A land of vision and opportunity
this Florida that I know and adore
Fostered by the dreams of those
who came to see it as even more~

Along the beautiful St. John’s River
stately steamboats sailed with grace
Transporting visitors who were welcomed
to the graciousness of this place~



In the small town of DeBary
as it now is so aptly known
New Yorker, Frederick deBary, came
wishing to make it his winter home~

Set about to develop the elegance
of this grandiose place
Standing, still grand, in his honor
as through History, his footsteps are traced~



Winemaker by former profession
diversified his talents galore
Along the banks of the mighty St. John’s
he envisioned an orange grove in store~

The land was plentiful,
fowl, flora and fauna in abundant delight
He developed an estate that was open
to friends of his invite~

We gather now upon this very land
that time has not erased
Giving thanks to the past,
embracing the future
forever thankful for this place~

Honoring artists of every venue
invited to pay homage herein
A Historic Landmark, DeBary Hall Mansion
prospering onward through the march of time~

~Tomorrow evening, Friday, November 11, 2005,
there will be ceremonies dedicating this historical site~
*As a member of The Florida Committee of the
National Museum of Women in the Arts,
I have been invited to participate in the ceremony with my poetry readings*
~Poetry is ALIVE and well in my area, wish you could all be here~

~*No matter what I search for ...
let me know when it is LOVE that I find*~ <))><

Email - [email protected]

Betty Lou Hebert

Yv~Seeing eternal Sunshine
Still shrouded in blinding Darkness