In the midst of Deland, Fla., is the Stetson Mansion, three stories high and sitting like a jewel in the center of a beautifully landscaped lawn and garden. Once part of a 300-acre orange grove, co-owner of the home J.T. Thompson said, “This was a working plantation that belonged to John B. Stetson.”

This is Stetson of Stetson hat fame. Visitors to this home included Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, John Jacob Astor and King Edward VII. Thomas Edison was also a guest, and installed the mansion’s electricity.

Although the land has been reduced to only 2 acres and the orange grove is no more, the home has been restored and enhanced in a most unusual way, with the assistance of the hundreds of partners, including Thompson. One partner, Alice Atkins McCoy, referred to this restoration as “an adaptive restoration with the concept that if the members of the Stetson family still occupied the mansion, they would have updated the kitchen and baths and many of the furnishings.”

Regarded as one of America’s top 300 historic homes because of its architecture and history, its owner is part of the history books. The seventh child of 12, born in 1830, John Batterson Stetson had a father who was a hatter, and he learned the trade, too.
When Stetson fell ill, he went out West and while there saw what the trappers, cowboys and others were wearing in the harsh weather. In response, he created a special hat that became known as the “Boss of the Plains.” After opening a factory, he soon was creating hats and became a rich man.

Stetson went to Florida in 1886 by invitation of Henry DeLand. He purchased a 300-acre tract of land, planted citrus groves and built a winter home where he and his wife spent winters for the next 20 years. He made so many endowments to the DeLand Academy established by Henry DeLand, that the institution was renamed Stetson University.

He also built the first power plant in Florida, making DeLand the first town in the state to have electric streetlights. Stetson died in 1906, leaving his home to his wife, who never went back to Florida. Over the years, the land surrounding the home was sold off, and the home eventually went up for sale and was purchased and restored.

The home is a blend of cottage, Gothic, Tudor, Moorish and Polynesian details. Located at 1031 Camphor Lane, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 21, 1978. Carved woodwork, leaded stained glass and rare rounded glass windows compete with the grand staircase for attention.

It is thought the stained glass may be that of Louis Tiffany; although not substantiated, Tiffany was a guest in the home. The house is made up of 8,600 square feet, but this is half the size Stetson wanted to build. His wife, Elizabeth, was not fond of Florida; however, she was known to be a wonderful hostess and the winter retreat was the site of many magnificent parties and gatherings for some of the country’s most elite and influential citizens of the Gilded Age.

Today the house is adorned with gardens, gazebos, fountains, patios and a pool. There is also an 800-plus square-foot schoolhouse built to educate Stetson’s two sons. This is now a guesthouse.

For details about a tour, check out the website at www.stetsonmansion.com and for details on the area, call the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 386-255-0415, ext. 125, or log on to www.DaytonaBeach.com

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.