DeBary's First Post Office
Dublin Core
Title
DeBary's First Post Office
Alternative Title
DeBary’s First Post Office and Estates Food Center
Subject
DeBary (Fla.)
Post office buildings--Florida
Grocery stores
Description
A print of two black and white photographs of DeBary, Florida's first post office and the Estates Food Center next door. The bottom of the print reads, "DeBary's 1st post office - Walter Hanl, postmaster 89 Hwy 17-92 -- 1949 in the rear of the Estates Food Center."
DeBary’s first post office was established in October 1949 on what is now Charles Richard Beall Boulevard to serve the growing community. Walter Hanl, owner of Estates Food Center, initially allowed the Orange City mail carrier to drop off and collect mail at his store. As the volume increased, Hanl created cubbyholes, sorted the mail himself, and eventually built an addition after 55 residents petitioned for a local post office. He became DeBary’s first postmaster, replacing the Star Route 1 address with DeBary. Around 1962, Janet Potter moved to DeBary and worked delivering mail to support her four children as a single mother, earning $2.16 an hour.
DeBary’s first post office was established in October 1949 on what is now Charles Richard Beall Boulevard to serve the growing community. Walter Hanl, owner of Estates Food Center, initially allowed the Orange City mail carrier to drop off and collect mail at his store. As the volume increased, Hanl created cubbyholes, sorted the mail himself, and eventually built an addition after 55 residents petitioned for a local post office. He became DeBary’s first postmaster, replacing the Star Route 1 address with DeBary. Around 1962, Janet Potter moved to DeBary and worked delivering mail to support her four children as a single mother, earning $2.16 an hour.
Source
One image containing two black and white photographs: Private Collection of Ronald E. Muse.
Publisher
Date Created
ca. 1949
Date Copyrighted
ca. 1949
Is Part Of
DeBary Collection, Volusia County Collection, RICHES.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
9.74 MB
Medium
One photographic print
approx. 5 x 7 inches black borders around both photos
Language
eng
Type
Still Images
Coverage
DeBary Post Office, DeBary, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Ronald E. Muse and published by RICHES.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by Ronald E. Muse and is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only.
Curator
Crosby, Danielle
Digital Collection
Source Repository
Private collection of Ronald E. Muse.
External Reference
City of DeBary. "DeBary History.” City of DeBary. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://debary.org/309/DeBary-History.
Orlando Sentinel. "The DeBary Family Can Read Up on Its History Thanks to City’s Present.” January 27, 1998. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/01/27/the-debary-family-can-read-up-on-its-history-thanks-to-citys-present/.
Jones, Colleen Michele. "DeBary partners with UCF in digital archives project to preserve local history..” The Daytona Beach News-Journal, July 9, 2024. https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2024/07/09/people-in-debary-care-a-lot-local-history-highlighted-by-ucf-project/74335337007/.
Collection
Citation
“DeBary's First Post Office,” RICHES, accessed September 4, 2026, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/12089.