Bringing History to Life: A DeLand Love Story at the Historical Society
The West Volusia Historical Society brings the resilient 50-year romance of local residents Harold and Rabel Parsons to life at the Conrad Center.
Caryn Long and Stan O'Neal took over the West Volusia Historical Society’s Conrad Center to reenact the lives of Rabel and Harold Parsons, two long-time residents of the West Volusia area.
History is not just a collection of dates and artifacts locked away in quiet museums. It is the living, breathing narrative of the people who built our communities from the ground up, scars and all. The West Volusia Historical Society is carrying that torch locally, preserving the unapologetic stories of those who left an indelible mark on DeLand and West Volusia. At a recent Conversations at Conrad event, this sentiment was on full display with a captivating theatrical presentation of the lives of Harold and Rabel Parsons, two long-time residents who did not just survive their era. They defined it.
The Conrad Center, sitting quietly next to the DeLand House Museum on West Michigan Avenue, hosted a performance that brought this local love story back into the room. With Rabel warmly portrayed by Caryn Long and Harold played with perfect gravity by Stan O'Neal, attendees were transported back in time. It was an intimate look at a romance that spanned more than half a century, playing out as if the two were simply sitting across a table, recounting their battles and favorite memories over a neat pour.
Attendees at the West Volusia Historical Society trade a quiet weekend afternoon for a gripping journey through the gritty roots of their own town
In many ways, the journey of Harold and Rabel reads like a roadmap through mid-century Central Florida. The couple first crossed paths during a 1942 choir rehearsal at the First Baptist Church while attending Stetson University. It is the defining story of their generation, a life upended by the brutal reality of World War II. Before Harold shipped out for Navy flight training, the two became engaged. On the home front, Rabel stepped up to serve, proudly pounding the pavement as the first female letter carrier in DeLand to deliver the heavy news of the era.
Caryn Long breathes life into the role of Rabel Parsons, recounting the brutal realities and hard-won victories of a mid-century life in Central Florida.
When Harold finally returned, the two picked up right where they left off. They married and embarked on a decades-long adventure. Harold spent twenty-two years working as an agent for the FBI, navigating the gritty, high-stakes reality of the Florida justice system. As recounted by Stan, Harold crawled through palmetto bushes to dismantle KKK cross-burnings and disarmed railway explosives. Rabel, meanwhile, returned to Stetson to finish her degree, launching a fiercely rewarding career in music education. Through it all, their story was anchored by a profound mutual respect and a shared love for their family and the town they called home.
Stan O'Neal steps into the heavy shoes of Harold Parsons, delivering the quiet gravity of a man who survived a decades-long career in the FBI.
The West Volusia Historical Society regularly hosts engaging, community-focused events exactly like this one to ensure the region's vibrant past stays relevant. From their Conversations at Conrad series to their beloved Tour of Historic Homes returning this year, the society provides an invaluable window into local culture. They showcase exactly how this life was lived and how it is actively being preserved. They invite everyone to step back in time and connect with the genuine roots of West Volusia.
More than just old photographs, the presentation board captures a life lived of love and resilience between Rabel and Harold Parsons.
Ready to pull up a chair with history?
Learn more at delandhouse.com.
More information about West Volusia County is available at our Visitor Center, located at 116 W. New York Avenue in Downtown DeLand, FL, or online at www.visitwestvolusia.com. For further details, please call 386-734-0162.
