35th Historic Oakdale Cemetery Walk

Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12, 2024

Reserve your 75 minute tour time slot between the hours of 5:30 and 7 pm

Walk through history in DeLand's historic Oakdale Cemetery with the West Volusia Historical Society's in-house reenactor troupe and hear the stories of the evolving partnership between the City of DeLand and Stetson University.  Learn how their collaborative efforts and shared goals created a mutually beneficial environment, supporting both the town's development and the University's growth. You'll meet several key individuals, who, during this period were instrumental in advancing education, social reforms and community development establishing DeLand as progressive and forward-thinking.

Tours are for 75 minutes and depart every 20 minutes from the Oakdale Cemetery Clara Avenue entrance between the hours between 5:30 and 7pm. Call 386-740-6813 to reserve your specific tour time.

$25 for adults; $20 for WVHS members; $15 for children under the age of 12.

Advance reservation for reserved tour times is required. Deadline for reservations is Thursday, October 10th at 4 pm. Tickets on site available only on a space-available basis with cash or check.

                        Purchase Tickets

Call:  386.740.6813. Credit card.

In-person: Conrad Center, 137 N. Michigan Ave. in DeLand. Tues - Saturday, 12 noon - 4 pm; credit card, check or cash.

Tickets and Reservations

About the Guided Tour

Check in at the Oakdale Cemetery entrance closest to Plymouth Avenue at 800 N. Clara Avenue.

Please check-in 10 minutes prior to your reserved tour time.

Parking is available on Stetson Street or Oakdale Avenue. Plan ahead for time to park and walk to the check-in desk at the cemetery entrance (800 N. Clara Ave). Parking is not allowed within the gates of the cemetery. Drivers may drop guests off at check-in before parking.

Arrival and Parking

Oakdale Cemetery is one of the largest historic cemeteries in Volusia County with more than 15,000 grave sites.

Guests will walk the short route in groups of 15 people. If you are attending in a particular group, please give individual names when you make your reservation and make payment.

Group tours depart every 20 minutes between 5:30 and 7pm and are about 1 hour and 15 minutes in length. Meet your tour guide at the designated check in area at the Clara Avenue entrance to the Cemetery. 

Accessibility

The walking tour is through Oakdale Cemetery on paved walkways but all guests must be prepared for uneven pavement and be able to navigate with lighting provided by lanterns and flashlights. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for the "Florida great outdoors". A limited number of chairs is available at each tour stop.

A handicapped parking area is available in the Cemetery. Guides are not able to assist guests in getting in or out of vehicles, push wheelchairs or assist persons using a walker or walking with a cane. 

Earl W. Brown (1890-1963)  Son of early DeLand settlers, Earl Brown was a Stetson University alumnus who went on to serve as City Manager and Mayor of DeLand and helped found the Volusia County Fair in 1925. Active in the Commercial Club, which later became the Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Brown founded Exhibit Builders to make dioramas (miniature 3D scenes) which sold nationwide. He and his wife Rose later moved near Pierson and raised citrus and cattle. Played by Stephen Case

Grace Howard and Edith Reeve (1872-1947 and 1881-1952)  After graduating from Stetson University, Grace Howard and Edith Reeve opened a downtown gift shop in 1905, the Reeve & Howard “Old Curiosity Shop.” Howard ran her family home after her mother died, helped in her brother’s photo studio, and worked in the Woman’s Club of DeLand. Reeve later married Franklin Hyde of DeLand but had no children. Hoping to help increase DeLand’s sophistication, the two friends made yearly buying trips to New York City. Played by Sally Daykin and Alix Miller

G. Medwin Peek (1900-1979)  Born in Palatka and raised in DeLand, Medwin Peek earned a bachelor’s degree at Stetson University and a master’s degree in architecture at Harvard. He helped design the National Archives Building in Washington DC, and did sketches of the King Tutankhamen archaeological site. In DeLand, he designed homes in the University Terrace subdivision, the DeLand Hotel (now the Artisan Inn), City Hall (demolished in 2007), the Burgess Pavilion, and Fish Memorial Hospital (demolished in 1997). Played by David Withee

Alma Farriss and son, Carl Farriss (1867-1944 and 1892-1945)  Alma Farriss; her husband, Charles (Stetson University vice president and professor); and son, Carl, were forces in DeLand. Alma taught piano and Domestic Sciences at Stetson and helped found the Woman’s Club of DeLand.

Carl graduated from Stetson Law School and practiced law before becoming a judge. The family arrived in 1904 when Stetson President John Forbes hired Dr. Farriss as vice president. Their home at 137 W. Michigan Ave. is now the DeLand House Museum. Played by Nancy Prosser-Marshall and Kalib Prush

Mary Stewart Howarth (1886-1976)  A DeLand native, Mary Stewart Howarth earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan in 1906 and was the first woman graduate of Stetson Law School. She joined her father's law firm, Stewart and Stewart, and married lawyer Casper Howarth of Chester, Pa., in 1912. They and their three daughters returned to DeLand in 1925, when he was recovering from a heart attack. She rejoined the family firm and taught constitutional law at Stetson. Played by Mary Selter

Dr. Lincoln and Eloise Hulley (1865-1934 and 1867-1959)  President of Stetson University from 1904-1934, Dr. Hulley helped build Stetson’s academic reputation. A Harvard graduate, with a PhD from the University of Chicago, he spoke six languages and taught history and Hebrew. Eloise attended Swarthmore, the University of Michigan, and earned her master's degree at the University of Chicago, where she met the 28-year-old widower. They married in 1893 and moved to Pennsylvania, where he taught at Bucknell until he assumed Stetson’s presidency. Played by Jim and Carol Dries