Dr. Holmes

I went looking for Dr. George W. Holmes in a little town named City Point located just north of Cocoa, Florida. It was established shortly after the Civil War.

I had learned that my grandfather, William Phillip Roesch, had broken his leg when he was a young boy, while living in Eau Gallie, located south of Cocoa.  The only way to get word that medical treatment was needed was to tell the steamboat captain to please relay the information up river until it eventually reached Dr. Holmes.

This historic City Point Community Church sits on the beautiful Indian River shoreline. The church was used for Sunday service, town meetings, social gatherings, voting station and a school.  I discovered that not only did Dr. George W Holmes live here, he was also a member of the Board of Trustees that was formed to build this non-denominational church for whites and blacks in 1885.

He was the first physician to practice medicine in Brevard County.  He set  up his practice on the river so that he could quickly sail north or south to take care of his patients.  He charged $2 a call or $1 a mile.