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Subject: Re: [worldcruising] Demise of the Dragon (was: Lightening Strikes)
truelove39@XXX.XXX
Date: Sun Sep 15 2002 - 12:29:23 EDT
August 5, 2002
The dragon on the southern tip of Merritt Island collapsed into the Indian
River Lagoon, after years of surviving hurricanes, vandalism and erosion. The
35-foot high, 65-foot long dragon named Annie has served as a Brevard County
landmark for children and adults for more than 30 years. The dragon crumbled
sometime last weekend into the point where the Banana River and Indian River
lagoons meet.
Warren McFadden, Dragon Point's owner since 1981, didn't know Annie was gone
until a television reporter knocked on his door and told him.
Annie, named after the first landowner's wife, had seen better days. The
dragon was crafted from 20 tons of concrete and steel by sculptor Lewis
VanDercar in 1971. When McFadden bought the property in 1981, he hired
VanDercar to add a curling tail, elongate the neck and add a caveman,
cavewoman and four hatchlings. They were named Joy, Sunshine, Charity and
Freedom. The dragon once had working electricity to light tables, chairs, and
stairs that led up to the nostrils. Looking out the nostrils, visitors could
watch the sun rise and set.
Parts of Annie now lay on the coquina rock that helped preserve it from
waves. Most of the dragon is in the water.
McFadden mostly blames vandals for the dragon's demise. Its position on the
point made it susceptible to people wielding sledgehammers and spray cans.
"We're in a new world today. I don't know what kick they get out of it,"
McFadden said. "It's very sad the world we live in today." McFadden said he
bought Dragon Point because it is one of the few places in the world like it.
McFadden moved to Brevard from Fort Lauderdale. "You could never replace
that. VanDercar is dead," McFadden said.
Although no one is sure when the dragon succumbed, Satellite Beach resident
Ruth Blow said some people saw it Sunday.
On Independence Day, smoke would come out of the dragon's nose and fire out
of its mouth. "I'm glad I didn't see it fall into the water. I don't think I
could have taken that," Blow said.
from an article in Floridatoday.com
photo at http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryA26057A.htm
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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