Bibi LeBlanc
Culture to Color gives me the opportunity to turn my photography into a different medium I can share with you. Come explore & discover the sites of DeLand, Florida, with me, a town I love to live in and be part of its everyday life and culture. Adult coloring books are known to be relaxing, they have become very popular for that reason. This adult coloring book not only offers the therapeutic aspect of this type of activity, but it also is a peek into the historic town in the heart of Florida. It is a wonderful way to plan a trip to the area, as it includes several of the landmark buildings, their history, location, and even a map of the downtown area. DeLand has kept its small-town appearance, and it is still referred to as “the Athens of Florida.” DeLand has been designated a Great American Mainstreet and America’s Best Mainstreet, not only for its charm and visual appeal but also for the City’s commitment to the community. Adult coloring books are known to relax, and the Culture to Color series is a unique way to learn about different communities, too. This town was originally called Persimmon Hollow for the wild persimmon trees that grow around the natural springs in the area. It was only accessible by steamboat on the St. Johns River. Located a few miles east of the St. Johns, the community grew steadily after its founding in 1876 by New York State baking soda merchant Henry Addison DeLand. The town was renamed after DeLand who bought over a hundred acres of land when realizing the potential of the hilly pine area for growing citrus. Henry DeLand sought to create a town that would become a center for culture, education, religion, and enterprise – soon it became known as “the Athens of Florida.”Northern visitors and friends of DeLand made regular trips here during the winter months. Many of them came seasonally, while others stayed. John Batterson Stetson built a winter home here and became a major benefactor to the college which was later renamed after him. Stetson also introduced electricity to Florida. He had one of Thomas A. Edison’s first power plants built in DeLand to provide his home with electricity and ice and also illuminate the city streets. The town survived two disasters. In 1886, nearly all the town burned down when a fire started in a downtown saloon. As a result of the fire, no more saloons and wooden buildings were permitted, only brick and concrete buildings could be constructed in rebuilding the town.
