DeBary Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
DeBary Hall
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | DeBary, Florida |
|---|---|
| Built | 1871 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000354 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1972 |
DeBary Hall is a special historic place in DeBary, Florida, United States. It's located at 198 Sunrise Boulevard. On July 24, 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. This means it's an important building worth protecting.
Frederick DeBary was a businessman who imported wine, especially Mumms Champagne. He built DeBary Hall in 1871. It was his private lodge for hunting near the St. John’s River in central Florida. The area was perfect for fun activities like swimming in springs, fishing, and hunting animals like quail, deer, and alligators.
Frederick DeBary later turned his fun retreat into a successful business. He planted over 600 acres (2.4 km²) of citrus trees. He also started a steamboat company. These boats carried goods up the St. John’s River to Jacksonville. The DeBary family used the hall as their winter home until 1941. That's when the last American DeBary family member, Leonie deBary Lyon Brewster, passed away without children.
Many important guests visited DeBary Hall. You needed a personal invitation to stay there. The house was made bigger several times to fit all the visitors. They added a second dining room, a porch that wrapped around the house, two more bathrooms, and three extra guest bedrooms. People from all over, even other countries, loved Florida's springs, hunting, and warm weather. Famous guests might have included Presidents Grant and Cleveland, European royalty, and General William Tecumseh Sherman.
The building was built during a time called Reconstruction. This was a difficult time in the Southern United States. But DeBary Hall had many amazing features that were rare for homes back then. This 8,000 square foot (740 m²) hunting lodge had an elevator for luggage. It had running water from a 500-gallon tank in the ceiling. Electricity was made right there using natural gas and powered lights in the walls. There was even a wired call system throughout the house. A special system protected the roof from lightning. The property also had a water tower and Florida’s first swimming pool filled by a spring. A pump filled and drained the pool every day. These unique features helped the people living there be self-sufficient. These special parts of the house are why it's so important to the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Frederick DeBary's Early Life
Samuel Frederick deBary was born on January 12, 1815. He was born in Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany. When he was young, Frederick became friends with G. H. Mumm. Mumm's family made champagne in Rheims, France. Mumm suggested that deBary go to New York City. His job would be to introduce their family's champagne to America.
In 1840, at 25 years old, deBary sailed to New York. He wanted to sell Mumm's Champagne to the new wealthy people in the city. These were merchants, factory owners, bankers, and professionals. They were making a lot of money from New York's busy port.
Frederick DeBary's Business Success
Once in New York, deBary started his own company, Frederick deBary Company. This company was only for importing Mumm's Champagne. At that time, America didn't make many luxury items. So, deBary became very successful.
In 1844, deBary went back to Europe and married Julie Scherpenhauser. The couple then moved to New York for good. They had two children, Adolphe and Eugenie. Eugenie later married a German man and moved back to Europe. Her children are the only descendants of Frederick deBary. Today, his family lives only in Europe.
The DeBarys in Florida
Frederick DeBary's wife, Julie, passed away in 1868. After her death, he took a steamboat trip down the St. John's River in Florida. He really liked the quiet, natural beauty of the area. In January 1871, Frederick deBary bought three pieces of land. This land was next to Lake Monroe and had many oak and pine trees.
This large home quickly became the winter getaway for deBary, his family, and friends. Hunting groups would leave the house very early in the morning. Breakfast for the hunters was served at four-thirty in the morning. DeBary came to Florida every year in late December or early January. He usually brought many guests with him. DeBary Hall was a busy place for hunting and fishing during the mild Florida winters.
DeBary's Florida Businesses
Frederick DeBary was always looking for new business ideas. He turned his winter home into a profitable business. He bought over 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land and planted orange groves. He built a packing house next to the lake pier. He was one of the first citrus growers to sort oranges by size. He did this by rolling them down a sloped path with different sized holes.
DeBary also joined the profitable steamboat business. He started the DeBary Merchants Line. His steamboats traveled from Jacksonville to Enterprise along the St. John's River. Until 1889, most of the steamboats on the St. John's River belonged to deBary.
Changes After Frederick DeBary
Frederick deBary passed away on December 23, 1898. By then, his citrus trees had been damaged by severe freezes. Also, the faster railroad industry was slowly taking over the steamboat business. His son, Adolphe, and daughter, Eugenie, inherited DeBary Hall. They also inherited five other estates deBary had bought over the years. DeBary Hall is believed to be the smallest of Frederick deBary's six homes.
Eugenie moved to Germany with her husband, Baron Hugo Von Mauch, before she turned ninety. Adolphe deBary was fifty-three years old when his father passed away. He took over his father's importing company and the DeBary Merchant Line. Adolphe also loved horses and hunting, just like his father. He kept at least six horses in the stable. He also had a collection of vehicles. These included a brougham, a surrey, a phaeton, a brake cart, and pony carts for children.
