Captain John & Mrs. Rich's Cabin

Captain John and Clara Rich settled in the small community of Persimmon Hollow in 1874. They built the first home here, a log cabin, which was located on West New York Avenue, east of the present day St. Peter's Catholic Church. A year later they welcomed the addition of Clara Belle Rich, the first child to be born in DeLand.

On April 8, 1876 Captain Rich met a gentleman by the name of Henry DeLand. Since there was nowhere else for them to stay, Captain Rich invited Henry DeLand and his brother-in-law O.P. Terry to spend the night in his home. Henry DeLand spent his first night in the area that would one day become the City of DeLand entertaining Captain Rich and his family with news from up north.

Mrs. Rich was delighted to hear the latest news from up north. In gratitude, Clara went out back to her chicken coop and killed and dressed a chicken for their dinner. That night Henry and O.P. Terry spent the night sleeping on pallets in the Rich's home. In late remembrances Henry recalls sleeping on the floor that evening weaving his fingers through the open spaces in the wall and feeling the cool night air coming in through the cracks and crevices of Captain Riche's Cabin.

In December 1876 the first town meeting was held and at this meeting they named several of the streets. One of those streets was to be named Rich Ave. after Captain Rich; another street was to be named Clara Ave. after his wife Clara Rich.

Clara Belle, The first child born in DeLand	Cyrenius Wright, The first Mayor & Clara Rich's Father
Clara F. Rich "To be employed," said the poet Gray, "Is to be happy." "It is better to wear out than to rust out," said Bishop Cumberland. "Have we not all eternity to rest in?" Exclaimed Arnauld. -Sanuel Smiles