Manufacturer, Philantropist, and Founder of the city of DeLand and DeLand Academy (now Stetson University). Henry A. Deland made his fortune in New York state manufacturing baking soda. His home in the Rochester area is now the Green Lantern Inn. Indoor plumbing installed when the house was new, making this one of the first houses in the area to have such modern conveniences. Early in life, Henry decided that if he became a financial success, he would donate a portion of his money to a worthwhile project. The project that he picked was to turn the little community of Persimmon Hollow along the St. Johns River into the "Athens of Florida". DeLand first visited this area of Florida in 1876 with his brother-in-law, O.P. Terry, who had purchased property to raise oranges. Henry decided to settle his affairs in New York and make central Florida his home. He bought a section of property for $1,000 in 1876. His idea was to develop the area by convincing settlers to come to Persimmon Hollow and buy land from him. If they didn't like the area they could sell the land back to Mr. DeLand within the first two years of settlement. He gave land for a school, church, and main thoroughfares. He also founded the city of Lake Helen, naming it for his daughter and Lake Harlan was named for his son. In recognition of DeLand's contributions, in 1882 at the time the city was incorporated, the citizens renamed the town in his honor. In 1883, he established Deland Academy and in 1884, he contributed $10,000 to build DeLand Hall for the campus. DeLand Hall is the oldest building still in continuous use for higher education in Florida. A hundred years after its construction it is still called DeLand Hall and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, Florida had several freezes (the first one was in 1885) which killed the crops of the new settlers, and Henry DeLand honored his agreement to buy the land back from them. He no longer had the funds to support DeLand Academy so John B. Stetson took over the endowment and the name of the academy was changed, upon the request of Mr. DeLand, to John B. Stetson University. The last 32 years of his life he gave to his adopted town which has been the county seat of Volusia County since 1888. He remained an honorary trustee of Stetson University until his death and he was honorary president of the Old Settlers Society. The Old Settler's Society, originally known as "Pioneers of DeLand and Vicinity" required that to be a member one had to have homesteaded property prior to 1877. His Great Floridian plaque is located at DeLand Hall on the Stetson University campus.
Manufacturer, Philantropist, and Founder of the city of DeLand and DeLand Academy (now Stetson University). Henry A. Deland made his fortune in New York state manufacturing baking soda. His home in the Rochester area is now the Green Lantern Inn. Indoor plumbing installed when the house was new, making this one of the first houses in the area to have such modern conveniences. Early in life, Henry decided that if he became a financial success, he would donate a portion of his money to a worthwhile project. The project that he picked was to turn the little community of Persimmon Hollow along the St. Johns River into the "Athens of Florida". DeLand first visited this area of Florida in 1876 with his brother-in-law, O.P. Terry, who had purchased property to raise oranges. Henry decided to settle his affairs in New York and make central Florida his home. He bought a section of property for $1,000 in 1876. His idea was to develop the area by convincing settlers to come to Persimmon Hollow and buy land from him. If they didn't like the area they could sell the land back to Mr. DeLand within the first two years of settlement. He gave land for a school, church, and main thoroughfares. He also founded the city of Lake Helen, naming it for his daughter and Lake Harlan was named for his son. In recognition of DeLand's contributions, in 1882 at the time the city was incorporated, the citizens renamed the town in his honor. In 1883, he established Deland Academy and in 1884, he contributed $10,000 to build DeLand Hall for the campus. DeLand Hall is the oldest building still in continuous use for higher education in Florida. A hundred years after its construction it is still called DeLand Hall and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, Florida had several freezes (the first one was in 1885) which killed the crops of the new settlers, and Henry DeLand honored his agreement to buy the land back from them. He no longer had the funds to support DeLand Academy so John B. Stetson took over the endowment and the name of the academy was changed, upon the request of Mr. DeLand, to John B. Stetson University. The last 32 years of his life he gave to his adopted town which has been the county seat of Volusia County since 1888. He remained an honorary trustee of Stetson University until his death and he was honorary president of the Old Settlers Society. The Old Settler's Society, originally known as "Pioneers of DeLand and Vicinity" required that to be a member one had to have homesteaded property prior to 1877. His Great Floridian plaque is located at DeLand Hall on the Stetson University campus.
Bio by: RosalieAnn
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