HISTORIC STETSON UNIVERSITY
Founded 1883
HULLEY TOWER
Hulley Tower is not only full of rich history, but possible paranormal activity Hulley Tower, is a valued historic site in the city of Deland as it is within the Stetson community. The structure stood at 116 feet. Lincoln Hulley, one of Stetson University’s longest serving presidents, ordered its construction in 1934. It also played a vital role in the city of Deland, housing the Eloise Chimes.
LINCOLN HULLEY
Lincoln Hulley was born on May 3,1865 near Camden, New Jersey and named after Abraham Lincoln. At a young age Hulley revealed great promise in academia and scholarship, which allowed him to pursue a career as a professor. He attended institutes such as Keystone Academy (now known as Keystone College), Bucknell College (now known as Bucknell University), and Harvard University. His first wife was Harriet Spratt whom passed away after the birth of their first and only daughter Harriet Hulley. Short after his wife’s death he continued to expand his education and attended University of Chicago, where he met his second wife Eloise Mayham. They later had three children together.
Hulley graciously accepted an offer to become Stetson University’s president in 1903 and served in that role for the next thirty years. He was also as a professor, published author, poet, Florida state senator for two terms, orator, and playwright. Many of his literature pieces and books are now safely kept in the Stetson University archives. Hulley also broadened the access of quality academia and educational careers by expanding the acceptance rate from 231 students to 500 students. He also expanded the Stetson’s campus by constructing many buildings including:Stover Theatre, Carnegie Library (now Sampson Hall), Conrad Hall, Cummings Gymnasium, Hulley Gymnasium, and the original Commons building.
Among these buildings was, of course, Hulley Tower. Previously we learned that the tower housed the Eloise chimes that were originally housed in Elizabeth Hall’s cupola but were transferred to the Hulley tower upon completion. The Eloise Chimes were dedicated to Hulley’s second wife Eloise and consisted of eleven rough cast bells, four large bells and seven small bells. The weight ranged between 300 to 575 pounds and hung from an all steel structure at 106 feet in height. The chimes were played with wooden handles, each attached to a bell by a system of pulley wires and leather straps. The platform where the bells were played was on the second level and open air to help the chimes resonate beautifully. The bells were rung at 8 am to indicate the sunrise and 6 pm sunset to let the community know that it was time to head home. Many students, faculty, and religious leaders said that the chimes would free the area of bad spirits. But, when the chimes couldn’t fulfill that duty, it would remind residents when to return home and avoid the encounter of bad spirits; since bad spirits linger at night…
When the Tower still stood at 116 feet it was greatly impacted during hurricane season between 2004-2005, which includes Hurricane Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. It caused the infrastructure of the tower to rot and weaken due to the weather damage, which posed a threat to students, faculty and residents. This led to the tower being dismantled between 2005 and 2006. Workers had to work quietly and carefully since the concrete base is a crypt housing Hulley, his wife and his dog. Hulley Tower was declared as a historical landmark and has been featured in “Florida’s ghostly legends and haunted folklore” in hauntedplaces.org. Legend has it that students, faculty, and community members still see Hulley, his wife and dog take strolls hand in hand all around the Stetson campus and along Woodland Boulevard.
HULLEY TOWER STREETVIEW
512 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32723