JOHNNY DEBT

An idea developed by a few of us who wanted a casual place to drink, with a view of the water, and to tell stories. These stories are MOSTLY true but probably CAN NOT be verified. It’s just a great place to relax and drink without any worries, mate! The site where "The Wet Whistle" is located was man made, dredged up by the business pioneers and visionaries, to open and build a deep-water port. One of these visionaries was Edwin Binney of the Crayola Crayon fortune who came to Fort Pierce and fell in love with it. Legendary aviator Amelia Earhart, who was married to local publishing fame, G.P. Putnam, also frequented Fort Pierce. In World War ii, our Island was occupied by the Navy for amphibious training. This property was covered with barracks and sailors not allowing any civilians on the island pass the guard house, just under where the bridge sits today. German U Boats patrolled the area constantly sinking merchant ships offshore. One story goes, that some German sailors were captured, and in their pockets were Sunrise Theater ticket stubs. I can’t prove that to be true but it makes for a good story! - Harold Smyth