Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-11
FLORIDA SKETCHES.
THE TOWN OF DELAND AND
ITS FOUNDER.

Hotels - Floral Grove House - Lake
Helen - Its Phenomenal PrOgress--
Strawberry Raid-GiIlem GrOve-De-a
Land ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Dairy Farm-HOw Orange Groves Are
Made ana What They Cost.
The rapid growth and development OF
Florida is due In no little degree to indi-
Vidual enterprise and capital. Quite an
array of millionaires, statesmen, authors,
poets and railroad celebrities have de-
voted their influence and efforts to that
object. Among these may be mentioned
Senator Yulee, the Beechers and Mrs.
Harriet b. Stowe, Sidney Lanier, II. b.
Plant, A. j. Lane, }. j. Aston, IL. l..
Hart and Ii. A. DeLand.
Powerful corporations, too, have enlist
ed in the work, and what single arm
could not perform has been achieved by
their united agency, Hence the rapid
rise of towns and cities, the unprecedent-
ed multiplication of railroads, the aston
shing advances in real estate, the cree
ton of hundreds of palatial hotels the
establishment of steamboat lines and the
drainage of vast bodies of submerged
lands at almost infinite expense. Promi-
nent among the private benefactors to the
State is the founder of the beautiful
town of
DE LAND.
ii. A. DeLand, Esq. of Fairport, n. Y,
purchased a large tract OF land east Of
the st. Johns river in Nolusia county,
and conceived the idea of locating town
and sanitarium on the elevated plateau
five miles from the river, which Is noted
for its salubrity and comparative eXemp-
tiOn from malarial disease. Accordingly
in 1877 the town was laid out, a number
OF buildings erected and lots furnished on
the most liberal terms to actual settlers.
AS an Illustration of this the writer heard
one of the richest merchants say that
when he had visited the village and Sc
lected his lot, upon applying TO Mr.. De-
Land to learn the price, terms. ETC., he
received for answer, 'tJust what YOU
please to give. One dollar will suffice"
The same parcel OF ground now, aside
from the Improvements, could not be
bought for $500. Under such fostering
influences the town grew apace, ana Is
now one of the most noted centres of the
orange interests OF Florida. Within the
short radius OF five miles no less than
FOUR THOUSAND ACRES
have been set with orange trees. fully one
third of which are bearing abundantly.
uriance are unsurpassed in the State. 1t
is here In the envirOns of the place that
the famous ''Gillem grove" is located,
and others equally valuable.
Incorporated as recently as 1881, De-
Land already boasts a population of 800,
while the number of suburban residents
would swell that figure almost double. 1t
also contains FIVE hotels capable of ac-
commOdating 800 guests, seven churches
Huo f
lent white schools ana one for the blacks,
one bank, one carriage and wagon SHOP,
an ice factory, four lawyers and seven
practiclng physicians, two Masonic and
two Odd Fellow lodges, one Ancient Or
der United Workmen, and one temper
ance organization. But the glory of the
town is its
ADMIRABLE NEWSPAPERS.
Here we find that sterling journal the
Florida Agriculturist, conducted by
Messrs. CoddingJOn u Painter; the Orange
Ridge Echo, sprightly sheet, by S. We'll
Ter Johnson, and the Baptist Witness,
under the direction of Griffith & NOrthup,
all justly esteemed and patronized.
THE BUSINESS HOUSES
are as follows:
Hardware, stoves, etc.-Wm. Knapp.
General merchandising. A. Dreka &
Co., and w. w. q w. 5. CleaVeland.
Staple and fancy groceries-E. ID. Nc
LeOd and r. c. Bushnell.
Jewelry and watehmakers-R. 5. Con-
away and II. r. Holster.
Furniture and undertakers' goods-Mc-
Neill 81 Allen.
Groceries and bakery-H. Davis.
Boots, shoes and harness.. N. Sawyer.
Paints and Yarnishes (miXed paints a
speciality Randall IL Co.
Bond Lumber Company-E. W. Bond
and j. DOre.
Confectionery, cigars. etc.. D. Crab.
Carriage and wagon factory. ID. ROse.
Livery, feed and sale stable-H. A.
Tanner.
Portrait and view photographer-H. s.
Cole.
Agent for "Howry's Addition to De-
Land"-M. N. Voorhis.
Domestic and imported liquors-C. p.
Wilcox.
Bazaar and fruits-G. ID. Gould.
Sawmill-ChamDers a. Dunn.
Ticket Agent Jacksonville, Tampa and
Key West Railway-W alter Critchell.
Master builder-J0hn j. Banta.
Orange grOwer-Dr. CD. b. jackson.
Hon. +. 3. Goodrich is the Virilant
Mayor, and also President Of the Bank of
Volusia county.
HOTELS.
The Putnam House mas IUO rooms, and
is finely situated in the midst OF a mag
nifcent orange grove. 10 is handsomely
furnished. and other improvements are
still in contemplation by the proprietor,
Mr.. Putnam.
The CarrOllton Hotel, however, is the
most extensive and elegant in the city. 1t
is kept by g. A. Dreka, proprietor, and
the furniture, parlOrs, bath rooms and en-
tire equipment are all that the most fas-
tidious could desire. Both OF the above
houses are closed, but we were shown
over them by the proprietors. The writer
was the guest Of
FLORAL GROVE HOTEL,
which is conveniently situated
near the depot, and the
owners, Mr.. A. Seaman and his ex-
cellent wife, possess the happy knack OF
converting this abode into a Yeritable
home tor the wayiarer. They are both tru-
" kind and hospitable, and spare no pains
for the comfort OF the traveller. Keeping
open the year round they never lack for
patronage.
LAKE HELEN.
Thanks TO the courtesy of NJ. W. Sar-
gent, Esq. who Is associated in business
with Mr.. DeLand. the writer accompanied
by Mr.. Painter. of the A uriculturigt droVp