Graves Loft - Port Saint Lucie, Florida - Member:
After a 67-year hiatus, the Graves Loft is reopening in Port Saint Lucie, FL. Norman Graves flew the best strain of racing pigeons in Florida until his death in 1941. I decided to investigate Grandfathers love for racing pigeons. I soon discovered that it was fascinating and this New Graves Loft is the result. To begin such an enterprise at my current senior status, I decided to shorten the learning curve considerably by finding the right advisor and source of very high quality racing stock. Fortunately, a top-level breeder and racer has been kind enough to put up with all the BS that comes with helping me. In loft design, bird selection, and 100 or so telephone calls; he has been instrumental in bringing Graves Loft to its current high state.
Namesake / Founder
Norman Wesley Graves
1880 1941
My Grandfather was the original Snowbird in the 1900s. He came down to Miami every winter to escape the cold frigid North. Soon moving to Miami from Philadelphia, he was a successful grocer and horseracing aficionado. He was the next-door neighbor to and associated with Alfonso Capone, a Chicago businessman. At the time of his death, he was Chairman of the Gables Racing Association and President of Tropical Park, Miamis premier Horse Racing Track.
His later years were spent with his Racing Pigeons and Loft. My mother told me that it was his favorite hiding place. He was a breeder as well as racer and had a terrific strain of pigeons named after him. Upon his death in 1941, all of his Graves Strain was drafted by the U.S. Army for the war effort in Europe.
New Aviary Adds to Loft Capability
Last year we started with 35 Youngsters from NC. 1 flew away, 2 hit wires, and 6 were victims of The Hawk. We started racing with 26. The Smash took 7, Julia enticed Gonzo to fly off to seek their fortune elsewhere, leaving our current 17 yearlings. This coming Yb race season (Sept-Nov09) we want to start with 60 youngsters so we can enter full teams (40 birds) into every race. The current loft areas are being used for Breeding, Old Bird Cocks and Old Bird Hens in widowhood. Therefore, we decided that Florida was the best place to handle 60 youngsters in an outdoor environment. Zoning wont allow any larger out building on the property, so we attached a Big Cage to the existing structure.
The Yb teams will have to be transferred to the racing section of the loft when races start in September. The new aviary was built strong to defend against hawk attacks and secure (double access doors) to keep me from letting one out by accident. And finally, it was of course, designed and built by John neighbor/carpenter and sponsor of last years #1 Bird Sankasqueen !
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Joseph Mims
2016 SE Bisbee Street
Port Saint Lucie
Florida, 34952
Home: 772-335-0799
E-mail: mikemims1@bellsouth.net
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