile Accident — June 1914. An automobile, a ferry, and an unexpected plunge into the St. Lucie River!
Long before traffic lights, busy intersections, and today's highways, automobiles were still a novelty in the little town of Stuart, Florida. Yet, as an article published in The Stuart Times on June 12, 1914, reminds us, automobile accidents were already making headlines!
The newspaper reported an extraordinary mishap involving Mr. C. H. Goldsmith, a traveling salesman from Jacksonville, and his wife, who were preparing to cross the St. Lucie River by ferry on their way to Fort Pierce.
When Mr. Goldsmith's automobile refused to start, he and the ferryman, Mr. Blakeslee, pushed it onto the ferry. Somehow, the engine sprang to life, and the automobile continued moving—straight across the ferry and into the river!
The car plunged into approximately ten feet of water with Mrs. Goldsmith still inside. It disappeared from sight, resurfaced, overturned, and sank again.
Fortunately, Mr. Goldsmith and Mr. Blakeslee rescued Mrs. Goldsmith, bringing her safely to shore. She was thoroughly soaked and taken to the Stuart House, where she received care following the frightening experience.
But the story didn't end there!
Mrs. Goldsmith had lost her handbag containing her wedding ring, silver card case, pocketbook, and other belongings. A reward of $5 was offered, and a local resident, Albert Krueger, recovered the handbag with the help of a bathing suit and a dive into the river.
And what was the newspaper's advice after this extraordinary accident?
The article concluded with a memorable appeal:
“Build a bridge and stop these accidents.”
More than a century ago, Stuart residents were already recognizing the importance of safer transportation infrastructure. What began as a frightening ferry mishap became another reminder of why bridges, roads, and public safety improvements matter.
Today, automobiles and transportation have changed dramatically, but accidents can still happen when we least expect them.
And the bridge? It finally became a reality!
Nearly four years after The Stuart Times called for a bridge following the Goldsmith automobile accident, Stuart celebrated the opening of its first automobile bridge across the St. Lucie River on February 12, 1918.
Known as the Dixie Highway Bridge, it replaced the ferry crossing and helped connect Stuart to the growing network of highways along Florida's East Coast.
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Photographs - Martin Digital History by by the Martin County Library System
Colorized by Olga Hamilton of The 1895 Church of StuArt
