Saturday, January 6, 2018

Steve's Downtown Music


Steve's Downtown Music is located in the central Florida city of Deland. It's been the place to go for CDs, records, movies, posters, shirts with music themes, magazines, etc., since the late 1990s.

Deland is an interesting city and the home of Stetson University.  A few years ago, someone asked me how Deland got its name.

Well, I explained, back in the 1890s, a couple of Europeans on a pleasure cruise, but really looking for a place to settle down, disembarked near what today is Daytona Beach.  They decided to go for a walk.  They headed west and walked and walked and walked and finally came upon a most beautiful city with a downtown, a courthouse, a playhouse, a movie theater, a university, a Walmart and several saloons.

These two explorers were stunned.  One of them blurted out, "Are you sure this is de land?"  And the other, tired and grumpy from their travels, said, "Well, it sure as hell ain't de sea."

And so the city was called Deland ever after.

And that's the truth.

12 comments:

Small City Scenes said...

And we believe anything you say???

FYI: Snow Geese jettison everything before taking flight----just so you know
MB

Stefan Jansson said...

You tell the best stories.

Bill said...

You don't see too many music stores around these days. The last one I saw was two years ago and now it's a health food store.

Funny wee story and I'm sure you meant to say that's "de truth" and not "the truth". :)

William Kendall said...

Absolute rubbish. Wal-Mart was still in the seventh circle of Hell in 1890. :)

That's quite a packed window.

Taken For Granted said...

I am not sure why I am skeptical about your story, but it seems like a tall tale to me. Fine music store window with all those posters. They promise a lot.

Kay said...

Hmmmm.....1890s, movie theater, Walmart? Unnamed?? Have I told you about a bridge that's for sale down in San Francisco?

magiceye said...

You are a great narrator in addition to being a super photographer!

Petrea Burchard said...

Hmmm. I feel the same skepticism as Taken For Granted. But I am amused!

Marleen said...

Hmmm.. I wonder if the people from your story came from the Netherlands..

Kate said...

I am always grateful for a Lowell History II lecture; such important researched topics. Thanks for spreading the knowledge about local lore. I'd like to spend some time in that store!

Sharon said...

I do love your sense of humor! This store sells a lot of things that have become obsolete over recent years. I do hope that Steve is able to eek out a living.

RedPat said...

Good tale, Lowell! We have a Steve's music here that is known for selling musical instruments especially guitars.

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." — Henri Cartier-Bresson