Lecture on Pioneering Farmer and Fisherman Lancelot Jones
ISLAMORADA, FL – Keys History & Discovery Center Presents…lecture series continues Wednesday, Feb. 9, with Key Limes, Bonefish and Hurricanes: The Lancelot Jones Story by historian Dr. John Nordt. Guests can attend in person or participate virtually. Advanced registration is required.
Dr. Nordt’s presentation centers around Lancelot Jones and his family, who were a part of the pioneer community on Elliott Key and other nearby islands at the northern end of the Florida Keys. Spanning the late 19th into 20th century, the Jones family amassed significant acreage for farming pineapples and Key limes, becoming one of the largest Key lime producers in Florida prior to World War II. In the post-War years, Lancelot gained prominence as a fishing guide, plying the waters of Biscayne Bay with a client list that included three U.S. presidents. Through the lens of this family, we also learn of the history of Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, and Biscayne Bay as well as pioneer life in the Keys from wrecking, agriculture, development, and ultimately the creation of Biscayne National Park.
Tonight, we are pleased to present Dr. John Nordt. Dr. Nordt spent his childhood in the late 50s and early 60s in Islamorada. His parents owned one of the Red Cross houses.
He is an historian, an active member of History Miami, and the Miami International Map Fair, the largest map fair in the world! Dr. Nordt has been a guest speaker on a range of history topics in South Florida throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
Dr. Nordt’s professional life is as a “real” doctor, a board-certified specialist in orthopedic surgery. His practice includes the Keys where he sometimes flies his own plane to Marathon to care for patients.
He was a full-time instructor at the University of Miami and has worked with the Miami Dolphins.
Dr. Nordt’s presentation this evening, “Key Limes, Bonefish and Hurricanes: The Lancelot Jones Story,” showcases decades of remarkable research. Sir Lancelot Jones honed his skills in agriculture, as a fisherman, a guide, and was a respected member of the community. He triumphed over the racial atmosphere of Miami-Dade County and is a person many feel should be held with the same regard as Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler.