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1st Airplane Lands Hotel College Arms Stetson University Lake Helen, Florida DeLand Fire Department The Sheriffs Department My, How We Have Grown Seville, Florida Pierson, Florida Volusia County Fair Early Homes DeBary DeBary Hall DeLand Police Department Emporia, Florida Barberville, Florida Faces Of DeLand Planes Over DeLand The First Baptist Church of DeLand Early Recreation in DeLand Part 1 Early Recreation in DeLand Part 2 Orange City, Florida Orange City, Florida Hotels, Churches, Schools, Trains, People Lake Beresford DeLeon Springs, Florida Turpentining in Old Florida

Navy Base Closes Navy Lands in DeLand In the 1950's ...the 1960's & 70's John B. Stetson Depression Days 1920's: Boom & Bust As You Remember It WWI DeLand - NEXT 30 Years Founding Steamboats Lue Gim Gong DeLeon Springs Ghost Towns Bald Cypress Blue Spring History is Alive DeLand Revisited Burt's Holding, DeLeon Springs Glenwood, Florida Hontoon Island Methodist Children's Home Stone Island, Osteen, Saulsville, and Lake Ashby Enterprise, Florida Sawmills in Old Florida

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Florida Place Names Florida Lighthouse Trail Volusia County Postcards: Windows To Our Past Postcard Journey Along The St. Johns River, A Around DeLand: A Postcard History A Century of W. Volusia County The Story of DeLand & Lake Helen Wooden Fish Songs Cracker Cooking Echoes of Yesterday Minutes and Memorials of the Old Settlers of DeLand, Florida Index to Reflections Images of America: DeLand

The Parce Letters Barberville, Florida The Volusian, the Story of Horatio S. Dexter Florida Place Names Ocklawaha River Steamboats Along the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers Images of America: Stetson University St. John River Steamboats Steamboating on the St. Johns Gift of the Unicorn: The Story of Lue Gim Gong, Florida's Citrus Wizard Hot Sand and Sanspurs, the Autobiography of Bill Dreggors Steamships of the Two Henrys Florida Lighthouse Trail

Videos

1st Airplane Lands in DeLand (1918)

In 1918, excitement for DeLand residents was high as news of the first airplane had landed on the College Arms Golf Course. This plane was from the flying school at Sebring, Florida. The pilots would take trips on weekends to the beach at Daytona. They would land at low tide and pull their planes into the dunes. If the tide was too high, they would land at the College Arms Golf Course to wait for the tide to go out.

In 1956, Carl Ward leased some of the buildings at the airport and opened the Florida Military School. It was a great success until the Vietnam War started. Military schools all over were victims of the back lash and many had to close because they lost their students. This was a great loss to our community.

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Hotel College Arms and Golf Course

The hotel was started by J.Y. Parce, brother-in-law of Henry DeLand, who called it the "Parceland Hotel." John B. Stetson bought the hotel in 1896 and changed the name to "College Arms Hotel." He completed the Hotel and added an 18-hole championship golf course, one of the finest in the Country. The top professionals, men and women, played here.

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Stetson University: The Early Years (1883)

Henry DeLand founded the DeLand Academy, later DeLand College and then DeLand University in 1883. After the severe freezes in 1885, Mr. DeLand's finances could not support the University and he persuaded Mr. Stetson to take over the endowment of the University. In 1886, Mr. DeLand asked the Board of Trustees to change the name of the school to John B. Stetson University. The "John B." was dropped in 1951. The first football teams were started in 1884.

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Lake Helen, Florida: The Prettiest High Pine Town in the State

In 1883-84, Henry DeLand purchased a 350 acre tract of land to the southeast of DeLand. He was so impressed by the tract's beauty that he could think of no more befitting gesture than to name both its lake and its town after his daughter, Helen.

From its original identity as a winter resort and citrus grove area, Lake Helen evolved as a railroad terminus, lumber mill town, and location for a starch factory, Nautilus Fitness headquarters, and film studios. During these periods of change, the citizens of Lake Helen developed their local government, municipal services and schools. They also developed various forms of recreation, not the least of which were fishing, "sugar parties," and the Lake Helen Baseball Team. Join us in this sentimental journey back to historic Lake Helen and see that, although her enterprises may have changed over the years, her fundamental charm and relaxed beauty have prevailed.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, local historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 44 minutes 17 seconds

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History of the DeLand Fire Department

From its beginnings in the late 19th century, the DeLand Fire Department gave its citizens an excellent return on their investment. The initial annual budget was a mere $350.00! The money all went to equipment; the first firemen were all volunteers.

