CONTEST FOR THE COUNTY SEAT, 1888

The struggle for the county seat in 1888 was hot and bitter. The citizens of Enterprise, the county seat since the organization of the county in 1854 were loath to lose it and those of DeLand were equally determined. On Feb. 8, 1888, Isaac A. Stewart of DeLand presented the petition to the Board of County Commissioners in Enterprise. No one could be found to second the motion for an election and the "Same was declared lost.” A week later the Board was called in extra session and March 29, 1888 appointed for the election. There was a "hot campaign of speechmaking, newspaper broadsides and wire pulling of all sorts." Among the ardent workers was Mr. Hamlin, who in the excitement was nearly mobbed and one night was shot at on the way to his home on the North Boulevard. Mr. Gibbs was a member of the election board and announced the result of the poll. The votes were: DeLand 1003; Enterprise 439; Lake Helen 251; DeLeon Springs 84; Orange City 80;

Daytona 3; Port Orange 2; Ormond 1; New Smyrna 1. DeLand was declared the county seat, April 3, 1888. The celebration was the greatest the town had ever known, two or three thousand people gathered in the streets. In order to fittingly rejoice, noise was necessary and an anvil and black powder was used instead of a cannon. An explosion occurred and Mr. Gibbs was seriously and permanently injured. A court house was built in 1889 on land donated by my father, Henry A. DeLand, to the county. There were other contributions to the building. Last year it was torn down so that a new one, adequate to present needs, might be erected, but another running fight has been on with rivals that have been trying to get the county seat or divide the county. Trouble has also arisen about buying more land to add to the lot. Six times the construction of the new building has been stopped: at present the work is proceeding.

Excerpt from:

The Story of DeLand and Lake Helen, written by Helen Parce DeLand.