Project

Eatonville: Holding On To History

Allison Mitchell
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EATONVILLE HOLDING ON TO HISTORY.mov [00:00:00] Unknown: Where did you learn this particular way [00:00:03] Zora Neal Hurston: Well, I heard the first verse I got in my native village of Eatonville, Florida from George Thomas. [00:00:11] Unknown: And what version are you going to sing? [00:00:13] Zora Neal Hurston: I'm gonna sing, oh, I guess, well the tune is the same, I gonna sing verses from whole lot of places [00:00:20] Clarise Hopkins: I love the town of Eatonville, This is my family's history. To be a part of a black community that was started by my ancestors. [00:00:35] Clarise Hopkins: Joseph Clark was a man with a vision. He was an entrepreneur. He was innovative. He was a visionary. And to think him and 26 other men. That's how this town got started. So I'm very, very proud of that background. [00:01:02] Louise Franklin: But everybody was much friendly because they were about five or six houses in Eatonville, in this area. Everybody looked out for each of them. [00:01:13] Clarise Hopkins: It was that kind of close knit community where everybody looked out for everybody. We used to never lock our doors. We just didn't we didn't lock the doors because we didn't have any crime going on in the area. [00:01:32] Louise Franklin: We went to church in Eatonville. We went to school in Eatonville. Yeah, we didn’t go to the white school up here in Maitland. And we walked everywhere. All my friends, not all of them, but most my friends from Eatonville. So that’s why I say, lots came out of Eatonville. And still do. [00:01:57] Clarise Hopkins I think that the church has had a lasting, profound impact on the community. Eatonville has always been in a community that went to church. They love the Lord. [00:02:19] Louise Franklin: We didn’t have but three little churches in Eatonville. That was the St. Lawrence, my church, Macedonia, Open Door, the little church you just passed. Those were the only three churches. And Macedonia and Open Door got their start right out of St. Lawrence. [00:02:37] Clarise Hopkins: Originally, St. Lawrence was the first established church in Eatonville. The AME church [00:02:45] Clarise Hopkins: Well, about six months later, there were people of the Baptist denomination who actually met in the Methodist church. So on the first and third Sunday, the Methodist would meet in their church and on the second and fourth Sunday, the Baptist with me. [00:03:10] Clarise Hopkins: And that tradition went on until, believe it or not, until 1987. [00:03:24] Louise Franklin: During my time there was only one school for the blacks and we went to Hungerford. [00:03:30] Louise Franklin: It was called Hungerford school, where that library is now. [00:03:48] Clarise Hopkins: A lot of those students stayed at my grandmother's house until the weekend because they didn't, the parents didn't have the means of getting them back home, especially if they stayed for football practice or basketball practice, you know. But that was the type of community that it was. Everybody looked at everybody. [00:04:16] Clarise Hopkins: When they took our school away from us, I think that had the most devastating impact on this community, that dashed a lot of hope for a lot of people. [00:04:34] Louise Franklin: And, no we not gon, it's written. My parents took us, asked us, children, please don't sell any of this property. Ever. So I've been hanging in there, you know, hanging on to. [00:04:47] Louise Franklin: And no, I don't want sell to nobody. [00:04:51] Louise Franklin: No, I'm happy down here. I am peaceful and happy. I am from one porch to the other porch. Nobody in front of me bothering me. You know, why leave? Why sell for money? [00:05:04] Rose Bynum: I was sitting in a hotel and he came in. He said, “you have a nice place.” I said, “thank you.” He said, “are you interested in selling it?” I say, “I'm enjoying it.” [00:05:15] Rose Bynum: So, easy come, easy go. You know, the parents leave the property they sell. [00:05:25] Andra Bynum Thomas: He was offering forty thousand dollars for those houses. [00:05:35] Andra Bynum Thomas: And I think it was my generation that was, just that forty thousand dollars look like a million bucks. [00:05:45] James Benderson: First, you gotta know what your stuff is worth. [00:05:48] James Benderson: You, you have to understand the value of what you have, your community and the bigger picture. [00:05:56] James Benderson: And some people, this is just my opinion. Some people value what they can put in the hand more than the heritage of the community. [00:06:09] James Benderson: If you leave a property to a child, grandchild who says, “I'm never coming back there. I get tired of paying property taxes on it.” That's what they'll say. And you get what you get. So what do you do? [00:06:31] Clarise Hopkins: I want to see us buy back our community. I mean, there are still people who definitely have a lot of pride in Eatonville, but we want even more, you know, because we are the oldest incorporated municipality in the United States of America. [00:06:56] Clarise Hopkins We want people to know that. [00:06:57] Clarise Hopkins: We want people to see that. I think we just have such a rich history and we need to just just make sure everybody knows about it. We need to have museums here, that tell the story to tell our story. And I think that's one of the things that's going to help us to accomplish a lot of things is we have to tell our story, people have to know about Eatonville.