In 1886, a devastating fire spread from the Wilcox Saloon and reduced the 100 block of North Woodland Blvd. to ashes. Ordinances were soon passed against any more wooden structures in the business district. Saloons were also prohibited through the mid-1930's.

Although horse drawn equipment gave way to modern fire trucks, the department figured prominently in the town's municipal parades during the many decades leading up to the television era. The Department has always been proactive in its community service and fire prevention education roles.

Folk historian Bill Dreggors helps us recall the Fire Department's many growth phases. His narration is richly illustrated by the scores of photographs representing the Department's growth. He identifies most of the firemen, fire chiefs, and even the mischievous boys who scattered the Department's horses soon after the turn of the twentieth century. A hint of pride may be detected in Mr. Dreggor's voice as he describes his own father's career as a volunteer fireman.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Local Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 30 minutes

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History of Volusia County's Sheriff Department

According to Folk Historian Bill Dreggors, law enforcement in Volusia County has a history which is colorful enough to create the plots for a whole series of "Who Dunnit" novels. Starting with its first elected Sheriff in 1885, the Department has had to deal with desperadoes, fugitives, shoot-outs, moonshiners, rumrunners, and even lynch mobs. Each of these episodes is illustrated not only by Mr. Dreggors' insightful narrative, but several photographs taken during each period.

This documentary takes the viewer back to the times when several county prisoner work camps were situated so that prisoners could be moved via horsedrawn wagon to their road work, field labor, or turpentine still labor. Also discussed are the effects of the Prohibition era, with moonshine stills and rumrunners showing up in the cross-hairs of the Sheriff's guns. Want to know who was fed road kill on a regular basis? Want to know who was the last Florida prisoner to be executed by hanging? Which jail was referred to as the "Boarding House"? It's all on the inside, folks.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 25 minutes

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My, How We Have Grown

The history of Volusia County's development is a microcosm of Florida's overall growth. Starting with a handful of hardy pioneers, Volusia needed visionaries to provide investment capital and to promote the area's potential to people up north. One of these visionaries, Henry DeLand, fell in love with the "tall pine" section that he discovered during a rare vacation from his upstate New York factory. The end result: DeLand, Florida.

Next came the role played by railroads, hotels, and tourism. Soon after the East Coast Railroad pushed into Daytona Beach, a host of hotels such as The Breakers, The Neptune, and The Sea Breeze sprouted up. Northerners seeking relief from their cold winters flocked to these hotels from the early 1900's until fires and shifting consumer demand ushered in the motel period during the late 40's and 50's.

The area's industrial plants peaked early in the 20th century, then declined just as the housing industry began to surge. Such was the case when DeBary's Ox Fiber Brushes (made from cabbage palms) gave way to the plastic during the 1960's. At approximately the same time Ox Fiber Brushes shut down, a building boom was starting in nearby Deltona. At first scoffed at by longtime residents, Deltona soon became our largest city.

Narrator Bill Dreggors began to learn and appreciate the history of Volusia's growth while listening to old time stories at his father's knee. His vivid story telling illustrated by a collection of vintage photographs, enables us to travel back to the time when the place we call home was a very different place, indeed.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, local Folk Historian
Produced by: Volusia Magazine

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Seville, Florida: Tangerine Capital of the World

Seville's origins are in one way, similar to those of nearby DeLand's. Seville's founder, William Lente, just like Henry DeLand, also went broke in the process of attempting to achieve a goal for his town. In Lind's case the goal was a railroad connecting Seville to St. Augustine. When the rails finally came, they brought Teddy Roosevelt, who during a stopover with his Rough Riders, declared Seville's log depot the most attractive he'd ever seen.

Once dubbed the "Tangerine Capital of the World," Seville evolved in a number of ways since the 1880's. The excellent quail hunting, the Seville Hotel, its town baseball team, and a tour boat called the Alma May were were sources of community pride.

