Edwin Markham
Oregon Poet Laureate Edwin Markham spent most of his youth in Lagoon Valley near Vacaville and attended Pacific Methodist College. There is a monument bearing his face in Pēna Adobe Park in Vacaville. The land upon which the cities of Vacaville, Suisun City, and Fairfield are located first belonged to the Patwin tribe, Suisunes, prior to European settlement. Edwin Markham’s name and face appears on a monument entitled The Pioneers listing European settlers of Vacaville. Markham’s most famous poem is entitled “The Man with the Hoe” and is a socialist ekphrastic poem inspired by inspired by Jean-François Millet’s painting L’homme à la houe. Markham also advocated for fellow poet Dr. Henry Meade Bland to become California Poet Laureate. Bland was born in Fairfield, California. Vacaville has also named an elementary school and a road after Markham.
Jack London
While arguably more famous for his novels, Jack London also wrote poetry. London is also responsible for the term “Up Bay” being used for this area. There is a monument on the Benicia waterfront at the end of First Street near where he once fell drunkenly into the water. He also belonged to the Vallejo Yacht Club.
Benicia also named a small park after him located at 595 Rose Drive.
Know of other monuments in Solano County that are dedicated to poets who resided here? Please let us know via email vallejopoetrysociety@gmail.com and we will add it to this list.