Lake Helen and Herons, were we Yankees??

With a little time to spare, attracted by the sign of Historic Lake Helen, we made a small side trip to discover a small villlage rather than historic than bypassed by history. Here is part of the history:


Lake Helen became incorporated in the summer of 1888. The village was the brain-child of Henry DeLand, and he named his new village, Lake Helen after his daughter.
Lake Helen was originally a winter retreat for northeasterners and with the addition of two hotels, the Harlan Hotel (after his son and pictured right), and a little later the Granville Hotel, became a destination spot for New Englanders anxious to retreat from the harsh winters.
Lake Helen flourished. Citrus groves were planted and thrived, a sawmill and the Bond Brick Company were established. It was an arduous journey early on by steamer and horse or mule wagon from the St. Johns River, but it 1887 the railroad came to Lake Helen.

Later on a frosty winter ruined the citrus crop and set the village on the path to oblivion, it still has several churches, some houses friendly and helpful people, but when we bought two single scoop ice creams at two dollars apiece we thought we had been taken for Yankees as these were so small- see pictures.