RICHES of Central Florida

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Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida

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RICHES of Central Florida

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Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida

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A new, larger church was constructed in 1889 and served the congregation until its condemnation in 1958. After the church was condemned, members of the congregation held services at Hopper Elementary School for approximately one month. Following the use of the elementary school, the congregation met at the Seventh Day Adventist Church located on the corner of Pine Avenue and East Seventh Street. After the completion of their current church, the congregation finally relocated to their new building on February 5, 1961. This church structure stands at the same location of the initial church's small wooden building, and continues to demonstrate deep pride within their community's faith, history, and involvement.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Churches of Sanford Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Churches of Sanford Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
This building served the congregation until 1926. A new concrete, stone-block building was then constructed at its current location, on the corner of East Eighth Street and Orange Avenue under the guidance of Reverend Hardy Wesley Williams. Other previous pastors include Reverends Paul Newman, G. W. Phillips, W .A. Jenkins, and John Hurston, the father of award-winning author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Churches of Sanford Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

St. James AME Church was a direct result of these two historical patterns. Originally organized in 1867 as a prayer group for freedmen, the church was founded in a small wooden house located on Mellonville Street, along the south shore of Lake Monroe. By 1880, the church relocated to its current location on the corner of East Ninth Street and Cypress Avenue. In 1893, the church upgraded its size, and constructed a larger wooden frame to house its growing congregation.

The present-day structure, which features red-brick facings, four matching stained glass windows, a bell tower, and slanted semi-circular seating within its baptistery, was built between 1910 and 1913, and designed by acclaimed African-American architect Prince W. Spears. During the 1920s and 1930s, St. James served as a Mother Church of the AME faith, and sent circuit preachers to its neighboring areas, including West Sanford, Bookertown, Cameron City, Midway, and Fort Reid. On April 24, 1992, St. James AME Church was a designated as a National Historic Landmark, and continues to serve as a religious center for the surrounding African-American community.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Churches of Sanford Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The church experienced tremendous growth during the first half of the 20th century, allowing for a parsonage to be built in 1922, during the administration of Reverend C. L. Bradley, to aid in the housing of its succeeding pastors. The new construction plan was designed by famed African-American architect, Prince W. Spears.

By 1941, the church experienced its first split, resulting in the creation of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, located just two blocks away at 618 East Tenth Street. Throughout the next decade, St. John's was guided by a variety of reverends and pastors, who helped build additions onto the church structure, including restroom facilities and a basement.

After the church operated without a pastor for a period of 15 months, the congregation called upon Reverend B. Whitehurst in June of 1958 to spear-head the church. Under Rev. Whitehurst, St. John became more spiritually and financially fortified, and took its most progressive steps by involving itself in the fight for the African-American community's fight for equal rights and numerous city and county-wide projects. In 1969, the church was remodeled and refurnished, and continued to experience the growth of its congregation. After 116 years of service to Sanford's African-American population, the church carries on its legacy by maintaining their involvement within the current neighborhood, through the offering of weekly services, prayer groups, and community service projects.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Churches of Sanford Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

In June 1973, Patricia married her first husband, Clint Holt (1955-); however, the couple quickly separated due to domestic violence and divorced around 1977. Patricia gave birth to her first child, Charmion Le'Antwinetta Holt (1974- ). She also had three other children with William Bigham Jr. (1952- ), who she was married to for 33 years: William Arthur Bigham III (1982- ), Brandon Oliver Black (1990- ), and Tempestt Teonte' Black (1992- ).

Patricia currently lives in the family home built by her grandmother, Maggie Benjamin Black (ca.1870-ca.1934) on East Tenth Street in Sanford. Patricia endured weekly molestation for 11 years from age six to age seventeen and was raped at age seventeen while pregnant with Charmion. At age 29, Patricia became severely addicted to smoking cocaine. After seven years, Patricia was able to overcome her addiction and has maintained her sobriety for 21 years. She has suffered severe mental and physical damage and is still recovering today.

Despite her traumatic experiences and sibling rejections, Patricia has developed a devout relationship with God. While in recovery, Patricia refocused her attention on spreading her ministry of love by becoming a foster parent, serving as the Parent Representative of the Committee for Special Education (CSE), and serving on her local school board in the North Rose-Wolcott school district. Patricia also has owned her own business making incense and importing shea butter from Africa. She also became a licensed nail technician specializing in stress-relieving pedicures. As of 2009, Patricia is retired but still maintains some involvement in her business/ministry named GIFTED.]]>
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> The Magazine of Wayne County History, Vol. II, Iss. I, page 2.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Patricia Ann Black was the daughter of Pilgrim Black (1905-2002) and Lula Mae Haynes Black (1917-2007), who got married in 1937. Patricia was born August 31, 1956, and grew up at the end of East Tenth Street in Sanford, Florida. She attended Hopper Elementary through sixth grade, Lakeview Middle School for seventh grade, Sanford Junior High School for eighth grade, Crooms High School for ninth grade, and Seminole High School through twelfth grade. She also attended school in the North Rose-Wolcott district each year while in Upsstate New York. During fourth grade, integration began and parents were given the choice to have their children to attend other schools, but Patricia chose to continue attending an all-black school until she entered seventh grade in 1968 and began attending integrated schools.

In June 1973, Patricia married her first husband, Clint Holt (1955-); however, the couple quickly separated due to domestic violence and divorced around 1977. Patricia gave birth to her first child, Charmion Le'Antwinetta Holt (1974- ). She also had three other children with William Bigham Jr. (1952- ), who she was married to for 33 years: William Arthur Bigham III (1982- ), Brandon Oliver Black (1990- ), and Tempestt Teonte' Black (1992- ).

Patricia currently lives in the family home built by her grandmother, Maggie Benjamin Black (ca.1870-ca.1934) on East Tenth Street in Sanford. Patricia endured weekly molestation for 11 years from age six to age seventeen and was raped at age seventeen while pregnant with Charmion. At age 29, Patricia became severely addicted to smoking cocaine. After seven years, Patricia was able to overcome her addiction and has maintained her sobriety for 21 years. She has suffered severe mental and physical damage and is still recovering today.

Despite her traumatic experiences and sibling rejections, Patricia has developed a devout relationship with God. While in recovery, Patricia refocused her attention on spreading her ministry of love by becoming a foster parent, serving as the Parent Representative of the Committee for Special Education (CSE), and serving on her local school board in the North Rose-Wolcott school district. Patricia also has owned her own business making incense and importing shea butter from Africa. She also became a licensed nail technician specializing in stress-relieving pedicures. As of 2009, Patricia is retired but still maintains some involvement in her business/ministry named GIFTED.]]>
The Magazine of Wayne County History, Vol. II, Iss. I, page 2.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

The earliest known occupant of this lot was Sanford Ice and Cold Storage in 1887. The first known residents were W. M. Burnett in 1911 and L. W. Caldwell in 1917. Confectioner H. L. Duhart ran his business from this location in 1924. Duhart had previously resided at 403 South Sanford Avenue from approximately 1911 to 1924 and also had another residence at 318 South Sanford Avenue in 1917. By 1926, Duhart had opened a real estate business in his first residence. In that same year, Emma Rankin's restaurant was listed at Suite 401.

