This house is stop #8 on the Zora Neal Hurston Dust Tracks Heritage Trail. AE (Bean) Backus was a friend of author Zora Neal Hurston. He was a self trained artist who painted Florida landscapes. He launched the movement of the Highwaymen who were a group of artists around the Fort Pierce area who quickly created Florida folk art featuring landscapes from oil paints on Uppson board used as roof sheeting. From 1950-1980 they would anonymously sell the art out of the trunks of their cars on A1A and US 1 from Daytona to Miami.
After Backus became established as an artist he was able to purchase the Platt House built by Dr. Platts in 1896 at 122 Avenue C to use as a new art studio. It was close to his former studio so he would not lose clients from the move. He continued creating art here from 1960 until his death from a heart attack in 1990.
Today the original Platts-Backus House has been restored as the headquarters of Main Street Fort Pierce. The street in front of the house was renamed A.E. Backus Avenue in honor of Fort Pierce's famous artist. The house is now used as an art gallery and to host art exhibitions. read more