Square dancing was very popular in Big Tree after 1904. That’s when William Williamson built a special wooden dance floor, called a “casino” back then, on top of some stairs. Williamson, who came from Ohio, lived in Blake for a while and grew citrus. Later, a road was named after him: Williamson Boulevard.
The big tree was a landmark for a very long time. Brian McLaughlin, who works for the South Daytona Historical Society, said in his talk that because of its massive size, Native Americans probably used it for special gatherings.