Davenport Park
Dublin Core
Creator
Title
Davenport Park
Alternative Title
J & S Carousel at Davenport Park
Carousel Park
Contributor
C.W. Parker Company
Date
Date Modified
1927
1987
1992
1994
2019
2024
Type
Davenport Park is a public park with a playground and picnic tables.
The carousel was a carnival ride located in Davenport Park for 25 years.
Description
The date of Davenport Park's creation could not be located. Playground equipment was added in the 1920s. From 1931 until 1939, the St. Augustine Arts Club was located in the Old Waterworks building on the northern edge of the park. In 1987, the Main Branch for the St. Johns County Public Library began operations in a purpose-built building on the west side of the park.
The C.W. Parker Company built the carousel in 1927. A former member of the Ringling Brothers' Circus, Gerald Soules purchased it in 1987 after finding it in a Michigan barn. Until his death in 1992, it was located in a zoo in Indiana.
Gerald Soules left the carousel to his brother, James "Jim" Soules in his will. With help from Carl Theel, the carousel was restored and installed in Davenport Park in 1994. The carousel gained much local significance and proudly maintained a $1 riding fee. Jim Soules also waived the fee for disabled children. It was open from 10am to 9pm every day. On rare occasions, it was closed for repairs or extreme weather. In September 2019, the path of Hurricane Dorian led Jim Soules to decide to close the carousel for more than a day or two. The carousel was scheduled to reopen on September 6, 2019, but Mr. Soules died on the 5th. His final wishes regarding the carousel was for it to come to his hometown of Port Charlotte after his death. His wife donated it to The Shell Factory and Nature Park.
There was great sorrow about the residents of St. Augustine at losing the carousel and the City has looked to replace it, but have as of yet been unsuccessful. The area of the park where the carousel was located remains empty.
In 2024, The Shell Factory and Nature Park closed after 86 years as an attraction in Fort Myers. The fate of the carousel is uncertain.
The C.W. Parker Company built the carousel in 1927. A former member of the Ringling Brothers' Circus, Gerald Soules purchased it in 1987 after finding it in a Michigan barn. Until his death in 1992, it was located in a zoo in Indiana.
Gerald Soules left the carousel to his brother, James "Jim" Soules in his will. With help from Carl Theel, the carousel was restored and installed in Davenport Park in 1994. The carousel gained much local significance and proudly maintained a $1 riding fee. Jim Soules also waived the fee for disabled children. It was open from 10am to 9pm every day. On rare occasions, it was closed for repairs or extreme weather. In September 2019, the path of Hurricane Dorian led Jim Soules to decide to close the carousel for more than a day or two. The carousel was scheduled to reopen on September 6, 2019, but Mr. Soules died on the 5th. His final wishes regarding the carousel was for it to come to his hometown of Port Charlotte after his death. His wife donated it to The Shell Factory and Nature Park.
There was great sorrow about the residents of St. Augustine at losing the carousel and the City has looked to replace it, but have as of yet been unsuccessful. The area of the park where the carousel was located remains empty.
In 2024, The Shell Factory and Nature Park closed after 86 years as an attraction in Fort Myers. The fate of the carousel is uncertain.
Has Part
Davenport Park is owned by the City of St. Augustine.
The J&S Carousel became part of The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers, Florida.
Mediator
Davenport Park is open to the public.
When in St. Augustine, the carousel was privately owned, but available to the public. After the carousel was moved to The Shell Factory and Nature Center, it was donated and became part of that collection.
Rights Holder
Relation
Davenport Park is located between N. Ponce De Leon Blvd/US 1-North and San Marco Avenue / HWY A1A.
Source
The following books, articles, websites, and photographers were used to find the above photographs or illustrations:
Photograph 1 (c.1929): Ponce de Leon Celebration First Week in April: St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine, FL: City Commission of St. Augustine on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, Printed by The Record Company, [1929].
Photograph 2 (2025): Owens, Katherine. "Davenport Park." June 5, 2025.
The following books, articles, and/or websites were used to find information about this location:
Historic Picturesque St. Augustine Florida. Jacksonville, FL: Duval News Co., [1933-1937].
“J&S Carousel Closed.” Visit St. Augustine. https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/js-carousel-closed.
Jones, Colleen. “One Last Spin: St. Augustine Carousel Rides into History after 25 Years of Bringing Smiles to Kids, Adults.” St. Augustine Record. September 15, 2019. https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2019/09/15/st-augustine-carousel-rides-into-history-after-25-years-of-bringing-smiles-to-kids-adults/2780724007/.
Osborn, Dave. “'With heavy hearts': Iconic SWFL attraction closing this month, what we know.” Fort Myers News. September 16, 2024. https://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/2024/09/16/shell-factory-nature-park-closing-in-n-fort-myers-what-we-know/75248821007/.
Ponce de Leon Celebration First Week in April: St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine, FL: City Commission of St. Augustine on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, Printed by The Record Company, [1929].
Rajtar, Steve, and Kelly Goodman. A Guide to Historic St. Augustine, Florida. 1st edition. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007.
Photograph 1 (c.1929): Ponce de Leon Celebration First Week in April: St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine, FL: City Commission of St. Augustine on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, Printed by The Record Company, [1929].
Photograph 2 (2025): Owens, Katherine. "Davenport Park." June 5, 2025.
The following books, articles, and/or websites were used to find information about this location:
Historic Picturesque St. Augustine Florida. Jacksonville, FL: Duval News Co., [1933-1937].
“J&S Carousel Closed.” Visit St. Augustine. https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/js-carousel-closed.
Jones, Colleen. “One Last Spin: St. Augustine Carousel Rides into History after 25 Years of Bringing Smiles to Kids, Adults.” St. Augustine Record. September 15, 2019. https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/local/2019/09/15/st-augustine-carousel-rides-into-history-after-25-years-of-bringing-smiles-to-kids-adults/2780724007/.
Osborn, Dave. “'With heavy hearts': Iconic SWFL attraction closing this month, what we know.” Fort Myers News. September 16, 2024. https://www.news-press.com/story/news/local/2024/09/16/shell-factory-nature-park-closing-in-n-fort-myers-what-we-know/75248821007/.
Ponce de Leon Celebration First Week in April: St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine, FL: City Commission of St. Augustine on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, Printed by The Record Company, [1929].
Rajtar, Steve, and Kelly Goodman. A Guide to Historic St. Augustine, Florida. 1st edition. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2007.
Rights
Flagler College’s Rare Books, Floridiana & Institutional Repository are neither the original nor current copyright owner for the photographs. Please contact the publisher or source cited for each photograph to obtain a copy and/or permission to reproduce these items.
Is Referenced By
The following St. Augustine Fiction books feature this historic site as a location:
Sweet Dreams, St. Augustine
Sweet Dreams, St. Augustine
Date Submitted
This record was last updated on June 6, 2025.
Collection
Citation
City of St. Augustine, “Davenport Park,” St. Augustine Fiction, accessed July 19, 2025, https://staugustinefiction.omeka.net/items/show/341.