St. Johns Honors Wetumpka Fruit Co With Historical Marker

Hasting’s agricultural history and importance to the development of St. Johns County and the state of Florida was recognized with the unveiling of the town’s newest historical marker, according to a St. Johns County media release.

Earlier this month, the county and Hastings Main Street held a ceremony for the marker, which was provided by the State of Florida’s Division of Historical Resources. This marker honors the Wetumpka Fruit Company and the impact it had on helping Hastings become the potato capitol of Florida.

According to information on the Main Street Hastings website, the town was established in 1890 as an agricultural community and is today known as the “Potato Capital of Florida.”​

“The history of Hastings, Florida, is interwoven with the legacy of Thomas Horace Hastings, a prominent figure and distant cousin of the renowned industrialist Henry M. Flagler,” according to the Main Street Hastings website

 “This is a great moment in the history of Hastings,” said St. Johns County Commissioner Sarah Arnold in the release. “Today, we celebrate their past as they continue to make progress toward their future.”

Local historian and author Gregory Leonard spearheaded the effort to get this historical marker for his community, according to the release.

“The installation of this Wetumpka Fruit Company historical marker, for me at least, represents one more small step toward full recognition of the important contributions that Hastings has made and still makes to the cultural and economic history of this county,” Leonard said in the release.

The historical marker was unveiled by Commissioner Arnold, Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, Commissioner Clay Murphy, Commissioner Krista Joseph, Hastings Main Street Chair Jena Davis, and Leonard.

The marker is located on the corner of Hastings Boulevard and Leonard Road.