The House of Bread Bakery was also located here sometime in the 1920s, though it is not clear if this was before or after Rankin had opened her restaurant. H & A Department Store, opened by Herman Jacobson (d. 1989) and Arthur Jacobson, was located here from approximately 1947 to 1965. By 1952, the store had expanded to include Suites 403-405. Herman's wife, Rose E. Zauderer Jacobson (1913-2009), also became a co-owner after the two married in 1934. Rose Jacobson moved to Geneva, Florida, in 1925 and taught at Sanford Grammar School as a young adult. The couple also opened Ro-Jay's, a women's clothing store at 224 East First Street.

Suite 401 was listed as vacant by 1975. By January 2012, this building remained vacant. On March 7, 2012, Jason Turner's application for a Façade Improvement Grant was approved by the Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency for $20,000.]]>
UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> ]]> UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> General Photographic Collection, Student Museum and UCF Public History Center Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> UCF Public History Center and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at the Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health started failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford." Francis left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of, including three home-cooked meals; mothers were also taught basics in infant care. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. If a mother could not afford the costs, Marie Francis would not turn her away. "There's a lot of charity here but I wouldn't feel good taking money and knowing the mother can't eat when she leaves here," Francis mentions in a newspaper article. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwives. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre, Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital. The "Midwife of Sanford" Marie Francis and her family contributed to Sanford's development and well-being for the better half of the twentieth century.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Jones-Francis Maternity Hall, Georgetown, Sanford, Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford." Francis left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
The Little Sentinel, April 4, 1979: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.]]> The Little Sentinel]]> The Little Sentinel, April 4, 1979.]]> The Little Sentinel, April 4, 1979, page 26.]]> Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> The Little Sentinel.]]> The Little Sentinel and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
The Seminole Herald, February 16, 2003: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.]]> The Seminole Herald, February 16, 2003.]]> The Seminole Herald, February 16, 2003, page 1C.]]> Marie Jones Francis Collection, RICHES of Central Florida, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> The Seminole Herald.]]> The Seminole Herald and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

One of the honorees for 1988 was Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford." Francis left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
The Sanford Herald: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.]]> The Sanford Herald]]> The Sanford Herald.]]> The Sanford Herald.]]> Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> The Sanford Herald.]]> The Sanford Herald and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
The Sanford Herald: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.]]> The Sanford Herald.]]> The Sanford Herald.]]> Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> The Sanford Herald.]]> The Sanford Herald and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

The article also highlights Marie Francis, the "midwife of Sanford." Francis left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
The Sanford Herald, July 24, 1964: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.]]> The Sanford Herald]]> The Sanford Herald, July 24, 1964.]]> The Sanford Herald, July 24, 1964, page 3.]]> Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> The Sanford Herald.]]> The Sanford Herald and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Dr. Wright was born and raised in Goldsboro, an historic black community in Sanford. He lived in Sanford for most of his early life, except for one year that he attended school in Lakeland during ninth grade. He attended Goldsboro Elementary School and Crooms High School, where he graduated in 1964. For his college education, Dr. Wright attended Volusia County Community College in Daytona for one semester, Gibbs College (now merged with St. Petersburg College) in St. Petersburg for the first part of his bachelor's degree in English, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton for the second part of his bachelor's education degree in English, Atlanta University for his master's degree in English, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania in for his doctoral degree in Linguistics and Rhetoric.]]>
Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Tallahassee, Florida: Private Collection of Daphne F. Humphrey.]]> Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Tallahassee, Florida.]]> Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services and owned by Marie J. Francis.]]> Florida Department of Health and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

While today it has fallen into disrepair, Hopper Academy remains a symbol of Georgetown, representing the enduring legacy of Sanford’s African Americans raising themselves through education. Hopper Academy served as a black elementary school for grades 1 – 6 from 1926 to 1961. Professor Joseph Nathaniel Crooms was principal of Hopper from 1906 to 1926, thereafter becoming principal of Crooms High School in Goldsboro. Key individuals who studied at the school include Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston and Sanford’s midwife Marie Francis. In 1968, the Hopper Academy ceased to operate as a school.]]>
Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>


Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Herman L. Refoe, Jr. and Shellye L. Refoe began teaching at Midway Elementary School in 1946. They quickly became involved with the school and the students, starting clubs and coaching teams, along with teaching African Americans in the Midway and Canaan areas. Their daughter, Annye Refoe, was born on January 29, 1951. Herman became an Assistant Principal of Goldsboro Elementary School in 1959. About two years later, he became the Principal. Herman remained the school principal for over 11 years, until his retirement in 1972. Shellye continued teaching at Midway until 1962, when she began teaching at Crooms High School, followed by South Seminole Middle School, Milwee Middle School, and finally Lyman High School. She moved around as a result of Seminole County’s School Board’s attempt to integrate black teachers. Shellye retired in January 1974.

Annye graduated from Seminole High School in the class of 1969. After her treatment in the newly integrated Seminole High School, she decided to enroll in a historically black college/university. She graduated from Fisk College in Nashville, Tennessee, with a bachelors’ in English in 1973. Upon her return from college, Annye began teaching in August 1974 at Lake Howell High School. In 1982, she started teaching at Seminole Community College, where she later became the Dean of the Arts and Humanities.]]>
Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Georgetown was established by the city's founder, Henry Shelton Sanford, as a suburb for African-American residents in the 1870s. The neighborhood spans along Sanford Avenue, with its commercial district between First Street and Fifth Street and its historic district between Seventh Street and Tenth Street. Though originally much smaller, Georgetown spanned to its present boundaries from East Second Street to Celery Avenue and from Sanford Avenue to Mellonville Avenue. Georgetown thrived at its height from circa 1880 to 1940, particularly in agriculture and transportation.]]>
Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Black was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes (1917-2007) Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca.1870-ca.1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin.

Pilgrim had to quit school at age 11 in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18 years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted.

While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940-); Lula Yvonne Black (1942-); Charles Samuel Black (1945-); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca. 1947-), and Patricia Ann Black (1956-).]]>
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Celery Soup: Florida's Folk Life Play production of Remade - Not Bought. Ford was raised in Sanford, Florida, and lived there until she graduated from Seminole High School in 1973. She returned to Sanford around 2009 and became involved with Celery Soup, a community theater project operated by Creative Sanford.

This interview was conducted by Drew Fedorka on November 16, 2013, and focuses on the historical figure and character of Dr. George H. Starke, an African-American physician in Georgetown in Sanford. Other topics include Ford's biographical information, her decision to return back to Sanford after 36 years elsewhere, how she became involved with Creative Sanford and Celery Soup, her involvement in Touch and Go and Remade - Not Bought, and segregation.]]>
UCF Public History Center in Sanford, Florida.]]> 00:12 Ford's biographical information
00:56 Interest in Sanford's history
01:30 Interest in Creative Sanford, Inc.
02:08 Characters Ford plays in Remade - Not Bought
03:13 Role of community theater in remembering history
06:55 Choice of scenes in Remade - Not Bought
10:12 History with creative license
11:24 Dr. George H. Starke
13:33 Childhood memories of Dr. Starke
14:15 Linking memory of Sanford to specific people
15:47 Dr. Starke's office and his role in the community
17:34 Messages behind Celery Soup plays
20:39 Role of Celery Soup in the healing process
21:18 Closing remarks]]>
UCF Public History Center. November 16, 2013. Audio/video record available. RICHES of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> UCF Public History Center. November 16, 2013. Audio/video record available. UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> Celery Soup: Florida’s Folk Life Play Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Flash Player]]> Java]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Marie Jones Francis, the "midwife of Sanford," left behind a successful hotel and restaurant she owned in Sarasota in 1942 to return to Sanford and become a midwife. World War II caused a shortage in doctors and nurses, so Florida's Children's Bureau sent Francis to Florida A & M to acquire her practical nursing license in 1945. She specialized in premature babies and returned to Sanford to aid her mother, Carrie Jones, at Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospital before they opened the ward in their home. "When her health starting failing," she recollects in a newspaper article, "I took over." Francis converted her house at 621 East Sixth Street to also serve as a maternity ward, where she delivered over 40,000 babies over her 32 year career. She became a midwife in the same vein as her mother, Carrie Jones, and together they ran the Jones-Francis Maternity Hall in Georgetown.

