Black Family Home in Sanford
Dublin Core
Title
Black Family Home in Sanford
Alternative Title
Black Family Home
Subject
Sanford (Fla.)
Houses and homes
Porches--Southern States
Washing machines
Automobiles--United States
Ford Falcon automobile
Description
The one-story home built by Maggie Benjamin Black (ca. 1870-ca. 1934) that became the home of her son, Pilgrim Black (1905-2002). An old-fashioned washing machine is pictured next to the back porch, which required the use of a metal tub and a washboard. Later additions have been added to the porch. Also pictured on the left side of the photograph is a Ford Falcon station wagon owned by Pilgrim, a fan of Ford cars. As of 2015, this house is owned by Pilgrim's five children. His daughter, Patricia Ann Black (1956-) is residing in and restoring the home.
Maggie and her husband Harry Black (d. 1911) were the parents of Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. They were also the grandparents of David Harry Black (1929-2012); Vivian Louise Black (1940- ); Lula Yvonne Black (1942- ); Charles Samuel Black (1945- ); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca.1947- ); and Patricia Ann Black (1956- ). The Black family migrated from South Carolina during the 19th century. 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 Benjamin was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin. Harry and Maggie had their wood house built in the 1880s or 1890s at the corner of East 25th Street and South Sanford Avenue. Their house served as a meeting place for many of the elite members of the African-American community in Sanford. At one point, a business had asked to purchase the six acres of land that the Black family owned. Maggie agreed to sell the land under the condition that the lumber be reused to build houses on East Tenth Street. Maggie built a two-story home for herself and her children and several three-room houses to rent out. She later gave the houses to Pilgrim and two of her grandsons, Israel Black and Charles Black, who made several additions to convert them into seven- and eight-room houses.
Maggie and her husband Harry Black (d. 1911) were the parents of Leckward Black, Mustar Black, Malachi Black, Leatha Black Walker (1889-1976), Pilgrim Black, Margaret Black Jones (1889-1976), and Harriett Black Lawson. They were also the grandparents of David Harry Black (1929-2012); Vivian Louise Black (1940- ); Lula Yvonne Black (1942- ); Charles Samuel Black (1945- ); Pilgrim Black, Jr. (ca.1947- ); and Patricia Ann Black (1956- ). The Black family migrated from South Carolina during the 19th century. 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 Benjamin was the daughter of former slaves, Isaac and Roseanna Benjamin. Harry and Maggie had their wood house built in the 1880s or 1890s at the corner of East 25th Street and South Sanford Avenue. Their house served as a meeting place for many of the elite members of the African-American community in Sanford. At one point, a business had asked to purchase the six acres of land that the Black family owned. Maggie agreed to sell the land under the condition that the lumber be reused to build houses on East Tenth Street. Maggie built a two-story home for herself and her children and several three-room houses to rent out. She later gave the houses to Pilgrim and two of her grandsons, Israel Black and Charles Black, who made several additions to convert them into seven- and eight-room houses.
Source
Original black and white photograph: Private Collection of Patricia Ann Black.
Date Created
ca. 1960-1969
Contributor
Black, Patricia Ann
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph.
Is Part Of
Patricia Black Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
165 KB
Medium
1 black and white photograph
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Sanford, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally owned by Pilgrim Black.
Inherited by Patricia Ann Black in 2002.
Rights Holder
Copyright to the resource is held by Patricia Ann Black and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
Private Collection of Patricia Ann Black
External Reference
Coles, Robert. Uprooted Children: The Early Life of Migrant Farm Workers. [Pittsburgh]: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1970.
Piore, Michael J. Birds of Passage: Migrant Labor and Industrial Societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979.
Flewellyn, Valada S. African Americans of Sanford. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub, 2009.
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 black and white photograph
Collection
Citation
“Black Family Home in Sanford,” RICHES, accessed April 27, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2679.