The first steamboats visited Florida on the St. Johns and Apalachicola Rivers in 1829. This scene shows the steamer, Tusksawilla, docked at a turpentine still warehouse along the Ocklawaha River, where the steamer picked up a maximum of 300 barrels per month. In addition to its commercial trade the river steamers also handled the tourist business.

The Tusksawilla carried a distinctive side-name lettering, a polygonal-shaped pilot house, and artistic balusters. The Tusksawilla #145082 was built at Leesburg in 1875, and was to last until 1887, but news of her after 1882 was scarce. In her prime one could almost describe her as being "pretty," and in the matter of details she was superior to many of her competitors on the river.

Pre-steamboat waterborne activity on the Ocklawaha River was largely related to logging and the lumber industry. Trees were cut along the river, bucked into logs which were floated down to the St. Johns and carried by schooner to Jacksonville.

There they were processed at the many sawmills and loaded aboard sailing vessels for destinations along the eastern seaboard and abroad. Cedar was an especially valued lumber, and Cypress was plentiful; both are scarce in that region today.

(Thanks to Mr. Erick Forholt, Dixie Plywood, for information in rendering this oil painting and story.)