Francis served her community in several ways. She delivered babies for both white and black families from Seminole County, primarily patrons who either preferred natural births or could not afford deliveries at a hospital. In the 1950s, it cost $70 to stay nine days where soon-to-be mothers were taken care of. Francis was assisted by her sister, Annie Walker, who did the cooking. The house and ward also served as a school, where Marie Francis taught nurses the art of midwifery. Nurses would come from across the state to learn how to delivery infants naturally. A heavy burden on a single working mother, Marie Francis had three daughters, Cassandra Clayton, Daphne Humphrey, and Barbara Torre. Clayton and Humphrey became school teachers and Torre became a purchaser at Seminole Memorial Hospital.]]>
0:00:23 Growing up in Sanford
0:01:12 Interaction between black and white community
0:02:12 Layout of Georgetown
0:03:25 Sanford Avenue
0:12:04 East Sixth Street
0:13:00 Locust Avenue
0:14:37 Hickory Avenue
0:15:06 Goose Hollow
0:34:42 Marie Jones Francis and Carrie Jones
0:16:45 Students trained by Francis
0:19:15 Memories of her mother and her childhood
0:26:56 Experience as a teacher
0:30:01 African-American businesses and people in Georgetown
0:39:53 Parents
0:47:52 Age and mental retention
00:51:26 Education, employment, and siblings
0:53:38 Childhood neighborhood
0:57:31 Reflections on life
0:59:53 Growing up in Sarasota
1:02:46 How children have changed over time
1:04:26 Friends and family
1:11:24 Working at a health food store
1:12:18 Former students
1:15:11 Importance of being polite and respectful
1:16:16 Importance of reading
1:18:08 Daily plans and the RICHES project
1:19:39 Goldsboro
1:23:58 Childhood neighborhood
1:29:40 Closing remarks]]>
RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Marie Jones Francis Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
0:00:32 Growing up in Sanford
0:01:36 Richard Wright's depictions of the South
0:03:09 First time being called "nigger"
0:03:48 Education
0:04:15 Comparing Georgetown and Midway
0:11:56 Growing up in Georgetown and attending Crooms High School
0:15:31 Desegregation at Seminole High School
0:20:02 Interaction with white people in the business district
0:26:38 Working at a drug store
0:30:54 Seeing The Great White Hope at the Ritz Theatre
0:32:00 Seminole County Public Schools
0:34:51 White teachers' reactions to having black students
0:37:44 Ku Klux Klan riots
0:38:59 Experience at Fisk University in Nashville
0:41:25 Majoring in English and dream of being the first female sports columnist
0:42:37 Interacting with communities in Nashville and student protests
0:45:30 Moving back to Sanford and then to Winter Park
0:46:50 Influence of her parents on her life and the community
0:54:51 How Sanford changed oved time
1:00:17 Teaching at Seminole County College
1:00:24 RECORDING CUTS OFF
1:00:24 White teacher barred from teaching ballet to African-American children
1:02:08 Returning to Sanford and employment after college in the 1970s
1:07:21 Experience as teacher and later as dean at SCC
1:13:58 Experience teaching right after college and being called "nigger" by a student at Lake Howell High School
1:19:20 How Refoe distanced herself from Sanford
1:21:03 Disintegration of sense of community due to integration
1:23:02 Need for preserving past
01:23:37 Annye's definition of Sanford while growing up and in the present
1:27:56 Annye's gratitude for being a teacher
1:30:10 How people connect to Sanford
1:33:50 Sanford and other small towns losing their history]]>
RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
00:00:31 RECORDING CUTS OFF
00:00:32 Introduction
00:01:16 Education
00:02:45 Growing up in Goldsboro
00:04:40 Wright family
00:07:00 The community's role in Wright's upbringing
00:07:50 J. R. White
00:11:20 Crooms High School and segregation
00:15:46 Teachers and teaching black history
00:16:29 Comparing Crooms to high school in Lakeland
00:18:24 Working while in school
00:22:49 Decline of Sanford Avenue's commercial district
00:25:27 Comparing Goldsboro to the white part of Downtown Sanford
00:26:51 Interaction between Goldsboro and Georgetown
00:29:47 Crooms High School
00:31:48 Volusia County Community College
00:33:35 Integration
00:36:55 Comparing communities in Daytona, St. Petersburg, and Boca Raton
00:41:23 Florida Atlantic University
00:48:14 Interactions with Cubans, Hispanics, and whites in Boca Raton
00:55:13 Atlanta University
00:59:11 Miami and its poetry scene
01:01:11 Comparing Miami and Atlanta
01:02:02 Experience in Indiana, Pennsylvania
01:13:35 Teaching at Crooms High School
01:20:09 Teaching high school and teaching community college
01:22:24 How Sanford changed over time
01:24:59 Race relations in Sanford
01:27:03 How Goldsboro changed over time
01:29:11 Naval Air Station Sanford
01:31:37 Vietnam War
01:36:24 Sanford during the 1980s, the 1990s, and today
01:47:57 How students changed over time
01:53:10 Sanford's aging population
01:57:20 Closing remarks]]>
RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Goldsboro Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> QuickTime.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
Seminole County School Board]]> Seminole County School Board: Seminole County Public School System Collection, box 2, folder 1A, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County School Board.]]> UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County Public Schools Collection, Student Museum and UCF Public History Center Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Seminole County School Board.]]> UCF Public History Center and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
Joseph Daniels is the first known resident of Suite 112 from approximately 1911 to 1917. From approximately 1926 to 1947, Simons Veriety Store was located at this address. Wilson-Maier Furniture Company Annex later occupied this suite from approximately 1965 to 1975. At the time that this photograph was taken, Suite 112 was a vacant building. By November 2013, a Goodwill Self Sufficiency Job Center was located at this address.

In 1965, the lot at 114 South Sanford Avenue was listed as vacant. Florida Patient Aids Inc. Hospital Supplies occupied this location as early as 1975. At the time that this photograph was taken, Suite 114 housed Angel's Soulfood & BBQ.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> , an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known occupant of this lot was George Latham, an African-American resident, in 1911. Lydia Goodwin, another African American, resided here in 1917 and operated a furniture business here from approximately 1924 to 1926. Kate Culmer, a black dressmaker, also ran her dress shop at this address in 1924. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, the lot at 401 East First Street was expanded into this location to house a U.S. Post Office.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
Maurice Kronen Millinery, a hat shop named after its owner, was the first known occupant of Suite 204 in 1924. In 1926, the Stanley-Rogers Hardware Company was listed at this address, but the company moved to 214 South Sanford Avenue by 1947. Sanford X-Cel Store Feeds was occupied this suite and its adjacent suit in 1947. Rufus L. Harvey, a local plumber, housed his business at this location from approximately 1952 to 1975. By December 2013, West End Trading Company, a restaurant, bar, and club, was operating in both suites.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
, an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known occupant of this lot was Clark General W. Clothing in 1947. By 1952, the Sanford Shoe Center was occupying this location and Andy E. Evans was listed as a resident at 208 1/2 South Sanford Avenue. By 1965, this address was listed as vacant. In 1975, Aiken Printing operated here, but later moved to 900 South French Avenue. When this photograph was taken in January 2012, the building was again vacant and available for rent.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> , an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known occupant of Suite 210 was City Shoe Shop Repairs from approximately 1926 to 1965. By 1975, Sanford Long Rifle Shoppe was occupying this location. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, this suite was housing Winnowing Church, led by Pastor Jesse Covington. By December 2013, the building was being occupied by Under the Sun Ministries.

Grocer and Italian immigrant Batista Ceresoli was the first known occupant of Suite 212 in 1947. In 1952, Ceresoli's wife, Carolina C. Ceresoli, who was also a grocer, was listed at this address. The Ceresolis and their son, Martin Q. Ceresoli, moved to Central Florida from Barre, Vermont, in 1919. The family also owned C & C Liquor Store, which was located at 312 South Sanford Avenue, from approximately 1947 to 1965 and later at 326 South Sanford Avenue in 1975. Martin owned the liquor store until his death on January 27, 1997. By 1965, Suite 212 was being occupied by The Used Clothes Thrift Store.

Ceresoli was also the earliest known occupant of Suite 214 from approximately 1924 to1926. Ceresoli moved his business to Suite 212 by 1947. In that same year, Suite 214 was housing the Stanley-Rogers Hardware Company, which had previously been located at 204 South Sanford Avenue in 1926. Goodwill Industries Bargain Store was listed at this address in 1965 and Lu Harriett's Variety Store was listed here in 1975.

At the time that this photograph was taken, Suites 212 and 214 were vacant and Suite 216 was occupied by La Chic Styzle Inc., a full-service salon.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Suites 213-215 were listed together in city directories up until the 1940s. The earliest known occupant of Suites 213-215 was Asher Kanner (1885-1976), who resided here in 1911. J. W. Knight was also listed at this address that same year. Kanner, the son of Shalom Kanner, was born in Romania on March 22, 1885. He married Fannie Kanner (1888-1949) and together they had a son named Jack Kanner. From approximately 1924 to 1926, the family operated Kanner's Department Store from this location. From approximately 1947 to 1952, Kanner Asher Clothing Store was housed in Suite 213. Kanner passed away on November 22, 1976, and is buried with his wife in Ohev Shalom Cemetery. In 1947, Suite 215 was listed as vacant, but was occupied by the Ace Glass Company in 1952. Larry's New & Used Furniture Market was housed here in 1965. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, the lots were vacant with no buildings.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Resident J. B. Williams was the first known occupant of Suite 219 from approximately 1911 to 1917. From approximately 1924 to 1926, I. F. Schwartz operated his grocery store at this location. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, both suites were vacant.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
In 1917, the lot was the residence of J. M. Saucer, a representative of District 3 (which included Alachua, Clay, Duval, Lake, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, and Volusia counties) in the Florida Budget Commission from approximately 1931 to 1941. This lot was then occupied by E. Mable-Saint Drugs from approximately 1924 to 1926. Dr. Edward D. Strickland, a successful African-American dentist who previously practiced at 507 South Sanford Avenue in 1924, had his office in Suites 300-302 from 1926 until 1946. In 1926, Dr. Strickland also shared his office with Dr. O. A. Prince, a black physician. Dr. Strickland resided at 305 South Sanford Avenue in 1917 and moved to 511 South Sanford Avenue by 1926. From approximately 1947 to 1952, the Sanford Jewelry & Luggage Company was housed at this location. In 1965, the lot was occupied by Grant's Clock Shop. The lot was listed as vacant in 1975.

The Knights of Pythias Hall was the first known occupant of Suite 302 in 1917. The Knights of Pythias is a secret fraternal organization that was founded by Justus H. Rathbone on February 19, 1865, in Washington, D. C. This particular chapter consisted of African-American men. William Rosseter, who was also an African American, was also listed as a resident at this address that same year. From approximately 1924 to 1926, Albert Gramling, a local black businessman, operated a billiards room at this location. During that same period, the Knights of Pythias Hall was listed at 302 1/2 South Sanford Avenue. Victory Beer Garden was listed at this address in 1947 and Victory Tavern was listed here in 1952. Both of these African-American establishments were likely under the same ownership. In 1952, the Victory Taxi Company was listed at this address, but later returned to Victory Tavern in 1965. Around 1966, the tavern's owner, Jerry Bentley, passed away and his beer and wine license was transferred to his widow, Natherine Bentley.

In 1911, two occupants were listed at 304 South Sanford Avenue: A. Foster, a resident, and J. H. Lee & Company. The people who occupied this lot described below were all African Americans. Two local businesses were then run from this location: Braboy & Sapp in 1917 and Scipio Bracey's barbershop  was here from approximately 1924 to 1947. From approximately 1924 to 1926, blacksmith W. O. Green ran his business in the rear side of the building. In 1947, Isaiah F. Frazier also operated his billiards room at this address. 304 1/2 South Sanford Avenue was listed as the residence of James Austin in 1947 and Louis A. Loyd in 1952. In 1952, Preston Williamson was listed as a resident at this location, as well as the Frazer & Fulton Pool Room. Williamson owned the Seminole Barber Shop, located at 420 South Sanford Avenue, from 1963 to 1969. By 1965, the Suite 304 was vacant.

At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, Suites 300-304 were being occupied by Jason's Martini Club. Jason Turner, the owner of the club, purchased the building in 2002 and began leasing it to a tenant who opened Rhythm and Brew's. A second tenant opened the bar as Sharkey's, until Turner decided to open his own martini bar in the building called Jason's Martini Club in December 2007. Turner also opened Fat Rat's Lounge, a 1920s-style bar, at 410 South Sanford Avenue in 2010.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Hawkins & Warren was the first known occupants of Suite 303 in 1911. In 1917, G. Saucer resided at this address. By 1924, this lot was being occupied by Hawkins Brothers Meats and then by Kennington & Nesmith Meats in 1926. Ernest B. Sizemore operated his grocery store at Suite 303 in 1947 and Robert Frazer was listed as a resident at 303 1/2 South Sanford Avenue. Campbell's Fish Market was listed at this address in 1952. By 1965, this suite was vacant. In 1975, Knights Bicycle Shop was located here, after moving from 414 South Sanford Avenue sometime after 1965.

