Cedar Key and Fernandina Pirates Reconnect on Dock Street

When the first engine of David Levy Yulee`s Florida Rail Road clambered onto Dock Street on March 16th 1861, the east coast town of Fernandina and Cedar Key were connected. It was no longer necessary for goods to transit around the peninsula of Florida to reach a railhead to be transported to major cities of the northeast. Today, the towns of Fernandina and Cedar Key still retain a strong bond.

Over three years ago a group of friends got together in Cedar Key and formed a charitable and social group they called the Cedar Key Pirates in Paradise. One of the first groups we reached out to was the Fernandina Beach Pirates Club. We asked them how they conducted their meetings, chose their members, handled their finances and gave away their money. The Fernandina pirates were very forthcoming with their advice and information and a new connection was established.

When the Cedar Key pirates began talking about the Cedar Key Pirate Invasion Weekend, we went to our friends in Fernandina and asked for help. The Cedar Key pirates shot up a flare and the Fernandina Beach Pirate Club answered with enormous support. When we needed fully festooned pirates for publicity photos, the Fernandina pirates traveled the 155 miles to Cedar Key. One of their first stops was take a photo near the spot where the first train ended its journey 152 years ago.

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