Florida’s Big Dig

The story of the Intracoastal and other thoughts on water, waterways, land, and ecology

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about

I am Bill Crawford. I was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., bisected by the Intracoastal. I graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in commerce, with distinction, concentrating in finance. I obtained my juris doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. I have practiced law for more than 43 years. I am a professional historian and author of the award-winning book, “Florida’s Big Dig,” (2008) the story of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. I have practiced law in Florida since 1975. Along the way, I developed a keen interest in researching and writing history, publishing numerous scholarly journal articles and one award-winning book, “Florida’s Big Dig,” the story of Florida’s Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, using my legal pbackground to understand legal transactions, deeds, wmortgages, bonds, preferred stock, and legal descriptions of land and water. In recent years, I have maintained a limited practice consulting with other professionals on various historical land and water issues, including sovereign, riparian, and submerged land rights, focusing on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and Florida inland waterways. I maintain a broad regular website here at www.floridasbigdig.me and a website solely on how the book was researched as well as some of the major themes explored. The website on the book itself is at www.floridasbigdig.com. The website on contacts for professional services is at www.floridasbigdiglawyer.com?. A fifteen-page outline of my book

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  • Venice of America — Gateway to the Everglades

    The City of Fort Lauderdale lies along the east coast of Florida, bisected by the Intracoastal Waterway running north and south, with the New River running seven miles west to east, terminating at New River Sound running several miles north to south. The New River bisects the City into northern and southern halves. Altogether the…

  • Greg Russell entertains for his 27th year under the old Oak Tree at Hilton Head

    On Memorial Day, local folklore singer-guitarist Greg Russell entertained hundreds of residents and visitors under the old Oak Tree at Lighthouse Marina, Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC. Every year for 27 years, Russell has played his guitar and sung songs to old and young alike. Small children encircling Russell on stage join in…

  • The Steamboat “Saint Lucie”

    The “Steamboat “Saint Lucie” tied up at the Rock Ledge (Rockledge) Landing.

  • From Skull Creek over Calibogue Sound to a Sunset over Daufuskie Island

    This sunset view was taken from Skull Creek at Hilton Head Island over the Calibogue Sound. The Sound is a section of the federally controlled Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The Waterway extends some 1,400 miles from Miami, Florida, to Norfolk, Virginia. Of all the barrier islands protecting the Atlantic coast, the longest is Long Island, New…

  • From Skull Creek over Calibogue Sound to a Sunset over Daufuskie Island

    This sunset view was taken from Skull Creek at Hilton Head Island over the Calibogue Sound. The Sound is a section of the federally controlled Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The Waterway extends some 1,400 miles from Miami, Florida, to Norfolk, Virginia. Of all the barrier islands protecting the Atlantic coast, the longest is Long Island, New…

  • Dipper Dredge at Work in the Intracoastal

    Dipper dredge working between Delray Beach and Boynton Beach ca. 1910 in what was then called the Florida East Coast Canal. Four long steel posts at each of the four corners anchored the dredge to the bottom of the shallow canal. The A-frame allowed a steel bucket to scoop and scrape the bottom and deposit…

  • Sunset at Harbour Town

    Gregg Russell concert for young and old at the Oak Tree, Harbour Town Marina, Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, opening into Calibogue Sound (a section of the Intracoastal Waterway).  Russell has brought his troubadour-style folk singing and story-telling to  Harbour Town for over 25 years, attracting hundreds of residents and tourists, some…

  • The Steamboat “Courtenay”

    The stern-wheeler “Courtenay” traveled up and down various stretches of the Florida East Coast Canal in the 1890s. Henry Flagler traveled aboard a steamer like the “Courtenay” when he made the first trip to Miami just weeks before making the first trip into Miami on his completed Florida East Coast Railway. Flagler was president of…

  • Whiskers Hangin’ Ten…I think.

    Attempting a prison breakout, Whiskers clawed her way to the top. But failed in her mission to escape to the outside. Still, Whiskers had made her way to her first view of the neighborhood. Weeks later, Whiskers finally escaped to the outdoors, sneaking out through an accidentally open front door. She now prefers the luxurious life…

  • Florida Bromeliad

    The Bromeliads are a family of monocot flowering plants comprising 3,170 species and found mainly in the tropical Americas. A pineapple is a bromeliad. By 1900, Florida grew more pineapples than any other place in the world, including Hawaii. By 1910, Hawaii became the number 1 place in the world for pineapple growing. Florida would…