WOODLAND BOULEVARD

The Woodland Boulevard, as promised at the first meeting in 1876, was cut through the woods. It was a mile long and sixty feet wide with a row of trees in the middle as well as on the sides, water oaks, wild oranges and magnolias. The illustration shows how they looked not long after Mr. Joseph Dore, when mayor, imposed a fine of five dollars for using the trees as hitching posts. In this way began the policy that has caused DeLand to be named the "City in the Forest.” A plan was brought before the Council to remit taxes for trees planted in certain lines living after two years. 0. J. Hill put out those in West DeLand for Mr. Stetson. W .W . Parce made Printery Park in the depression where the E. 0. Painter Printing Co. is located. Many of these trees were killed in the high water of 1925. The students and teachers of the University lined East Minnesota Avenue with trees one Arbor Day. I walked up the North Boulevard last spring in April. A Japanese picture of gray, brown and green varied with red, pink, white and a bit of purple was unrolled before me. The trunks of the oaks were dark gray, dappled with a lighter tint, the shade of the Spanish moss, hanging from the branches, the leaves, bright and shiny. The magnolias were in bloom, greenish white flowers among the dark green, brown-lined leaves. The trunks of the pines were grayish-brown, as if gray georgette had been put over brown crepe. Ferns drooped from the boots of the palmettos. There were jasmine and bignonia vines, with occasionally a bouganvillea, still blossoming. Phlox was running through the grass and in the gardens were Easter lilies, petunias and oleanders. Most of the houses were light colored. Some of them built shortly after the street was opened are little changed. Mrs. M. A. Stedman's house at first on the west corner of Ohio Avenue, now on the east side; the Frayser home owned by Dean Carson; Dr. David Moore's next to the college fraternity house on the corner of Michigan Avenue; J. F. Allen's opposite Chaudoin Hall. The giant wisteria grown into the porch marks the passage of time. A better indication of change is the following incident told by Mrs. C. P. Swift who lived near the business part of town. A man had written to ask her if there were snakes and alligators in DeLand. She had replied that there were very few snakes and he might stay all winter and not see an alligator. He came and was delighted. The first morning after he arrived, he went out for a walk, but soon came back with his eyes popping out of his head and called her to the door. Crawling leisurely up the North Boulevard in front of her house was a four foot alligator. Mr. Alligator belonged to a boy living near and had his home in a small pond where a well had been sunk.

THE BOOM OF THE EIGHTIES

From 1878-1880 was a period of business depression, partly due to the fact that the land had been taken up in homesteads and could not be sold until the required period of residence expired. Now the homesteads began to prove up and land became saleable. The town went forward with a rush. A man from a rival town said in explanation, "Old DeLand is there making things hum." My father had sold his business interests in the north and had determined to make DeLand a "business, social, educational and religious center.” Into this project for the next fourteen years he threw the experience and money he had accumulated. He advertised widely, his office becoming a forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce. Old letters and bills show that during the 80's he was advertising in about ninety papers and magazines. Among them were some well known today: The Century, Youth's Companion, Sunday School Times, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Jacksonville Times Union, New York Times, World and Tribune, Chicago Inter Ocean, St. Louis Magazine, Boston Transcript. An interesting echo from the latter appeared in the DeLand Sun of Oct. 29, 1926. E. W. Parker of the staff of the Boston paper wrote to the DeLand Chamber of Commerce: "Back some thirty-seven or thirty eight years ago Mr. DeLand and his associates decided to try an advertisement in the Transcript. This was the beginning of the Transcript's acquaintance with DeLand and we have always felt a friendly interest in her progress.” Papers and circulars were distributed by mail and placed in hotels and on trains and boats. He asked visiting friends on their return to write articles in their home papers. He was, I think, the first to advertise Florida extensively in the home papers in the north. In response, letters of inquiry came flocking in from all over the country: Maine, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington; from Alberta, Nova Scotia; from Holland and Germany. All classes of society were represented: doctors, teachers, ministers, artists, merchants, farmers, carpenters, mechanics. Florida must have had all the lure of the unknown. One said: "Answer in a short time and tell me everything." Another wanted: "particulars of Florida and all about your country.” They asked about routes and freight rates from their homes, about necessary equipment and clothing. "I am told that the country, as a whole, is level, unhealthy and malarious. Is it safe for northerners to stay there during the summer season?" This (lot) No. 1 (reference to map) would it be difficult to clear and what would be the price, and how much more expensive would be some place entirely surrounded by streets, How to make a success of orange culture where there is frost and ice?" (This proved to be the hardest question to answer). Folks offeted in exchange for Florida land patent rights, mining stock, and property in far away places, Minnesota and North Dakota. The other side of the real estate business in the booof the 1880's, as in that of 192425, was taking out your prospects to see wonderful bargains. In my memory we rode on and on "in a land where it seemed always afternoon.” It is a pleasure lost to this generation, driving slowly over soft roads, winding about under the murmuring pines beneath a dazzling blue sky. Catching sight of a grove, we would stop for oranges. Some one with deft fingers would shape them into yellow cups from which we would sip their sweetness. “We would hear the mocking birds that all day long Athwart straight sunshine weave Cross threads of song." This, you say, is not business. But it is. The layers of sunshine, flowers and fruit comprise the charm that sold and sells Florida sand.

Excerpt from: THE STORY OF DELAND AND LAKE HELEN, FLORIDA.

WRITTEN BY HELEN PARCE DELAND.