The Dreka Building: The Hidden History Behind a Downtown DeLand Landmark

Bronze James H. Ford Building dedication plaque on the historic Dreka Building in downtown DeLand, Florida.

Sometimes history announces itself with a towering monument, a roadside marker, or a museum filled with artifacts. And sometimes it quietly hangs a little bronze plaque on the side of a building and waits for somebody nosy enough to stop and read it. Hi. I’m somebody. In May 2026, I was wandering through downtown DeLand, … Read more