THE UNIVERSITY

But the city of DeLand in the ideal of its founder was to be an educational as well as a business center. Dean G. Prentice Carson says of the early beginnings: "There was no one thing in which Mr. DeLand took more pride, or in which he spent more money and energy, than in laying the foundation for the institution, now known as John B. Stetson University. He knew that more advanced instruction should be provided than that given in the local grammar school, and acting on this thought, established DeLand Academy which opened, Nov. 5, 1883, with Dr. John H. Griffith of Troy, New York as principal." Dr. David Moore said in his Presentation Day address, 1897: "Dr. Griffith was one of the many noble men who had to do with the making of DeLand and its university. He was an able preacher, a man most sincere and true, the very soul of integrity and honor." The attendance the first day was thirteen, but continued to increase throughout the school year. The first sessions of the school were held in the lecture room of the Baptist Church. Dr. Griffith was also pastor of this church. Soon the school outgrew this limited space and in the fall of 1884, Mr. DeLand, entirely at his own expense, built for its use the building standing at the intersection of the Boulevard and Minnesota Avenue, to which in his honor the trustees gave the name of DeLand Hall. In 1884, DeLand Hall was considered exceptionally large with ample accommodations for several years, but even before the first year was over there was a demand for more room.

In 1885, Dr. Griffith was succeeded by John F. Forbes, then professor in the state normal school at Brockport, New York. Dr. Moore in talking to him of the position had said: "There is a great need and a great opportunity for higher Christian education in Florida. If you will go as principal of DeLand Academy, willing to work hard, very hard, shoulder heavy burdens, meet great responsibilities, encounter difficulties and discouragements, work on and wait patiently for results, success and reward are sure to come in due time." Dr. Forbes took up the gauge. He was a tireless worker and possessed unusual executive and administrative ability. The growth of the university was phenomenal. Stetson Hall was built. The town people joined with H. A. DeLand, J. B. Stetson and C. T. Sampson in meeting the cost. To place the university on a proper footing, it became necessary to incorporate under the state laws. This was an additional expense to overtaxed resources, but so thoroughly in earnest was Mr. DeLand that he had a charter prepared and sent A. G. Hamlin to Tallahassee to get the act of incorporation through. A charter was granted to DeLand University in 1887, Mr. DeLand paying the first $10,000 for endowment. During these early years there was annually a large deficit and this Mr. DeLand always cheerfully paid. He spent large sums in advertising the school, not only throughout Florida, but in the North as well. In 1886, John B. Stetson of Philadelphia, visited Florida. Seeing the need for more capital, Mr. DeLand interested him in the educational movement. Dr. Moore gives this interesting picture of the coming of Mr. Stetson. "We whispered to one another, 'What if this man were, indeed, a man sent from God? What if he could be led to see the possibilities of this school? With this in mind, we one day planned a ride to Lake Helen. There were in this party, Mr. Stetson, Mr. DeLand, Dr. Forbes and your humble servant with some others. After an elegant dinner at the Harlan, we all went upon the upper verandah of the hotel. It was one of those charming days of which Florida has so many. Lake Helen lay like a sheet of silver in full view, the noble pines stood in their silent majesty all around us, the birds were singing among the branches, the air was balmy and all nature was beautiful. And then and there, we did our utmost to make this man, John, see visions and dream dreams. That was prayerful, earnest seed sowing and John B. Stetson University, as we see it today, with its magnificent buildings, its ample equipment and the grand work it is doing is the rich golden harvest."