The earliest known occupant of 305 South Sanford Avenue was resident William Papall in 1911. By 1917, J. D. Bonner and Dr. Edward. D. Strickland resided at this address. Dr. Strickland was a successful black dentist. By 1926, he had moved his residence to 511 South Sanford Avenue, where a new two-story house was constructed in 1930. He had originally practiced dentistry at 507 South Sanford Avenue until he moved his office to 300-302 South Sanford Avenue, where he practiced from 1926 to 1946. Judge Williams was operating his restaurant here by 1924 and Sami Boyd ran his barbershop here by 1926. Williams resided at 307 South Sanford Avenue in 1917, but he had vacated the property by 1924.

By 1947, Suites 305-307 was being occupied by Howard Boteler, a wholesale confectioner. Boteler had previously been in a partner of Boteler-Jackson Company Inc., which was located at 307 South Sanford Avenue in 1926. The Boteler Howard Company, a wholesale confectioner business, was run at 500-502 South Sanford Avenue from approximately 1952 to 1965. Bill Duskin's Department Store was listed at Suite 305 in 1947 and Ezekiel's Radio Sales & Service was listed at this address in 1952. From approximately 1965 to 1975, this lot was being occupied by the Royal Palm Barber Shop. All of the occupants listed above from 1911 to 1952 were African Americans, with the exception of Boteler. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, Suites 301-305 was vacant with no building.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
Georgetown, an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known occupant of Suite 313 was an African-American resident named Burton Williams in 1911. The Diamond Place was listed at this address in 1917 and Thomas Mosley, a black grocer, operated his store here in 1924. The lot was listed as vacant in 1926 and again in 1947. In 1952, Irma Gibson, another black business owner, ran her restaurant at this location.

The black business called C.W. & A. Blanding was the first known occupant of Suite 315 in 1911. From approximately 1917 to 1924, Z. J. Jerry, another black resident, was listed at this address and the Peoples Drug Store, an African-American business, was located in Suite 317. The Peoples Drug Store had moved to Suites 315 by 1926 and Jerry's residence was listed at 315 1/2 South Sanford Avenue. By that same year, Sanford Garage, another black-owned business, had moved to Suite 317 from 319 South Sanford Avenue. By 1947, Jerry was running a business as a druggist from Suite 315; however, Suites 315-317 were vacated by 1952. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, Suites 313-317 were vacant with no building.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

African-American resident Jere Jackson was the first known occupant of Suite 316 in 1911. In 1917, O. H. Gramling, a black businessman, resided at this location and later ran his restaurant 318 South Sanford Avenue in 1924. From approximately 1924 to 1926, Harry Bandel operated his clothing shop here. Eaverly's Drug Store, another African-American-owned business, was listed at this address in 1947 and Stapler Pharmacy was open here from approximately 1952 to 1965. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, Suites 314-316 were vacant with no building.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
Georgetown, an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known occupant of Suite 319 was African-American resident R. S. Johnson in 1911. In 1926, the African-American-owned business called the Sanford Garage was located here, but the garage had moved to 317 South Sanford Avenue by 1926. Model Beauty Shop, another black-owned business, was listed at this address in 1947. In 1952, the building at this address housed four businesses: Jerry's Arcade and Brown's Studio Photography, an African-American business, on the first floor; the office of Julius Ringling, a black dentist, and Dr. George E. Starke, a black physician. It is possible that George E. Starke was actually Dr. George H. Starke (ca. 1899-ca.1979), who opened his practice in Sanford in 1927.

D. C. Brock, an African-American businessman, was the first known resident of Suite 321 in 1911. By 1917, Brock had moved to 314 South Sanford Avenue and by 1924, he was operating his tailoring business from that same address. He later moved to 612 South Sanford Avenue and in 1946, allowed black baseball players, including Jackie Robinson, to stay at in his home. In 1924, Dixie Furniture Company was listed at 321 South Sanford Avenue. By 1926, the furniture business had moved to 318 South Sanford Avenue and the Melton Electric Company had opened at this address. J. J. Melton, most likely the owner of Melton Electric Company, had previously worked as an electrician at 325 South Sanford Avenue in 1924. In 1947, cobbler William Metz operated his business from this location. Metz was likely the owner of Metz Shoe Shop Repairs, which was located at 422 South Sanford Avenue from approximately 1965 to 1975. By 1965, Suite 321 was housing FMB 5-10 & 25c Store, which had previously been located at 323 South Sanford Avenue from approximately 1947 to 1952.

K.S. Johnson, an African-American resident, was the first known occupant of Suite 323 in 1911. The Three-In-One Store was listed at this address in 1917 and J. A. Sands ran his plumbing business from this location in 1926. As stated above, FMB 5-10 & 25c Store operated from this lot from approximately 1947 to 1952, although the business moved to Suite 321 by 1965. At the time that these photographs were taken in January 2012, Suites 321-323 were vacant lots with no buildings. Sanford Supermarket, located at 329 South Sanford Avenue, can also be seen in this photograph.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The earliest known occupants of 322 S. Sanford Ave. were two African-American residents: Mack Battle in 1911 and Elvy McClaine in 1917. From approximately 1924 to 1926, Dimitios Cavoura ran his grocery from this location. W. S. Broderick, a local poultry dealer, was the earliest known resident of Suite 322 in 1911. In 1910, Broderick was beaten and robbed of $20 after leaving his business, which was also located on South Sanford Avenue. In 1917, Rivers Brothers was listed at this address. From approximately 1924 to 1926, W. T. Klicker Meats was located here. Klicker, the store's owner, resided at 133 South Sanford Avenue in 1917. Outlet - The Department Store, which originally encompassed Suites 322-326 in 1947, was expanded to include Suite 320 by 1952. In 1965, Sanford Feed Store was located at Suite 320 and Suite 322 was listed as vacant. By 1975, the Friendly Cafe, Fine & Dandy Wig Shop, and Tom & Joe's Variety Store were operating from Suite 320, Suite 322, and Suite 324, respectively. The cafe had previously been located at 309 South Sanford Avenue. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, this lot was used as a parking lot for Diamond Glass Company, Inc. Diamond Glass Co. is a glass installation business based in Alpharetta, Georgia, with a Sanford location at 305 Palmetto Avenue.

The earliest known occupant of Suite 326 was the Beehive Inc. Department Store in 1924, as well as Dr. G. E. Sargeant, an African-American physician, who housed his office in the rear of the building. By 1926, Dave's Store, a department store, was located here. Outlet - The Department Store, which originally encompassed Suites 322-326 in 1947, was expanded to include Suite 320 by 1952. Suite 326 housed Mooney's Appliance Service in 1965 and C & C Liquor Store in 1975. C & C was originally owned by grocer and Italian immigrant Batista Ceresoli and his wife Carolina C. Ceresoli from approximately 1947 to 1965, when the liquor store was located at 312 South Sanford Avenue. Their son, Martin Q. Ceresoli, later owned the liquor store until his death on January 27, 1997. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, this lot was vacant with no building.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The earliest known occupant of Suite 325 was A. E. Dobbins Shoe Repair in 1924. J. J. Melton worked as an electrician at from this address in 1924. By 1926, Melton moved his new business, Melton Electric Company, to 321 South Sanford Avenue. That same year, Hopkins Shoe Shop was listed at this address. Suite 325 housed Hopkins Grocery & Market in 1947 and Bill Harvey's Home Service Company Radio Sales & Service in 1952.