In addition to the Lente family, names such as Prevatt, Harvey, Miller, Cowart, Robinson, Graham, Cade, Meyer, Causey, Morrison, Thigpen, Gordon, Flowers, Newman, Haynes, and Raulerson, figured in shaping the town.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, local folk historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 35 minutes 17 seconds

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Pierson, Florida: Fern Capital of the World

How many towns can claim to be named by a train conductor? In 1886, when the first train rolled in, this small town was still unnamed. The conductor of the train asked the first five men that he met for their names. When all five answered Pierson, he declared the town's name to be Piersonville.

Peter and Nels Pierson, and their three cousins had come to Florida in 1876, hoping to expand a fern growing business they had previously operated near Boston. Although they were accidentally responsible for the town's name, their business and fields (and the fields of other owners) were grown by purposeful design. They kept on growing until the town could rightfully claim to be the "Fern Capital of the World."

This recording takes through Pierson's early days, when citrus crops and commercial fishing competed with fern crops for leadership as the area's economic base. Old-time Pierson farmers, field hands, warehousemen, store and hotel owners, church congregations, teachers and students, athletic teams and musical groups beckon to us from over the decades.

We revisit many of the old family faces and names that were an integral part of Pierson history. Several generations of Piersons, Engstroms, Hagstroms, Bennetts, Swansons, Andersens, Jones, Ericksons, Merriams, Pledgers, Botts, Cades, Taylors, Carlisles, Petersons, and Smileys, to name a few, gaze out at us from the distant past.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, local Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 44 minutes 10 seconds

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Volusia County Fair: The 1st 100 Years

Circuses actually were the first type of entertainment to come to the area in approximately 1890. The first fair was held at the Aquatic Club on the west side of Blue Lake about 1914. the Fair Grounds on West New York Avenue, across from the DeLand Depot was built in 1924 and was in continuous use until the late 1930's and again for one year after World War II in 1954. The City then sold the property and the Fair was moved to the National Guard Armory on South Alabama Ave. for the years 1955, 56 and 57. It was held at the old Naval Hospital site in 1958 and 59. Its next stop was on McDonald Ave. at the airport in 1966 and 67. The first fair on Hwy. 44 was held in 1968 and has continued to grow in this location.

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Early Homes in DeLand

When northerners began to move to DeLand, they built homes similar to their places up North. They called their homes "winter cottages."

Many of these beautiful old homes have been torn down to make room for "progress." Those that remain are treasures that we should preserve for future generations.

These homes are mostly built of native "yellow pine"; base boards, door facings and built-in cabinets often were made of "curly pine." This wood was rare and this kind of lumber is no longer available. This is another reason to save these beautiful homes.

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DeBary, Florida

Historians cannot help but note the ironic fact that the city of DeBary is one of the area's youngest, a mere ten years, yet boasts the oldest standing domicile in West Volusia County; DeBary Hall. Part of the reason for DeBary's relatively slow ascent to incorporation is owed to its original creation by a single man, Frederick DeBary, and a total dominance by him and his family well into the 20th century. The DeBary clan, wealthy even by comparison with the robber barons of their era, invested so heavily in the land surrounding their sumptuous winter home that by the early 1900's, approximately 9,000 acres was in their use for either agricultural, hunting, or fishing purposes, or in support of their other area enterprises, not the least of which was the DeBary Merchant (steamship) Line.

The enclosed video, narrated by folk historian Bill Dreggors, takes us on a pictorial journey through DeBary's early days as several loose clusters of residential homes and shops; to be joined by early churches, bridges, highways and larger businesses, most notably the Florida Power generating plant. Many who thought they knew DeBary will come away with a greater appreciation of their city's growth after viewing the video.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Local Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 45 minutes

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DeBary Hall

DeBary Hall looks too elegant to be a seasonal hunting and fishing lodge, yet Frederick DeBAry and his son Adolph built it specifically for that purpose in 1871. They and their well healed guests were able to lounge in the kind of luxury they were accustomed to whenever they returned from their outings on Lake Monroe, the St. Johns River and surrounding forest. The senior DeBary had plenty of money to invest in this winter home thanks to his thriving wine import business. In fact, he had enough left over to plant orange groves, pecan trees, on the surrounding acreage (up to 6,000) and even start up a bustling steamship business, the DeBary Merchant Line.

