PREVATT SETTLEMENT

Judge James H. Prevatt came here very early, about 1858. His home east of Lake Helen was a one story, log house with a large porch, a chimney of clay and sticks, and plank windows. T. D. Gidding's house was the first to have glass windows. In the Prevatt yard were orange and fig trees, oleanders and crepe myrtles. Judge Prevatt was a successful farmer. Without the aid of commercial fertilizer he used to raise as high as forty bushels of corn to the acre. His store built in 1876 was east of the house. Customers came in from the woods round about, the Rawlins, the Longs, the Dyalls and other settlers. It had been necessary for them to get provisions from Lake Beresford or Enterprise. The post office was at Blue Springs, the postmaster was L H. Thursby. Blue Springs Landing and the Rossiter Landing on Lake Beresford were the points to which all freight was shipped for this section, known then as the Prevatt Settlement. Mules and carts were used for hauling, there were no four-wheeled wagons. The "Prevatt Church House" was south of the old cemetery, on the north side of Lake Helen. It was built of pine poles, logs with the bark stripped off. It had a unique lighting system. In the grounds scaffolds were erected upon which pitch pine was burned to light the yard. Inside light was furnished by fat splinters stuck into the cracks in the wall. As the preacher always lined the hymns, very little light was required. A small lamp was provided for him, usually without a chimney. Some of the ministers were Rev. McGlon (Baptist), from Haw Creek, Rev. Gautier (Methodist), from Crescent City and Judge James H. Chandler (Methodist), living southeast of Prevatt's. The church served as a school for two or three terms and the store, for one term.

Excerpt from:

The Story of DeLand and Lake Helen, Florida.

Written by, Helen Parce DeLand