F. A. Stone, a grocer, was the first known occupant of 327 S. Sanford Ave. in 1924. Stone operated his business from this location from approximately 1924 to 1926. He had previously managed the Palm Leaf Broom Straw Company, located at the corner of South Oak Avenue and West Eighth Street, in 1917.

The earliest known resident of Suite 329 was C. H. Leffler in 1917. Leffler was one of the four men from Sanford who planned an expedition to Alaska during the Gold Rush of 1898. The others included: Dolph Edwards, Charles H. Beck, and Eugene Muller. Leffler only got as far as Seattle, Washington in February, where he decided to open a grocery and supply store. He returned to Sanford in May 1898. By 1947, Lovett's Grocery was occupying this lot, followed by Tip Top Super Market in 1965 and Park & Shop in 1975.

At the time that these photographs were taken in January 2012, 232-327 Sanford Avenue was vacant with no buildings. Sanford Supermarket was occupying at 329 South Sanford Avenue. and Gator Auto Insurance, located at 345 South Sanford Avenue, can also be seen in this photograph.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
Georgetown, an historic African-American neighborhood in Sanford, Florida. The earliest known residents of Suite 400 were J. I. Anderson, Harry Wray, and S. Comick in 1911. J. M. Stumon was listed at 400 1/2 S. Sanford Ave. Anderson was an Inspector of Marks and Brands for districts 2 and 3 in Sanford in from 1917 to 1920. By 1917, Stumon became the sole resident of this lot and by 1924, he was running his grocery from this location, although he was replaced by another grocer, C. J. Coleman, in 1926. This lot was then occupied by Table Supply Stores Grocery in 1947 and then the County Veterans Institute, which also included Suite 402, in 1952. In 1965, the Jenkins Furniture Company New & Used was listed at this address. By 1975, Ansley TV Service had moved here from 416 South Sanford Avenue.

By 1917, Wray had moved next door to 402 S. Sanford Ave. In 1924, both J. H. Tillis Meats and G. E. deHeredia Dry Goods. In that same year, The restaurant of Garfield Young, who lived at 404 S. Sanford Ave., was listed at 402 1/2 South Sanford Avenue. By 1926, deHeredia's store was replaced by E. Mable Saints Fruits. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, this building was occupied by Exact Plumbing, Inc.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The first known resident of Suite 403 was Duhart from approximately 1911 to 1924. Another black businessman, C. M. Walker, was also listed as resident at 403 1/2 S. Sanford Ave. in 1924. By 1926, Duhart had opened a real estate business at this address and Walker had opened his restaurant at 403 1/2. As stated above, H & A Department Store had expanded to Suites 403-405 by 1965.

The first known occupant of Suite 405 was African-American resident Jack Knight in 1917, who also had a residence at 222 S. Sanford Ave. that same year. By 1924, this location was occupied by Leamon Gaynor, an African-American barber. Gaynor moved to 414 South Sanford Avenue in around 1926. As stated above, H & A Department Store had expanded to Suites 403-405 by 1965. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, this building was vacant. On March 7, 2012, Jason Turner's application for a Faade Improvement Grant for the building was approved by the Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency for $20,000. ]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The earliest known occupant of Suite 413 was George Bennett, who also had a residence at 222 S. Sanford Ave., in 1911 and Gilmore Felder from approximately 1924 to 1926. Felder had previously resided at 412-416 S. Sanford Ave. in 1911. Esther Felder, presumably a relative of Gilmore Felder, resided at this address from approximately 1947 to 1952. All of the residents listed above were also African American. Mack Coran resided here in 1965 and the lot was vacant by 1975.

H. H. McFarland, also African-American, was the first known occupant of Suite 415 in 1911. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, these lot were a small enclosed area with paved walkways.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The first known occupant of Suite 414 was Leamon Gaynor, an African-American barber who ran his business from this location in 1926. He had previously had his barbershop at 405 S. Sanford Ave. Between approximately 1947 and 1952, this lot was vacant. In 1965, Knights Bicycle Shop was located at this address, but moved to 303 South Sanford Avenue by 1975.

The earliest known occupant of Suite 416 was Morris Cleaner & Dryer in 1926. Morris Narvis, who operated his clothing trade at 320 South Sanford Avenue in 1924, was likely the owner of this business. Black businessman Robert Burns was listed as a resident at this location in 1947. He also owned a beer store at 316 S. Sanford Ave. during that same year. Rainbow Pool Room was also listed at this address in 1947. By 1952, this lot was being occupied by Metz Shoe Shop, an African-American business. From approximately 1965 to 1975, the business operated from 422 S. Sanford Ave. under a new name: Metz Shoe Shop Repairs. It is likely that this business was owned by William Metz, a cobbler who operated his business from 321 South Sanford Avenue in 1947. In 1965, Ansley TV Service was located here, but later moved to 400 S. Sanford Ave. by 1975. In that same year, Williamson & Son Barber Shop occupied this lot.

Druggist A. M. Staup was the first known occupant of Suite 418 in 1926. The Seminole Barber Shop occupied this location from approximately 1947 to 1952. The barbershop, owned by Preston Williamson, moved to 420 South Sanford Avenue by 1963 and remained there until 1969. It is likely that Williamson & Son Barber Shop was owned by Preston Williamson as well. The address was listed as vacant in 1965. In 1975, Steen's Dry Cleaners was housed here. The building was also previously occupied by Beverly's Hair Cutting. In 2011, the building was being occupied by Miracle House Healing Ministries, Inc. a non-profit religious organization established on November 1, 2003. The organization is operated by Thomas and Patricia Williams, who married on September 18, 2000. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, these suites were vacant.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

N. B. Baker was the first known resident of Suite 419 in 1917. This address was occupied by Goble's Supply Company Ladies' Wear in 1926, Lenon Solomon's restaurant in 1947, and Don's Market in 1952. By 1965, Stokes Fish Market had expanded to include Suites 417-419. Despite its closing, the painted signs on the sides of the building have remained as a landmark. Kathy Hull has lead a project with the Sanford Historic Trust to preserve the signs. During the 2008 presidential campaign, the site was used as a campaign office for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, both suites were unoccupied.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Stokes Fish Market, located next door at 417-419 South Sanford Avenue, can also been seen in this photograph. The fish market was operated by C. Brown from approximately 1947 to 1975. Stokes Fish Market was originally located in Suite 417 around 1947 and had expanded into Suite 419 by 1965. Despite its closing, the painted signs on the sides of the building have remained as a landmark. Kathy Hull has led a project with the Sanford Historic Trust to preserve the signs. During the 2008 presidential campaign, the site was used as a campaign office for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
The earliest known residents of Suite 503 were also all African Americans: J. R. Neal in 1911, Louis Rivers in 1917, and Ernest Clayton in 1924. In 1926, R. L. Hill was running his grocery store from this location. This address was listed as vacant from approximately 1947 to 1952. Two cafes were later located in this suite: Janette's Café in 1965 and Sanford Café in 1975. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, both suites were vacant.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The earliest known occupant of Suite 507 was Dr. Edward D. Strickland, a successful African-American dentist who practiced from this location in 1924. Dr. Strickland later moved his office to 300 1/2 S. Sanford Ave. from 1926 until 1946. In 1926, he also shared his office with Dr. O. A. Prince, another black physician. Dr. Strickland resided at 305 South Sanford Avenue in 1917 and moved to 511 South Sanford Avenue by 1926. After Dr. Strickland had relocated his office, Clair moved from Suite 505 to 507. In 1947, an African-American woman named Dozia Jones was listed at this address. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, both lots were vacant with no buildings.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The earliest known occupant of Suite 508 was Prince Strobart, an African-American resident who lived here in 1911. This address was listed as vacant in 1917. James Samuels resided at this location in 1924 and moved to 512 1/2 South Sanford Avenue by 1926. Blanche Chute occupied this lot in 1926 and Sam Wright operated his dry cleaning business here in 1947. Jack's Dry Cleaners, another African-American-owned business, occupied this location in 1952. Dick's Appliance Service was listed at 506-508 S. Sanford Ave. in 1965. The appliance repair shop has since moved to 441 Sand Cove Drive.