In the enclosed tape, folk historian Bill Dreggors describes some of the more unusual aspects of this area's oldest standing structure, including its ice house, caretaker's shack, its lightning rods, swimming pool (Florida's first), and even a private airplane strip and hangar. The same airplane shown in this tape crashed in 1941, causing Frederick's granddaughter's death and leading to family divestiture in DeBary Hall.  However, thanks to several decades of strident preservation efforts, we are now able to visit this fine architectural sample of a by-gone era. This tape will enable us to preview such a visit or serve as a keepsake.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Local Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 32 minutes

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History of the DeLand Police Department

As Bill Dreggors tells it, DeLand's first department was a one man operation, a town marshal. Funding for the marshal nearly dried up until the shade tree tax refund was revoked.

Folk Historian Bill Dreggors traces the history of the Department with particular emphasis on the individual patrolmen and chiefs who managed our law enforcement from the 1920's to the present day. He also touches on the phasing in of modern police techniques such as motor cars, motorcycles, a two-way communications system, and interaction with the FBI.

By viewing this recording, we learn who was DeLand's best known motorcycle patrolman, who made a famous "mystery stew" and who was photographed in the act of controlling a wild turkey. Names such as Cosimini, Battles, Cooper, Dillard, Hays, Slaughter, Richardson, Dreggors, Heath, and Bibbey, to name a few, are given to the faces peering out from old Police Department photographs. Mr. Dreggors pays tribute to all that they done over the years to make DeLand such a peaceful community.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Local Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 30 minutes

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Emporia, Florida

Though never a large community, Emporia enjoyed its own little boom period from the late 1880's through 1920's. Its prosperity was done partly to an influx of Northern tourists who stayed at the Emporia Hotel and (some) decided to build their own impressive two-story "painted houses." Emporia's other economic stimuli came from a a saw mill, a turpentine still, orange groves, a packing house, and cattle ranching. Some of the local agriculture consisted of subsistence farms.

Like so many early communities, Emporia featured a small school house, a small post office, and a small Baptist Church. Any unusual or new event would draw intense local interest. Such was the case when Emporia's first flush toilet was installed, inspiring school children to conduct "grasshopper swirl" demonstration.

Assisted by the inputs of John Turner, Maxine Turner, and Ethel Murphy, Bill Dreggors narrates this story.

Current day relatives of Emporia's pioneer families, named Richardson, Dillard, Roberts, Beers, DeLong, Wesson, Miners, Mozart, Ballard, Stone, Felton, and Wilson will hear their ancestors credited with helping build Volusia County.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Local Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 22 minutes

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Barberville, Lungren, Volusia

As its original name "Midway" implies, Barberville has always been a crossroads, owing much of its early progress to the railroads, stage roads, and the St. John's River. From the time progress to the railroads, stage roads, and the St. John's River. From the time Mr. Barber opened his store in 1882, through the steamboat commerce out of Astor Landing, and with the opening of the Barberville Railroad Depot in 1886, transportation was a key to the town's growth. Inevitably, progress has changed the scenery of the town and its surrounding areas. Gone are the hand-operated river ferries. Gone are the Indian mounds whose shells were hauled away for surfacing county roads. Gone, also, is the Lake George lighthouse, burned down in 1971, but not before it hosted one of Florida's greatest murder mysteries.

Certain visionaries recognized the importance of preserving the town's rich heritage, and thus created the very popular site known as Barberville Pioneer Settlement. By visiting the Settlement, one can take a huge step back in time and experience the Barberville of the Nineteenth Century.

As they review this recording, old-timers and their descendants will recognize their faces smiling out from old home, work, church, and school photographs. Names connected with those faces include Dillard, Murphy, Clifton, Underhill, Seymour, Russell, Ward, Hunter, Long, Hatch, Rutledge, Beasley, Lemons, Richardson, Buckles, and Morrison to name a few.

A warm thank you to John and Maxine Turner and Ethel Murphy for their contributions to this video.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Local Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 51 minutes, 2 seconds

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Faces Of DeLand (The Play)

By Larry Sands

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Planes Over DeLand (1943-46)

By 1943, DeLand Naval Air Station was at full staff and was turning out SBD Squadrons weekly for the Pacific Fleet. Keeping these old planes flying was a compliment to the line chiefs and mechanics. Even then, they had crashes regularly. The drone of the plane engines over DeLand was constant, day and night.

Officers and sailors were on the streets of town and at the Athens Theater and the bowling alley with their dates every evening. It was a real boom time for local merchants.