In 1889, Mr. DeLand proposed that the name of the institution be changed to John B. Stetson University. Mr. Stetson accepted the honor and became a most generous patron. His gifts to the institution amounted to $1,000,000. The day on which he transferred to the trustees the central part of Elizabeth Hall, named for Mrs. Stetson, was a notable occasion. Dr. John A. Broadus was the orator. At the close of the exercises, Mr. Stetson surprised the audience by giving $50,000 for endowment. From the tower of Elizabeth Hall, the Eloise chimes ring out. They were given a few years ago by the people attending the Vesper services and named for Mrs. Lincoln Hulley, whose character is as lovely as the sweetness of the bells. In 1897, the auditorium and the north wing were completed. The former is a memorial to Ben Stetson, son of John B. Stetson. The organ in the chapel is one of the finest in the state. Important buildings added since and named for their donors are: Carnegie Library Building, Flagler Science Hall, Cummings Gymnasium, J. B. Conrad Hall, Sampson Hall. The university has been under the special patronage of the Baptists of Florida. Chaudoin Hall was named for Dr. W. N. Chaudoin, President of the Florida Baptist Convention, from 1880-1904, an active friend of the school from the beginning. Others who have increased its resources by large gifts are Mrs. Munroe Heath, John D. Rockefeller, the Countess of Santa Eulalia (Mrs. John B. Stetson) and John B. Stetson, Jr. In 1903, President Forbes resigned and in 1904, Dr. Lincoln Hulley of Bucknell University was elected, as his successor. Dr. Hulley has many talents. He is an author, a lecturer, a lawyer, a minister, but above all an educator. Under his direction the university has forged ahead, until its reputation is nation wide. In 1913, the Proceedings of the Southern Association of Colleges gave Stetson credit for the highest standard in the entire South. Included in the curriculum are liberal arts, law, music, art, dramatics, business and pedagogy. The art gallery is said to be the finest south of Washington. Students from the law school are admitted to practice in Florida without having to take state bar examinations. The graduates from the normal college may teach in the public schools of Florida without further examinations. Many able and devoted instructors have served on its faculty. Early residents will recall: Mrs. A. G. Hamlin, Herbert A. Gibbs, Mollie Terry, E. H. Alger, Fannie Bigelow, Adda Paree, Mrs. Mary E. Cheney, Mrs. Hettie M. Winters, Wallace S. Truesdell, Julia Dickerson. Connecting the past with the present are Dean G. Prentice Carson, Dr. Charles S. Farriss, Dr. Warren S. Gordis. In 1926, on Founders' Day, the town and university united in honoring Dean Carson, professor of history and economics, who had taught in the academy and college since 1885. The next year a similar tribute was paid to Dr. Farris, professor of Latin and Greek and vice-president. Their portraits were hung on the line of benefactors in the auditorium of Elizabeth Hall. Dr. Gordis came to the institution almost as soon as Dean Carson, but was not there from 1898-1913. Recalling his arrival, he says, "I came to DeLand in 1888, arriving on Thanksgiving day. Upon graduating from the University of Rochester, I was engaged to teach Latin in DeLand University. The work was to have begun early in October, but on account of the yellow fever epidemic in Jacksonville, the first quarter was omitted. Everything was at a low ebb in the state on account of the strict quarantine. Only eighty-five pupils, none of the college rank, were enrolled. One room over the chapel in DeLand Hall served many purposes. It contained Prof. Carson's laboratory and class room, where he taught chemistry, physics, physiology and civil government. On the other side was the little library of which I assumed charge, about 1200 volumes, increased to 40,000 volumes now and heavily endowed.” There are (1928) in Stetson forty-five instructors and six hundred students. It has a list of graduates that have become prominent citizens and leaders in Florida. Among them is Doyle E. Carlton (1909), the democratic nominee for governor, to be elected in November. The alumni are scattered throughout the country, as well. 

"Fast and far their bands have gone", to the praise of those that shaped their characters and fortunes. Their loyalty and love are well expressed in the Stetson University Song written by Isabel McKinney ( 1896).

“As the pine that guards thy portals, Reaches ever to the skies,

As it presses ever deeper In the bosom of the earth,

So art thou forever striving Unto higher heights to rise

And thy hold is growing deeper On the land that gave thee birth.

"0 we love three, yes we love thee, Heart and voice unite to sing

Alma Mater, Alma mater,

To thy shrine, our praise we bring."

Excerpt from:

The Story of DeLand and Lake Helen, Florida. 

Written by, Helen Parce DeLand