In 1919, Fellsmere, the northernmost town in St. Lucie County, had a population of over 800 people. The county built the first public road to cross the St. Johns River marsh in St. Lucie County, now Indian River County. Promoted as the Fellsmere-Tampa cross state road, it allowed travel between the interior and the coast. From 1919 until the 1940's, it served as an important transportation route from Fellsmere across the river to Kenansville, the sawmill at Holopaw, and the cattle markets of Kissimmee, though it never reached Tampa. During these decades it became a state road, SSR 170, and provided a corridor to Central Florida and recreational access to the St. Johns River marshes. Fellsmere depended on the sportsmen attracted to these resources. In the late 1940's, the bridges across the river burned, and the Fellsmere Grade ended in the marsh six miles from this site. Today the road serves the public as recreational access.