The U.S.O. was located in the old Chamber of Commerce building on the S.W corner of New York and Florida Aves. This was a popular place for service men and the local girls.

The Catholic church had dances for servicemen weekly The residents did all they could to make the servicemen feel "at home." DeLand was booming!

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WWII - Navy Base Closes (1946)

The DeLand Naval Air Station had auxiliary bases in New Smyrna, Spruce Creek, Crescent City, Lake George, DeLeon Springs, and bombing targets near Pasley, Hawkinsville, and East of Lake Dias. New Smyrna refueled and rearmed planes practicing landings at Spruce Creek and target practicing over the ocean. The planes carried a 500 lb. bomb when they were over the ocean in case they spotted a German sub. They did bomb quite a few whales thinking they were subs. Lake Crescent and Lake George were used by the Naval Air Station in DeLand. DeLeon had two sailors stationed at the Springs to patrol Lake Woodruff. The College Arms Hotel was taken over by the Navy to be used by the armed guard personnel as a rest center. These men manned the guns on freightliners and tankers going all over the world. They were not recognized for any benefits until about forty years after the end of the war. their wives and girlfriends stayed at Mrs. Whitley's Boarding House across from the hotel. The war ended and the base closed on March 15, 1946. the Base was then turned over to the City of DeLand.

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Navy Lands in DeLand (1942)

On November 11, 1942, the DeLand Naval Air Station officially opened after several months of land acquisition and building construction. Capt. Tom Turner, first base commander, officiated. A band had not been formed so the DeLand High School band played for the opening of the base.

The first planes were "Venturas." They were not here for training, but were patrolling the coast of Florida looking for German submarines.

When the "SBD" dive bombers began to arrive, along with pilots and crew members, the "Venturas" were reassigned to Brazil for patrol duty.

The "SBDs" were planes that were being replaced in the Pacific fleet. It was the "SBD" that sank the four Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway.

Many of DeLand's citizens were employed at the base and were paid wages that were great coming out of the depression.

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DeLand in the '50s: The War Boom

The 1950's saw new items in the stores. People had saved their money during the war and were ready to spend it. Throw out the old antique furniture and get new chrome and plastic. The first subdivision since the 20s and shopping centers were built. G.I. loans were available and veterans took advantage of them. The City of DeLand gave free lots to any veterans living in the city with the stipulation that they had to build on them within one year.

The economy slowed in the latter part of the 50's and every thing stayed the same for awhile.

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DeLand in the '60s and '70s

The economy began to pick up in the 60's and DeLand again showed new growth and more new shopping centers. The downtown business district showed a drastic change; grocery stores moved out to the shopping centers, as well as some of the retail businesses. Main street would not recover until the 1990's. Home construction was now supervised by new county and city departments that were created for buildings permits. Inspectors were hired to check all work. Prior to this, you could build whatever-wherever. As you look back at life in the 1900's and compare it to today, there were more changes in this past century, than in all the previous years combined. Wonder what the next 100 years will bring?

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John B. Stetson in DeLand, Florida

Mr. Stetson came to DeLand in 1886 to escape the cold winters in Philadelphia. His friend, Henry DeLand, told him about this wonderful area. Stetson purchased several hundred acres of land, planted orange groves, built an electric plant, an ice plant, and put in a water system West of DeLand. His groves froze in the 1894-95 freezes and he built wood slat houses over them so they would never freeze again.

His electric plant was the first in Florida and the three street lights were the first in Florida. The generator he used was the fourth one made by Edison.

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DeLand During the Depression

World War I was over, people had money to spend and the economy boomed.

Prohibition was passed and alcohol dried up, until the boot leggers got geared up. Gangsters, Rum Runners, Bath Tub Gin, Moonshine, and Home Brew was the order of the day. Land prices in Florida went out of site. In Miami, land was going up to $10,000 a front foot. It all ended in 1926, when a severe hurricane hit Miami. In 1928, the banks closed and the entire county was caught up in a deep depression. DeLand was no exception, hard times hit here also.

