09/28/2026
Before there were cars, there were trains, and before there were trains, there were steamboats, and that's why Solary's Wharf existed and why Oviedo is located near Lake Jessup. Goods used to be moved by water, and the lakes connected to the St. Johns River were how agricultural crops were moved on liquid roads made by nature from where they were grown to the ocean, so they could be shipped to bigger markets up north.
These markers are a labor of love, and we're so grateful for the research and writing efforts of Deb Jepson (in coral), who meticulously documented every phrase of every sentence on this marker. Thanks also to TOPP President Bob Putnam for dressing up as Antonio Solary so we could interact with him at the unveiling. Volunteer Executive Director Megan Sladek's role in this was helping the marker navigate the red tape with the Florida Historical Commission so this little nugget of history could be included in the state's list, which it uses to promote historic tourism.
As a nonprofit, we're excited to be able to give this gift of history at no cost to taxpayers. The Oviedo Preservation Project fundraised the money needed for this marker on its own and we're glad to partner with the City of Oviedo to have it housed in Solary Park where lots of people will come across it and get to learn about the origins of the park's name.
PS - this marker is near the new art installation, Wings of Joy. If you've never visited either, now you have two reasons to visit Solary Park!
