Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Howard Homestead/Solana Plat
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, April 19, 2021
1. Howard Homestead/Solana Plat Marker
Frederick William Howard of Kinderhook, New York, first settled near this site in November 1873. After their marriage, Frederick and his wife Anna established residence here in January 1874, along with their two nephews. Frederick hired men and an ox team from Bartow to help clear the land and build a log cabin with a separate log kitchen. By April 1875, Frederick's brother Jarvis, wife Brenda, and their sons joined them to homestead contiguous land, remaining here until returning to New York in August 1877.
The Howard brothers, who were veterans of the Union Army, grew oranges and vegetables while homesteading their lands. Jarvis kept a journal during his residence which is a unique historical record of life in the Charlotte Harbor area in the 1870s. He noted the Seminoles passing in their dugouts on the Peace River, lack of medical care, irregular mail service, lack of regular news, changeable weather, fantastic fishing, local politics, millions of mosquitoes, and he described individual people who lived in the area.
After the arrival of the railroad in Punta Gorda, Frederick successfully proved his homestead claim and recorded
this page online
Erected 2007 by Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1873.
Location. 26° 56.935′ N, 82° 1.509′ W. Marker is in Punta Gorda, Florida, in Charlotte County. Marker is at the intersection of Howard Street and Shore Drive, on the left when traveling north on Howard Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Punta Gorda FL 33950, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Charlotte High School (approx. 1.8 miles away); Charlotte County Courthouse (approx. 1.8 miles away); Punta Gorda Railroad Depot (approx. 1.8 miles away); Hector House Plaza: The Founding of Punta Gorda (approx. 1.9 miles away); Lt. Carl A. Bailey Cemetery (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Punta Gorda Bank (approx. 2 miles away); City of Punta Gorda (approx. 2 miles away); Albert Waller Gilchrist (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Punta Gorda.
Also see . . .
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, April 19, 2021
2. Howard Homestead/Solana Plat Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 27, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 230 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