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DeLand in the '20s: The Boom Days

The 1930's were tough years, financially. Laborers, if they could find a job, were paid $1.00 per day. These were 10 to 12 hour days, Monday through Saturday. Groceries were cheap, but most people had a garden, chickens, a pig, and some lucky ones even had a milk cow. Boys and girls both went to school bare footed to save money. When Dave Sholts, of Daytona Beach, was elected governor he legalized slot machines and the profits paid for school books so parents did not have to any more. After 4 years, slot machines were removed but books remained free. Even if we were poor, most everyone else was, so we did not know it. It was a really wonderful time to grow up here. During the war years (1940's) DeLand bustled with the Navy boat works and glider factory. This will be highlighted in another video.

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DeLand: As You Remember It ('40s)

A video of DeLand and the close surrounding area during the war years of the 40's, the town where you grew up or spent some of your young years...
the way it was then and never will be again...
the changes brought on by the war that touched us at our very doorsteps...
the things you did, the places you went, the people you knew...

This brand new video will let you view the old town again as it was "THEN"... step back in time for an hour or so... let your mind wander back to younger, less hectic, more innocent days... to DELAND -- as you can remember it!

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DeLand: The WWI Era

From 1900 to 1920 DeLand experienced slow but steady growth. The County Jail was built on West New York Avenue across from the Court House. When a person was sentenced to hang, the hanging was carried out in that county. Here it took place in the rear of the jail. A new Post Office was built in 1917 on the northeast corner of Indiana and Florida Avenues. World War I ended in 1918 with six local men killed. Officers were trained at Stetson University's ROTC program to serve in WWI. The "Downtown" had only one wood building left by 1920.

Downtown was changing with new construction. Everything was located downtown. There were no shopping centers!!

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DeLand: The Years 1890-1920

This thirty year period was momentous in the changes it brought. DeLand continued to grow both in its downtown area, as well as, in population. The telephone and electric were becoming more accessible to the households in the area. DeLand experienced the worst freezes in it's short history, in 1894 and in 1895. It was about 10 years before the groves made a comeback. Mr. Stetson died in 1906 and Henry DeLand died in 1908. Woodland Boulevard was bricked in 1917. Part of the road to New Smyrna Beach bricked in 1919 after World War I.

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The Founding of DeLand

Henry, A. DeLand arrived in Central Florida on April 7, 1876, and made his first land purchase the next day. Describing the area as the most beautiful place he had ever seen, he purchased more land and laid out a city. The few settlers who were living in the area met and named the city for him, electing the first city officials in 1882.

Henry DeLand founded the "Academy" (later to become Stetson University) in 1883. He made DeLand a center of culture and learning and called it "the Athens of Florida."

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St. Johns River: The Steamboat Era

In 1886 settlers began coming to central Florida to homestead government property and by the 1880's, tourists, traveling mostly by steamboat on the St. Johns River, had found Florida. The 1870's and 80's were the "Honeymoon Years" of the steamboats. During this time, it was said that you could stand on the deck of a steamboat and see another one anytime of the day or night.

The coming of the train to central Florida in 1886 would end the steamboat era by the early 1930's.

Visit these fascinating years of the St. Johns and the steamships that helped build Florida.

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Lue Gim Gong: The Citrus Wizard

Lue Gim Gong came to DeLand, Florida, in 1888. He died here in 1925 and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery.

His Lue Gim Gong Orange was an early fruit that ripened in September, but it could hang on the tree for four years and still be good. This orange won him the Silver Wilder Medal from the Department of Agriculture in 1911 - the only time it was ever given for citrus.

He conducted church services every Sunday in his orange grove. Everyone was invited and many came.

Learn more about this quiet and gentle man who was a true citrus wizard.

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History of DeLeon Springs

It is said that Ponce DeLeon came to Florida in search of the "Fountain of Youth." It is also said that Spanish records show that he came up a large river that flowed to the north (St. Johns). He passed through a very large lake (Lake George) and a few miles later came to another lake (Lake Dexter). A short stream connected it (Tick Island Run) with another large lake (Lake Woodruff). Flowing into this lake on the north side was a large clear stream (Spring Garden Run). He followed it to its source, and he found at least two springs (DeLeon Springs). He drank eagerly of the water, but alas he grew no younger and another dream had vanished.

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Ghost Towns of the St. Johns

St. Francis (Old Town), Crows Bluff, and Hawkinsville were located on the west bank of the St. Johns River, four miles west of DeLand.

