On the shore of Santa Rosa sound in Fort Walton Beach, Florida there exists a remnant of a shell midden mound from early Native American occupation. The Indianola Inn Shell Midden Mound was originally considered to be an ordinary prehistoric shell midden mound from the Woodlands Era.

It has been revealed by archaeological work to have a more modern historical prominence. S.T. Walker reported to the Smithsonian Institution that this area of Northwest Florida has supported a fairly large Native American population. He stated that a large mound was evident at Fort Walton Beach. Two other historic reports relate the use of the shell mound by the Walton Guards as a mount for a cannon during the early years of the Civil War.

In 1885 one of the Walton Guards, John Thomas Brooks, homesteaded the area which included the small shell mound where a cannon used by the Walton Guards had been in place. Until August, 2004 the land was owned by a descendent of the Brooks family.

The site of Indianola on the Water condominium project was named in part due to the existence of the Indianola Inn Hotel which was built in 1912 just behind and almost on the shell mound. Cement steps descended from the hotel entrance down the south slope of the mound to the water's edge. The Walton Guards had buried their cannon before being redeployed to Tennessee. It was located and remounted on the shell mound in front of the hotel.

The Indianola Inn was not in operation nor was it occupied in 1962 when it was destroyed by fire. The cannon was given to the City of Fort Walton Beach in that year. After its removal to the Temple Mound it was identified as a shipboard carronade of the period of the War of 1812.

During archaeological exploration in 1966, a military enlisted men's uniform button was identified as an Artillery Corps button first used around 1814 to 1821. It is likely that many of the Walton Guards had been issued old uniforms along with the old cannon, whatever was available. The time period of the button coincides nicely with that of the cannon.

Due to the unique historical significance of the property where Indianola on the Water is being built, NWEC Development LLC (NWEC) is taking great care to protect the midden mound and preventing further erosion. NWEC has applied for a permit to install a seawall which will prevent further erosion of the property and most specifically the mound and the general area.

In addition to the significance of the midden mound, NWEC employed an archaeological firm to study other parts of the property. These studies were all part of the building permit process.

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