Near Goldenrod in Seminole County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Gabriella
The small community of Gabriella was located on SR 426 about a mile north of Goldenrod, between Goldenrod and Jamestown. The post office was established on July 31, 1886. Sherman Adams was the first post master. The post office was located west of SR 426, near where the Progress Energy facility building is located now.
In addition to the post office, Gabriella had a general store. An early railroad line was the Osceola & Lake Jesup Railroad, stretching from Oviedo through Gabriella to Winter Park and Orlando. The engineer sometimes would delay his train at Gabriela to let passengers pick oranges and wild flowers that would give nearby Goldenrod its name. A traveler in 1887 described "miles and miles of orange groves." Dubbed "The Dinky Line", all that is left is the small Dinky Line Park on Lake Virginia adjacent to Rollins College campus.
Numerous turpentine stills were operating in Gabriella in the late 1880s, and by the 1890s, Gabriella was hosting a local agricultural fair held in mid February at Mr. F.P. Fair's packing house.
In 1919, Gabriella was also known as the only community to vote against a law (6-2) made by the Seminole County Commission to have livestock penned or fenced.
After a devastating hurricane hit the Lake Okeechobee area in September of 1926, many farm people moved to Gabriella from South Florida to find a safer place to farm. Today the orange groves, turpentine stills and wild flowers are gone and urban development has taken place where the small community once thrived.
Erected by Seminole County Historical Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 31, 1886.
Location. 28° 37.021′ N, 81° 16.219′ W. Marker is near Goldenrod, Florida, in Seminole County. Marker is at the intersection of Aloma Avenue (State Road 426) and Bear Gully Road, on the right when traveling west on Aloma Avenue. Located along the Cross Seminole Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Goldenrod FL 32733, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Jamestown (approx. 2.1 miles away); Hedy Lemarr (approx. 2˝ miles away); Drawdy-Rouse Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away); Banner Dam (approx. 3 miles away); Slavia (approx. 3.1 miles away); Cheney Dam (approx. 3.3 miles away); Michaels Dam (approx. 3.4 miles away); Eastbank (approx. 4 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 568 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.