Students invited to paint DeBary history for contest

BEACON PHOTO/PAT ANDREWS
DeBary City Hall

By Pat Andrews
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Oct 11, 2012 - 5:25:45pm

The city named for champagne magnate Frederick deBary, whose steamships plied the St. Johns River in the late 1800s, and who built DeBary Hall as a hunting and recreational lodge for his well-heeled New York friends, is full of history.

And, that history is not to be found just in museums and books, but all around DeBary — in DeBary Hall are artifacts from the Native Americans who once camped on the shores of the St. Johns River and Lake Monroe. The railroad and early settlers' businesses played important roles in the city's history.

The City of DeBary is sponsoring an art contest, based on this history, for students. It's called "DeBary History in Your Own Backyard," sponsored by the DeBary Historic Preservation Advisory Board, and it's open to students in three categories: elementary-, middle- and high-school.

Not only will prizes be awarded, but the three first-place winners will ride with City Council members in the Debary Christmas parade on Sunday, Dec. 9, and winning artwork will be displayed at City Hall.

Tips for young artists: Get information about DeBary's history at City Hall at 12 Colomba Road, from the library, churches, online, and "even your neighbors" the invitation states, specially the old-timers.

The art form will be student's choice — painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, collage, sketch or other. Include the the artwork's title, student's name, school name and grade level with the submission, which must be turned in at City Hall by Friday, Nov. 16.

For more information, call City Clerk Stacy Tebo at 386-668-204 Ext. 309.

As for the Christmas parade, this year's theme is "A Tropical Christmas," and entries will be accepted at Parks and Recreation Monday, Nov. 5-Friday, Nov. 30. The parade will start at 3 p.m. at Spring Vista and U.S. Highway 17-92, and head north to Poinsettia Drive. For more information, call 386-668-2040, Ext. 4.

— Pat@beacononlinenews.com

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