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In the year of 1858 a man by the name James H. Prevatt was a pioneer of the Lake Helen area and constructed a log cabin on about 1000 acres. Prevatt was the only one with a dwelling in the area which had a porch, clay chimney, and plank windows. He harvested figs, crepe myrtle, oleanders, and orange groves. As more people started to settle within the area a general store was established in 1876 by Prevatt right by his dwelling and he also started a post office. He became the postmaster of this post office. Then a pine log meeting house was built and the locals used this for church services and schooling for the children. So the development around Lake Helen was really starting to thrive and its nearby town Cassadaga also was just starting to develop which borders Lake Helen. In 1884 James Prevatt passed away. Henry A. DeLand and Berlin Wright of NY bought Prevatt's land and acreage. They found this lake to be very picturesque and DeLand named the lake after his daughter Helen Parce DeLand. Hence why today the town and lake is called Lake Helen. Henry DeLand a wealthy man established a sawmill, built a hotel and had alot to do with development of the area. Today more recently a recreational area was developed on the lake called Royal Park we investigated various areas around the lake and this was one of them. Part of Prevatt's house still remains today. There is a two story house on the lake which has some of the original portion built from the 1860s. We do know the address of the house but I cannot disclose that to respect the owners. However rumor has it that the house is haunted and that often previous owners have seen ghosts walk through window which was replaced with a door. So I was quite amazed to hear of ghost tales near the lake so thought perhaps it would make a nice investigation as we walked along some of Lake Helens dirt roads. When hurricane Charley struck the area some of the locals claimed that a tornado skipped right across the lake. The whole area is strange. Part of Lake Helens history or perhaps major ghost activity probably has alot to do with the Cassadaga community. There is so much history to the area as hidden away in the south eastern corner in a wooded area is many cottages where mediums and psychics live. Some of the shops sell new age material such as crystals and incense. On
one side of Lake Helen is some houses and residential areas and on the
other side is the historical district of Lake Helen and a industrial
complex which was once the home of a leading exercise machine
manufacturer. But still much of the area is very secluded alot of back
roads, woods, trails, and historical sites. © By Rick-AngelOfThyNight
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