A walk around Lake DeFuniak is to step back into Victorian times, when  labor and materials were plentiful and elaborate architectural details  were incorporated in many of the homes being built. Turrets, double verandas,  classic fluted columns, gingerbread trim, and window dormers all  resulted in interesting architecture that is seen along Circle Drive.
 

When the railroad began operation in 1882, "Open Pond" was identified as  a railroad stop. "Open Pond" soon became known as DeFuniak Springs. It  was named "DeFuniak" in honor of Frederick DeFuniak, Chief Engineer of  the L&N Railroad. "Springs" refers to the almost perfectly round  freshwater, spring-fed lake located in the center of town.
 

Cultural, educational, and religious activities came early when the town  was chosen as a winter home for the New York Chautauqua. The Florida  Chautauqua program lasted from 1885 to 1922 and attracted thousands  of visitors to DeFuniak Springs. Programs were held in tents and small  buildings near the lake until the Chautauqua "Hall of Brotherhood," with  its 4,000 seat auditorium, was built in 1909. The growing town was the  home of the State Normal School (c.1885), which moved to Tallahassee in  1905 and eventually became Florida State College for Women, known today as  Florida State University. Other early educational institutions in DeFuniak Springs included Palmer College (1907-1936) and the Thomas  Industrial Institute (1913-1924). The Florida Education Association  (FEA) was founded in DeFuniak Springs in 1886.
 

Influence of the Chautauqua movement is very much alive in DeFuniak  Springs. In 1996, local residents revived the historic event through the  Florida Chautauqua Center, Inc., and the organization hosts the  conference-style program during the last week of January. Another  organization formed in 2008 called the Florida Chautauqua Assembly,  Inc., also hosted a similar Chautauqua program during February.  After a few years, the second organization ceased its annual program schedule.
 

All structures listed below are on the National Register of Historic  Places. These homes, buildings and churches are all located on Circle  Drive in the historic district of DeFuniak Springs, Florida. This  neighborhood rests on the banks of the round, spring-fed lake called Lake DeFuniak. The structures listed below are in chronological  order of address around the lake.
 

(c. 1909). Completed in 1909 at a cost of $28,000, the original building  had an addiotional portico at each end, in addition to the three across the front.  Those have since been removed.  Originally the porticos were supported by a total of forty columns, representing  the forty states existing at that time. The building, topped by the "Lantern of  Religious Trust,"  at the very top of the domed roof was named the Hall of Brotherhood. Upstairs, classrooms could be opened up to seat 1,000. An auditorium attached to  the back of the building seated 4,000. However, Hurricane Eloise destroyed much of the auditorium in 1975. Due to the anticipated cost of the repair, the two-story auditorium was simply removed.
 

(c.1900). Prominent citizen and realtor R.E.L. McCaskill sold his  property with a small frame structure to W.J. Davis for a family  residence in 1914. Davis and subsequent owners have made various  modifications to the original frame structure.
 

(c.1896). The church was founded in 1890, and the building was completed  in 1896. It is the oldest church building in the city, and its stained  glass windows are of special interest.
 

(c1900). Now the Parish House of St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, this home served as a boarding house during the Chautauqua Era.