J. N. Telford, a black grocer, was the first known occupant of 510 S. Sanford Ave. in 1926. African-American businessman Segio Broomfield operated his billiards hall from this location in 1947, but the suite was vacant by 1952. Sweeney's Office Supply Warehouse was listed at Suites 506-512 in 1965. At the time that these photographs were taken in January 2012, all of these suites were vacant.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The first known residents of 514 S. Sanford Ave. were two African Americans: W. B. Kellix in 1917 and Milton Malloy in 1924. In 1926, West Sanford Real Estate Co. moved from Suite 512 to 514. Three other black residents were listed at this address: Fannie Jones and Oscar Coleman in 1947 and Mabel Griffin in 1952. Originally located at 506 S. Sanford Ave., black-owned business Jack's Barber Shop relocated to this location by 1965. Another African-American resident, Daisy Tyes, lived in Suite 514 1/2 from approximately 1947 to 1965. Tyes was born on February 2, 1897, and passed away on April 1, 1985.

In 1926, Suite 516 was being occupied by Gramling & Morris, two African-American undertakers, and Suite 516 1/2 was being occupied by a black resident named Frank Pitts. In 1947, the lot was housing another black organization, World War Veterans Auxiliary Service Center. By 1952, an African-American woman, Louise King, was residing at this location, but it was listed as vacant in 1965. At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, this suite was being occupied by Junk2Funk, a mid-century modern furniture and accessories store owned by John White, a graphic designer, and Shana Gorondy, a senior business analyst for the American Automobile Association (AAA). In August 2012, Junk2Funk was featured on Picked Off, a reality television series on The History Channel.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
In 1911, three residents were listed at 309 South Sanford Avenue: Peter Barkett, G. W. Wilson, and Jacob Frazier; the latter two were African Americans. Another African American, S. M. Harris, resided here in 1917. By 1924, James Tsacrios was operating his grocery from this location. The Style Shop Ready-to-wear was listed at this address in 1926 . From approximately 1947 to 1952, a black-owned bar, originally named C.C. Sheffield & Son Beer and later renamed C.C. Sheffield & Son Tavern, was located here. In 1965, Friendly Café was located at this address, though the café later moved to 320 South Sanford Avenue.

The first known occupant of Suite 311 was African-American resident W. R. Charlton in 1911. In 1924, I. E. Kersey & Son Meats was located here, but the lot was listed as vacant in 1926. From approximately 1947 to 1952, an African-American-owned bar, originally named Al's Tavern and later renamed Al's Place Tavern, was run at this address. By 1965, Bennie's Pool Room had been occupying this lot, but it became vacant by 1975.  At the time that this photograph was taken in January 2012, these lots were vacant with no building.]]>
RICHES of Central Florida]]> Sanford Avenue Collection, Georgetown Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>
The Georgetown Pathways to History Project was developed by the Georgetown Heritage Advisory Committee with assistance from the Sanford Museum and Sanford Historical Society. Georgetown was established by the city's founder, Henry Shelton Sanford, as a suburb for African-American residents in the 1870s. The neighborhood spans along Sanford Avenue, with its commercial district between First Street and Fifth Street and its historic district between Seventh Street and Tenth Street. Though originally much smaller, Georgetown spanned to its present boundaries from East Second Street to Celery Avenue and from Sanford Avenue to Mellonville Avenue. Georgetown thrived at its height from circa 1880 to 1940, particularly in agriculture and transportation.]]>
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]>

Black's father, Pilgrim Black (1905-2002), was featured on the Heritage Marker #3. Pilgrim Black was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes (1917-2007) Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca. 1870-ca. 1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin.

Pilgrim had to quit school at age 11 in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18 years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted. While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940-); Lula Yvonne Black (1942-); Charles Samuel Black (1945-); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca. 1947-), and Patricia Ann Black.]]>
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

Special thanks for Heritage Marker #3 was given to Patricia Black (1956- ). Her father, Pilgrim Black (1905-2002), was featured on the marker. Pilgrim was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes (1917-2007) Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca. 1870-ca. 1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin.

Pilgrim had to quit school at age 11 in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18 years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted. While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940-); Lula Yvonne Black (1942-); Charles Samuel Black (1945-); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca. 1947-), and Patricia Ann Black (1956-).]]>
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>

The ceremony was followed by a presentation of the Georgetown Pathways to History Project at the Historic Sanford Welcome Center, locate at 230 East First Street. Pathways to History is a program created by Christine Dalton, Historic Preservation Office for the City of Sanford. The programs consists of eight themed tours showcasing the history and development of Sanford. The event also included a guided tour of Sanford Avenue, which had been the subject of a $3 million streetscaping project, and a reception at the Welcome Center, hosted by the Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency. The Georgetown Pathways to History Project was developed by the Georgetown Heritage Advisory Committee with assistance from the Sanford Museum and Sanford Historical Society. Georgetown was established by the city's founder, Henry Shelton Sanford (1823-1891), as a suburb for African-American residents in the 1870s. The neighborhood spans along Sanford Avenue, with its commercial district between First Street and Fifth Street and its historic district between Seventh Street and Tenth Street. Though originally much smaller, Georgetown spanned to its present boundaries from East Second Street to Celery Avenue and from Sanford Avenue to Mellonville Avenue. Georgetown thrived at its height from circa 1880 to 1940, particularly in agriculture and transportation.]]>
Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency, 2014.]]> Department of Recreation, City of Sanford]]> Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency, 2014.]]> Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Department of Recreation of the City of Sanford.]]> Department of Recreation of the City of Sanford and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Special thanks for Heritage Marker #3 was given to Patricia Ann Black (1956-), the daughter of Pilgrim Black (1905-2002) and Lula Mae Haynes Black (1917-2007). Her father, Pilgrim, was featured on the marker. Pilgrim was born in 1905, although some records list 1907 as his birth year. Pilgrim and Lula Mae Haynes (1917-2007) Black were migrant crew leaders, and thus migrated to Wayne County in Upstate New York in the summers and back to their home in Sanford for the rest of the year. Pilgrim was the son of Harry Black (d. 1911) and Maggie Benjamin Black (ca. 1870-ca. 1934), who migrated to Sanford from South Carolina in the 1800s. Harry and Maggie had several children: Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. In 1911, Harry owned a grocery store at 206 South Sanford Avenue. One day, he came home from work with pneumonia and passed away shortly thereafter. Pilgrim was nine years old when his father passed away. Maggie was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin, and the sister of Nathan Benjamin, Pledge Benjamin, Sam Benjamin, Loui Benjamin, Chainey Benjamin, Lara Benjamin, Melvina Benjamin, and Katie Benjamin. 

