John Batterson Stetson

Renowned hat maker John Batterson Stetson left an indelible mark on the city of DeLand, from his winter home on Camphor Lane to the university that bears his name.

Stetson was invited to West Volusia by city founder Henry DeLand in 1886. He took over the endowment of Henry DeLand's financially strapped DeLand Academy, and was elected to its board of trustees a year later. Two years after that, at DeLand's urging, the school's name was changed to Stetson University.

Elizabeth Hall, was named for Stetson's third wife. Elizabeth Hall was built and modeled after  Independence Hall in his hometown.

Stetson built an ice factory and Florida's first electric plant, which powered not only the ice-making equipment, but also the state's first electric street lights, which were in downtown DeLand.

 

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