St. Francis is 116 miles south of Jacksonville, Crows Bluff, 119 miles, and Hawkinsville, 121 miles. Hawkinsville was granted a post office on April 26, 1858. Discontinued on Feb. 2, 1869. Regranted Sept. 23, 1872. It was then moved to Crows Bluff on Aug. 23, 1888 and discontinued on May 13, 1931. St. Francis was granted a post office on March 15, 1888 and discontinued on Oct. 15, 1909.

These important river towns served the steamboat traffic in these early years. But, when the train came to Central Florida from Jacksonville in 1886, taking the commerce from the steamboat lines, these towns began to die, and in a few years they became "ghost towns" that hold many great stories of Florida's early beginnings.

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Florida's Giants: The Bald Cypress

Step Back In Time -- when the Bald Cypress stood sentinel on the banks of the St. John's River.

The Bald Cypress, reaching heights up to 150 feet and a diameter of 25 feet, grew from Delaware to Florida, over to Texas and up the Mississippi River to Illinois.

Lumbermen began to harvest the cypress, in earnest, in the 1860's.

Cypress is a hardy wood, resistant to insects and rot... used for many purposes, including water tanks for the railroads.

Bill Dreggors gives us a rare look into this important time in the history of Florida.

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Blue Spring: Gem of the St. Johns

Blue Spring is indeed the "GEM" of the St. Johns River. It has been occupied for more than 2000 years. First by the Mayaca Indians, then the Seminoles, and in the 1840's, the first white settlers.

It's character has changed very little since Louis Thursby built his home on the shell midden in 1872.

Blue Spring is now a state park of some 2800 acres and the home of the West Indies manatee. It is the only spring on the St. Johns where they winter in large numbers.

Special? Yes, Indeed!!

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History is Alive

Join fourth-graders, Tom and Anna as a seemingly ordinary classroom lesson turns into an adventure in time travel! Local historian, Bill Dreggors, dons the garb and persona of the founding father of the City of DeLand, Henry Addison DeLand, and takes the children on a journey to some of the historic buildings and places that have played an important role in Volusia County's past.

Cast

Tom: Thomas Brett
Anna: Anna Christina Randolph
Timucuan Indian: Reese Moore
Narrator/Henry Addison DeLand: William J. Dreggors, Jr.

Running time approximately 15 minutes.
Written, produced and directed by Senta Goudy.
Editing and technical production by Beachwood Productions, Inc.
Videography by Volusia County Community Information Division.

Produced by the Volusia County Historic Preservation Board with assistance from the Volusia County Community Information Division. This project has been financed in part with historic preservation grant assistance provided by the National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, administered through the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Florida Department of State, assisted by the Florida Historic Preservation Advisory Council.

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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF DELAND

The histories of DeLand and its First Baptist Church have been intertwined from the very start. Thanks to a lifelong familiarity with both, Bill Dreggors is able to take us back to the first services held in an open pine forest, then DeLand's first school house, and then on to the three different church structures; each providing the space needed to accommodate the church's ever-growing membership.

A number of old photographs and slides (some of these literally rescued from the trash collector) are used to illustrate Dreggor's narrative as he describes each phase of the church's history. Pictures from decades past will take many on a trip back to their own childhood and young adulthood. They will see themselves participating in services, choirs, Sunday school classes, construction projects, and even Valentine Day parties.

Narrator: Bill Dreggors, Folk Historian
Producer: Rosa Meddaugh
Running time: 40 minutes
Copyright 2005

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DELAND REVISITED

Bill Dreggors, Janet Bollun, dressed as Henry DeLand and Helen DeLand, Heritage Day, circa 1990, strolling in downtown DeLand, up to DeLand Hall, and met the president at Stetson University.

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EARLY RECREATION IN DELAND, FLORIDA PART I

Folk historian Bill Dreggors takes us on a nostalgic trip through several eras of recreation in West Volusia County. In the late 19th century, the main attraction was our climate and the abundant opportunities for fishing and hunting. Then, as the new (20th) century dawned, the Blue Lake Aquatic Club became the preferred gathering place, not only for the water sports, but also for those fortunate enough to belong to the Blue Lake Automobile Club.

From World War I through the 1940's the DeLand Band Shell hosted a wide variety of entertainment events. High on that list were concerts by our own municipal band and the "Talent Night" competition. The Florida Cowboys were also among the more popular musical groups. Dreggors also tells how DeLand's first movie houses: the Athens, the Dreka, and the Washington served the