BY ROBIN MIMNA

West Volusia in 1924 was a dynamic place, perched on the edge of a transformative decade. The Florida Land Boom and a thriving citrus industry exposed the Roaring Twenties’ optimism and its inequalities. While West Volusia was thriving, challenges lurked. Racial segregation and growth sustainability complicated life in the county.

The land boom and real estate fever

The Florida land boom was reshaping the county. Investors flocked to DeLand and nearby areas, lured by the promise of rich real estate opportunities. New subdivisions sprouted overnight. Hotels like the new DeLand Hotel catered to the influx of buyers and settlers.

The rise of cars and better highways made these developments more accessible. Railroads linked Volusia to Northern markets. In 1924, Alva Callaham Williams opened an office as DeLand’s first female real estate agent. This was a milestone for women in a male-dominated industry. Her busy boardinghouse became a hub for movers and shakers. Tax assessors and university presidents struck deals over coffee on the front porch.

But the speculative frenzy was unsustainable. As property values soared, the bubble grew more fragile. In two years, the land boom would collapse. This would halt much of the development that had fueled the county’s growth.

Volusia County Courthouse: a symbol of progress

In 1924, Volusia County’s government operated out of its first courthouse in DeLand after the county seat moved from Enterprise. Built by famed Lake Helen architect John Porter Mace, the modest building stood at the intersection of New York and Indiana avenues. This site would later host DeLand’s iconic copper-clad dome courthouse, completed in 1926. It became a local landmark, a source of pride and architectural achievement.

Enterprise is renamed Benson Springs

The small town of Enterprise, steeped in history, found itself at a crossroads in the 1920s. The new owner of the Benson Springs Hotel wanted to promote the town’s natural asset: its flowing spring, a remnant of the old Brock House. To rebrand the town as a destination, the proprietor persuaded hotel guests to sign a petition to rename Enterprise as Benson Springs.

For a time, the name Benson Springs seemed to embody the ambition of the decade. The hotel became a focal point for visitors, reflecting the optimism of the land boom and the tourism industry. By 1937, the renamed town had grown weary of its new identity. Locals signed a petition to revert the name to Enterprise. That same year, they razed the once-grand, abandoned Benson Springs Hotel. This paved the way for the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home. It is a cornerstone of modern Enterprise.

A citrus empire in full bloom

Agriculture, particularly citrus farming, was a cornerstone of West Volusia’s economy. Vast orange and grapefruit groves covered the region. The Strawn Packing House in DeLeon Springs symbolized the industry’s importance. The county’s warm climate and fertile soil made it a citrus export hub. It connected West Volusia to markets nationwide.

But even this thriving industry was not without its challenges. In the mid-1920s, freezing temperatures destroyed crops. This left farmers and workers uncertain. The citrus industry made a recovery over time. But these setbacks showed the county’s farms were vulnerable.

The legacy of DeBary Hall

At the heart of West Volusia’s history stood DeBary Hall. It was the grand estate of Count Frederick de Bary, a wealthy wine merchant who built it in the 19th century. By 1924, the estate remained under the ownership of the count’s son, Adolphe de Bary.

Adolphe had inherited not only the sprawling 19th-century hunting lodge but also his father’s business interests. He took over the DeBary-Baya Merchants’ Line, a riverboat company. It connected Volusia County to wider trade networks. By 1889, Adolphe sold the business to the Clyde Line. It was a shipping company that thrived until 1928.

Tourism on the rise

Agriculture and real estate drove much of the local economy. But, tourism was quickly becoming a key player. The St. Johns River, DeLeon Springs and Blue Springs drew tourists. They promised peaceful getaways. Leisure businesses, like boat tours and riverfront hotels, thrived. Visitors sought to escape the cold Northern winters.

Cultural and educational growth in DeLand

DeLand was a center for real estate and agriculture. It was also a cultural and intellectual hub, thanks to Stetson University. By 1924, the university had established itself as a beacon of higher education in Florida. Its presence supported local businesses and helped foster a vibrant community spirit.

The Athens Theatre, a 2-year-old vaudeville house, entertained locals and visitors. It was also a silent-movie palace. Meanwhile, new brick hotels like the 1923 Putnam Hotel symbolized DeLand’s growth. They boasted fireproof construction to reassure wary travelers.

The influence of the Ku Klux Klan

Amid this economic transformation, the Ku Klux Klan exerted significant influence in West Volusia County during the 1920s. The organization held rallies and parades. It promoted white supremacy and exclusion, disguised as moral reform.

This influence peaked in 1931. The funeral of Florida Klan Grand Titan Roy L. Cook drew 2,500 mourners to DeLand. Cook’s tombstone, engraved with “KKK,” is a curiosity in Oakdale Cemetery. It is a stark reminder of a dark chapter in the county’s history.

Segregation and inequality

The 1920s had prosperity and optimism. But, beneath this lay the harsh realities of segregation under Jim Crow laws. African Americans faced systemic barriers in housing, education, and healthcare. Dr. S.R. Coleman, DeLand’s only licensed Black doctor, worked hard to serve the community. But, he had limited resources. He could only treat patients of color under white doctors’ supervision. He had no access to the local hospitals, which were for white residents.

In 1926, the Elizabeth Roe Burgess Pavilion opened. It was DeLand’s first Black hospital. It provided care to the county’s underserved Black population. Until then, midwives like Amanda Worthy played a vital role in offering care to those in need.

Catastrophe in Lake Helen

The early twenties were a boom time in Lake Helen. But the optimism of 1924 would soon fade. Challenges would reshape West Volusia County. A catastrophic fire in 1926 destroyed the E.W. Bond plant. It left 350 men unemployed and hurt the local economy.

By the decade’s end, the land boom would collapse. The Great Depression would follow, causing great hardship. Many speculative dreams of the early 1920s would crumble. They left ghost developments and financial ruin for countless investors.

Looking back at 1924

Life in West Volusia County in 1924 was a blend of ambition, growth, and inequality. The busy citrus groves and elegant hotels captured the Roaring Twenties. But racial segregation, a struggling economy, and a land crash hinted at a hard road ahead.