Adolphe DeBary lived longer than all four of his own children. When he passed away in 1928, DeBary Hall went to his grandchildren, Leonie deBary Lyon and Adolphe deBary Lyon.
The Last American DeBary Heirs
Leonie and Adolphe were still children when their grandfather died. The deBary estate was put into a trust for them. Their father, Cecil Lyon, managed it. Leonie and Adolphe became the last American deBary heirs because both passed away young.
Adolphe deBary Lyon graduated from Harvard College in 1935. On September 19, 1937, Adolphe was at a party with friends. As they were leaving, a young woman started to cross the street. She didn't see a car coming. Adolphe saw it and quickly pushed her out of the way. He was hit by the car and passed away at twenty-three years old.
His sister, Leonie, became the only owner of DeBary Hall. She was married to Benjamin Brewster, a friend from childhood. Leonie made more changes to the family home than any owner before her. She added a tennis court, new floors, and a bigger bathroom in the main bedroom suite. The biggest change was how people traveled to DeBary Hall. Leonie and her husband loved flying. They built a runway and an airplane hangar on the property.
On May 9, 1941, Leonie and Benjamin planned to fly from Long Island to Philadelphia. The weather was not good for flying, but the couple decided to go anyway. In the heavy rain, their plane crashed into the side of a mountain. The young couple passed away instantly. Leonie was thirty-one and had no children.
DeBary Hall: 1942–1990
Leonie deBary Lyon Brewster's sudden passing caused confusion about who owned DeBary Hall. Her will said her properties should be split between her Lyon family cousins and her German deBary relatives. Neither family was very interested in owning DeBary Hall. So, a Lyon family member started selling off the 6,000 acres (24 km²) of property.
According to a Volusia County record, a person named P. V. Proctor bought all the deBary land in 1942. Mr. Proctor moved out most of the deBary furniture. Only a few original pieces were left. Proctor sold most of the deBary land to the Paco Land Company. The Paco Land Company then sold part of the property to George Stedronsky. He was from the North and hoped to create a retirement community in Florida. He lived in the Hall for about a year. In late 1947, Mr. Stedronsky sold his plans to Plantation Estates, Incorporated. This was a company that developed land. DeBary Hall became part of "Plantation Estates." Much of the land around it became individual lots with small houses. DeBary Hall became the clubhouse for the Plantation Estates community.
DeBary Hall then became a place for the senior citizens of the community. The house was 70 years old and needed repairs. The new owners looked for someone who could fix up the Hall. In 1959, the Florida Federation of Art agreed to turn DeBary Hall into their art and cultural center. It became the main office for the Florida Federation of Art, Incorporated. For just one dollar, the Hall and a 5-acre (20,000 m²) piece of land, including the swimming pool and tennis courts, were given to them.
The State of Florida bought DeBary Hall in 1967. They then leased the Hall to the Florida Federation of Art. The Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials took over the Hall. They put a bronze plaque on the front lawn. After some time, the Florida Federation moved their main office. DeBary Hall was left empty again.
In the 1990s, after being empty for many years, many people worked hard to restore DeBary Hall. The State of Florida now leases this historic site to Volusia County. It is used as a historic house museum.
Awards and Recognition
In 1971, DeBary Hall Historic Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The site continues to win awards for its preservation, education, and how it tells its story. These awards come from local, state, and national groups.
Some awards include two from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. These were for "Outstanding Achievement: Interpretive Media" and "Outstanding Achievement in Adaptive Reuse." DeBary Hall Historic Site's interactive computer exhibit won several awards in 2001. These were from the American Association for State and Local History, the Florida Historical Society, and the Historical Confederation. In 2008, DeBary Hall Historic Site received the National Association of Counties Achievement Award.
DeBary Hall Historic Site Today
Today, the DeBary Hall Historic Site is only 10 acres (40,000 m²). This is a small part of the original 10,000 acres (40 km²) that Frederick DeBary owned. The former estate now includes a town named after him, DeBary, and part of Volusia County. The 10 acres (40,000 m²) are owned by the State of Florida. They are managed by the County of Volusia.
The site still has several original buildings. These include the Hall itself, an icehouse, two servant quarters, and the stables. In 2007, the stable was restored. This project received an "Outstanding Achievement in Adaptive Reuse" award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. New buildings have been added to the site. These include a Visitor’s Center with a gift shop, trail-head pavilions, and an Imagidome Theater. The design of the pavilion and theater looks like old buildings that used to be on the site, based on old photos.
The historic home is open Tuesday through Sunday for tours led by guides. The land around the house is open every day from sunrise to sunset for self-guided walks. DeBary Hall is also part of Volusia County's rails-to-trails program. Bike trails run over 10 miles (16 km) to Gemini Springs and Lake Monroe Park.
