"Prevatt is situated about six miles from Orange City, it is upon a fine quality of high pine land. It contains a store, post office, school house and about 50 inhabitants. It is noted for containing one of the oldest and best groves in the state." Department of Immigration pamphlet, 1882.

"Prevatt Settlement was the forerunner of Lake Helen and it was an area that Henry A. DeLand, for whom DeLand is named, had his eye on. DeLand dreamed of building a new town, around a lake, one that would be 'the prettiest and pleasantest' in Florida.

In 1883, DeLand set about to make this dream come true. He was able to purchase 340 acres of the Prevatt estate and he proceeded to have a map drawn and streets laid out. He named the town and its principal lake for his daughter, Helen Parce DeLand.

Judge James H. Prevatt had arrived in the area in 1858 and is believed to have been the first settler. He built a log house, described as having a wide porch, plank windows and chimney of clay and sticks on the east side of the principal lake.

He surrounded his home with orange trees, figs, crape myrtle and oleanders and carried on the business of farming. The soil was fertile and Prevatt produced yields of 40 bushels of corn to the acre without the use of commerical fertilizer.

By 1876, he had prospered to the point of building a general store just east of his home to accomodate his neighbors. They included J.B. Clough, the Rev. E. Macy and George Colby, for whom lakes in the area are named. T.G. Giddings was another neighbor. The Giddings' house was the first in the settlement to have glass windows. Others included the Rawlings, Longs and Dyalls.

Prevatt reportedly was made a County Judge about ten years after he settled here and he also at one time served as County Treasurer and Superintendent of Schools.

Until Prevatt opened his store, the settlers had to travel to Lake Beresford or Enterprise for provisions.

All frieght was labeled 'Prevatt Settlement' and shipped either to Blue Spring Landing or to Rossiter Landing on Lake Beresford. Most of the overland hauling was by mules and carts as the narrow and rugged roads made four-wheeled wagons impractical.

The Prevatt Church House was south of the old cemetery on the north side of Lake Helen. It was built of pine poles -- logs with the bark stripped off -- and had a unique lighting system. Outside, scaffolds were erected upon which pitch pine was burned to light the yard. Inside, light was furnished by fat splinters stuck into the cracks in the wall. The church served as a school for two or three terms and also as a store for awhile.

Some of the ministers serving in the Prevatt Church were the Rev. McGlon, a Baptist from Haw Creek; the Rev. Gautier, Methodist from Crescent City; and Judge James H. Chandler, Methodist, who lived southeast of Judge Prevatt.

Judge Prevatt died in 1883 and in the spring of that year, Henry DeLand purchased 40 acres of the Prevatt estate for a reported $9,269."