Albert Lee Crayne sold his ranch in Nebraska, and moved to Florida on the advice of his doctor telling him he needed to go to a warmer climate for his health. He came to Volusia County in May 1920, whre he purchased a trace of 4,000 acres of land from E.C. Howe in the section north and west of the Samsula post office. Mr. Crayne rented the Coenraets place just west of the Spruce Creek bridge on the DeLand road, which was close to where he built his house near the intersection of what is now Pioneer Trail and Samsula Road. He had his cattle and horses brought by rail, but they did not survive on this raw land.

He bought a Sears kit house, and it was delivered by rail to New Smyrna and he took a horse and wagon from Samsula to the depot to pick up the lumber. They made a mistake in the measurements and the lumber was cut two feet shorter than it was supposed to be, but the carpenters worked around it and built the house anyway.

Albert brought his wife Ella and two daughters Ina Crayne (Rowell) and Alta Crayne (Langford) with him. Ina lived most of her life in DeLand, Florida, then later in life building a home in Samsula where she lived until she died. Alta lived all her life in Samsula.

Albert built a gas station on the southwest corner of what is now the junction of Samsula Road and Pioneer Trail, across the street from his home. The Jontes family, arriving in 1926, ran the store for him.

Al Turner and Carl Langford went to New Smyrna and asked to have electric power brought to Samsula. They were told that if they could raise $1200.00 they would bring power to the area. They went around to everyone and said if they would give whatever they could afford they would get power. They raised the money, and Al Turner with Carl’s help wired most of the houses.

Albert Crayne gave them cypress from his land for the poles. They used green trees at first, but these did not last very long before they had to be replaced.
Thanks to Alice Lee Langford Snow for this story about her grandfather.