Gregory Leonard "The History of Palatka"

Gregory Leonard – The History of Palatka – September 30

Bio

Greg Leonard was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and grew up in St. Augustine and Palatka. His family has deep roots in Florida agriculture, with his father and grandfather managing farms for Wetumpka Fruit Company, and his great-grandfather establishing operations in the state in the 1880s.

Influenced by his grandparents and his childhood on their Hastings farm, Leonard developed a lifelong passion for Florida history. He has served on St. Johns County’s Historic Resources Committee, created visual histories of several local communities, and worked with the State of Florida to place historical markers in Palm Valley and Hastings.

He is the author of Hastings – Florida’s Potato Capital (2021) and Palatka (2026), both highlighting the region’s rich history.

Talk Description

Palatka’s location has been important for thousands of years, with Native Americans living there as early as 4,000 years ago—possibly earlier than anywhere else in Florida. By the 1700s, explorers noted an Indian village at the site. Its position on the St. Johns River made it strategically valuable, especially during the Seminole and Civil Wars, when it served as a supply hub.

After 1865, Palatka grew into a prosperous river town during the steamship era, attracting tourists and becoming a major port—the furthest point upriver for ocean-going vessels. It also developed into a key railroad center in East Florida.

Despite challenges in the late 1800s, Palatka remains one of Florida’s most historically rich cities, known as “Florida’s Original River Town.”

To join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81526735966