Pilgrim had to quit school at age 11 in order to provide for his mother, originally working in a mill house until he was 18 years old. After declining a management position, he traveled to Wayne County to pick cherries, apples, pears, and other crops. He broke a bone after falling from an apple tree his first year and decided to try farm labor on a potato farm in Red Creek, New York, instead. Don Holdridge, the farmer who owned the land, noted Pilgrim's high rate of productivity and offered him a management position supervising up to thirty workers at once, which he accepted. While in Sanford, Pilgrim also worked as a foreman in Sanford for Chase & Company for over 30 years. He married Lula in 1937 and they had several children together, including Vivian Louise Black (1940-); Lula Yvonne Black (1942-); Charles Samuel Black (1945-); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca. 1947-), and Patricia Ann Black.]]>
Department of Recreation, City of Sanford, Sanford, Florida.]]> Department of Recreation, City of Sanford]]> Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Department of Recreation of the City of Sanford.]]> Department of Recreation of the City of Sanford and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Black was the daughter of Pilgrim Black (1905-2002) and Lula Mae Haynes Black (1917-2007), who got married in 1937. Patricia was born August 31, 1956, and grew up at the end of East Tenth Street in Sanford, Florida. She attended Hopper Elementary through sixth grade, Lakeview Middle School for seventh grade, Sanford Junior High School for eighth grade, Crooms High School for ninth grade, and Seminole High School through twelfth grade. She also attended school in the North Rose-Wolcott district each year while in Upsstate New York. During fourth grade, integration began and parents were given the choice to have their children to attend other schools, but Patricia chose to continue attending an all-black school until she entered seventh grade in 1968 and began attending integrated schools.

In June 1973, Patricia married her first husband, Clint Holt (1955-); however, the couple quickly separated due to domestic violence and divorced around 1977. Patricia gave birth to her first child, Charmion Le'Antwinetta Holt (1974- ). She also had three other children with William Bigham Jr. (1952- ), who she was married to for 33 years: William Arthur Bigham III (1982- ), Brandon Oliver Black (1990- ), and Tempestt Teonte' Black (1992- ).

Patricia currently lives in the family home built by her grandmother, Maggie Benjamin Black (ca.1870-ca.1934) on East Tenth Street in Sanford. Patricia endured weekly molestation for 11 years from age six to age seventeen and was raped at age seventeen while pregnant with Charmion. At age 29, Patricia became severely addicted to smoking cocaine. After seven years, Patricia was able to overcome her addiction and has maintained her sobriety for 21 years. She has suffered severe mental and physical damage and is still recovering today.

Despite her traumatic experiences and sibling rejections, Patricia has developed a devout relationship with God. While in recovery, Patricia refocused her attention on spreading her ministry of love by becoming a foster parent, serving as the Parent Representative of the Committee for Special Education (CSE), and serving on her local school board in the North Rose-Wolcott school district. Patricia also has owned her own business making incense and importing shea butter from Africa. She also became a licensed nail technician specializing in stress-relieving pedicures. As of 2009, Patricia is retired but still maintains some involvement in her business/ministry named GIFTED.]]>
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Episode 42 features a discussion of racial segregation signs used in the Jim Crow South, which are housed at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Stephen Caldwell Wright of Seminole State College and Dr. Julian C. Chambliss of Rollins College.]]>
0:01:52 The Jim Crow South
0:02:35 Origins of racial segregation
0:04:24 Origins of “Jim Crow”
0:05:08 Segregation in practice
0:07:07 African-American communities and business districts
0:09:09 Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka and desegregation
0:11:12 Desegregating schools
0:11:59 African-American communities post-segregation
0:14:58 Conclusion
0:15:21 Credits]]>
http://youtu.be/wvzC9ergWHg.]]> RICHES]]> Orange County Regional History Center]]> Florida Memory Project]]> Library of Congress]]> RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.]]> A History of Central Florida Collection, RICHES Podcast Documentaries Collection, RICHES.]]> Adobe Flash Player]]> Java]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES]]>
0:03:25 Grant writing and rehabilitation for the Student Museum and Center for the Social Studies
0:07:21 Other historic preservation projects
0:09:18 How Seminole County has changed over time
0:12:45 Impact of Walt Disney World Resort
0:15:42 Father’s experience in the Navy
0:17:57 Closing remarks]]>
Student Museum and UCF Public History Center Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Flash Player.]]> Java.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>

Episode 42 features a discussion of racial segregation signs used in the Jim Crow South, which are housed at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Florida. This podcast also includes interviews with Dr. Stephen Caldwell Wright of Seminole State College and Dr. Julian C. Chambliss of Rollins College.]]>
0:01:52 The Jim Crow South
0:02:35 Origins of racial segregation
0:04:24 Origins of “Jim Crow”
0:05:08 Segregation in practice
0:07:07 African-American communities and business districts
0:09:09 Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka and desegregation
0:11:12 Desegregating schools
0:11:59 African-American communities post-segregation
0:14:58 Conclusion
0:15:21 Credits]]>
http://youtu.be/wvzC9ergWHg.]]> RICHES]]> Orange County Regional History Center]]> Florida Memory Project]]> Library of Congress]]> RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Orlando, Florida.]]> A History of Central Florida Collection, RICHES Podcast Documentaries Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Flash Player]]> Java]]> RICHES.]]> RICHES]]>
The Oviedo Outlook published in 1979 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Oviedo, Florida. The newspaper begins with a brief history of Oviedo, followed by articles devoted to important members of the community, including Evelyn Cheek Lundy and John Lundy, Thad Lee Lingo, Jr. and Lacy Aire Lingo, Clare Wheeler Evans, Wayne Jacobs and Karen Jansen Jacobs, Thomas Moon, Marguerite Partin, Frank Wheeler, Katherine Lawton, Tom Estes, Ed Yarborough and Ima Jean Bostick Yarborough, Virginia Balkcom Mikler, Paul Mikler, Sparks Lingo Ridenour and John Ridenour, Ray "Rex" Clonts and Thelma Lee Clonts, Jean Jordan and Harold Jordan, the Malcolm family, Edward Duda, Penny Mitchem Olliff and Leon Olliff, Louise Wheeler Martin and Bill Martin, Miriam "Mimi" Wheeler Bruce and Douglas Allen, Viola Smith, and Cay Westerfield.]]> The Oviedo Outlook: Centennial Edition, 1979: Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.]]> The Oviedo Outlook]]> The Oviedo Outlook: Centennial Edition, 1979.]]> Oviedo Historical Society, Oviedo, Florida.]]> Oviedo Historical Society Collection, Oviedo Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> The Oviedo Outlook.]]> The Oviedo Outlook and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Dakin Family Picnic by Bettye Reagan." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/6943.]]> Oviedo Historical Society Collection, Oviedo Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Dakin Family Picnic. 1997: Private Collection of Bettye Reagan.]]> Dakin Family Picnic. 1997.]]> Oviedo Historical Society Collection, Oviedo Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Dakin Family in Georgetown." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/6942.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>