07/31/2026
The Mystery of Lars Jorgensen – The Man Who Built Grant’s Historic General Store
Last evening I had an interesting customer that shared some local lore, that sparked my interest to search archives (thanks Google) researching the fascinating history of the building that is now Rib City at Grant Station.
Many people know it as one of the oldest commercial buildings in South Brevard County, but few know the story of the man who helped make it the heart of the Grant community.
His name was Lars Jorgensen.
Lars was a Danish immigrant who came to Florida and established the Jorgensen General Store in Grant. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the store was much more than a place to buy groceries. It served as the community’s general store, post office, telegraph office, express office, and gathering place. Nearly everyone who lived in Grant passed through its doors.
Then, in 1912, tragedy struck.
Historical records show that Lars Jorgensen was murdered. A man named Charles L. Scott was arrested, tried in Brevard County, and convicted of first-degree murder. The case was later appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, which ordered a new trial because of legal errors involving the jury instructions on Scott’s insanity defense—not because the court declared him innocent. (vLex)
Unfortunately, many details of the crime have been lost over time.
At this point, I have not yet been able to verify:
Exactly how Lars was killed.
The precise location where his body was found. On our rail road tracks.
The motive for the murder.
What ultimately happened to Charles L. Scott after the Supreme Court ordered a new trial.
Those answers may still exist in century-old newspaper articles, court records, or archived documents that have not yet been uncovered.
This research has become a personal project for me because I have the privilege of owning the historic Jorgensen General Store. Every day, customers walk through the same doors that generations of Grant residents once used, and I believe the stories of the people who built this community deserve to be remembered.
I also have a box gifted to my from a family member of Lars that contains old family photographs, business ledgers, deeds, marriage licenses and his postmaster’s certificate.
Over the coming months, I would like to research Lars Jorgensen’s life, his family, the history of the general store, and the mystery surrounding his murder. My hope is to eventually put together a detailed history of the building and the people who made it such an important part of our community.
If you are a longtime Grant resident—or if your family has lived here for generations—and you have old photographs, newspaper clippings, stories, documents, or memories about the Jorgensen General Store or the Jorgensen family, I would love to hear from you.
History belongs to all of us, and together we may be able to preserve a story that has been waiting more than 100 years to be fully told.