Just outside Orlando and nestled between Winter Park and Maitland lies Eatonville, Florida, the first known all-Black incorporated municipality in the United States. The town was founded on August 15, 1887 by 27 Black men, who, as a requirement, were all registered voters. At one hundred and thirty-three years old, Eatonville remains a thriving community that cherishes its heritage. It is also a community that is wrestling with the ever-changing landscape and culture surrounding them. Eatonville: Holding on to History is centered upon the reflections of current community members. They recall their history, discuss the town’s changing landscape and culture, and share their hopes for the future. Viewers will hear the thoughts of Louise Franklin, Clarise Hopkins, Rose Bynum, Andra Bynum Thomas, and James Benderson. Collectively, they represent the multifaceted Black community that is committed to ensuring prosperity in their town.

Like many historically Black communities, the founders of Eatonville held in great regard the importance of religion, education, and land ownership. These elements remain central to the town today. The first established church in Eatonville, St. Lawrence AME, remains an enduring pillar of the community. Even as Eatonville grows to contain multiple churches with different denominations, the religious community remains unified. Many community members own property passed down through multiple generation, but have now come face-to-face with grueling problems. Gentrification and the extraction of resources from the area have taken a toll on the community. Eatonville no longer has a high school, and students attend other schools in the surrounding area. The very same properties once held in great esteem are increasingly being sold to outsiders. Yet, despite each of these issues, the community of Eatonville has remained strong.

While telling the story of this community, Eatonville: Holding on to History highlights historical photos of the town and its cultural events. It shows images of the Hungerford Boarding School. This large campus housed Black students from all around. It consisted of several large buildings, including one named after Booker T. Washington, who donated to the school. Eatonville is also the hometown of novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. Sprinkled throughout the film is her influence and appreciation for her community. The film includes her singing a song she learned in Eatonville and images from Eatonville’s annual Zora Neale Hurston festival celebrating her legacy. Through the short-film, viewers get a sense of the then and now of the town.

Eatonville: Holding on to History is a story that resonates with many small Black towns around the country. Community members embrace the changes that lead to progress, but at the heart of the community remains its founders’ values and heritage. As the first known all-Black incorporated municipality in the United States, Eatonville’s story is an essential part of Black American history. This community shows it is possible to hold on to the past and look toward the future. Change and erasure are not synonymous, and combating the latter requires the community’s efforts to protect themselves and their heritage. That is what Eatonville’s community is doing, and I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from them and share their story.

Gabriel Brown playing guitar as Rochelle French and Zora Neale Hurston listen- Eatonville, Florida (1935) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

Gabriel Brown playing guitar as Rochelle French and Zora Neale Hurston listen- Eatonville, Florida (1935) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

Alice Walker signing autographs at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities - Eatonville, Florida (1990) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

Alice Walker signing autographs at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities - Eatonville, Florida (1990) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

Clarks Ladies Fashions clothing display at Zora Neale Hurston Festival- Eatonville, Florida (1991) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

Clarks Ladies Fashions clothing display at Zora Neale Hurston Festival- Eatonville, Florida (1991) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

Mr. Boswell standing in front of his tavern at 344 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Eatonville, Florida. (2001) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

Mr. Boswell standing in front of his tavern at 344 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Eatonville, Florida. (2001) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

People displaying their craft items at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities - Eatonville, Florida (1990) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

People displaying their craft items at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities - Eatonville, Florida (1990) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

View of a woman at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities in Eatonville, Florida (1999) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

View of a woman at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities in Eatonville, Florida (1999) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Folk Life Collection

 Hungerford Normal and Industrial School, J.H. Alfred Cluett Hall (c. 1910) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

Hungerford Normal and Industrial School, J.H. Alfred Cluett Hall (c. 1910) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

 Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School, Booker T. Washington Hall (c. 1910) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School, Booker T. Washington Hall (c. 1910) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

Palms at Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School (c. 1900) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

Palms at Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School (c. 1900) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

 Sawmill of the Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School (20th century) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

Sawmill of the Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School (20th century) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

View of the Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School campus (20th century) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

View of the Robert Hungerford Normal and Industrial School campus (20th century) via Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida, Print Collection

Zora Neale Hurston and three boys in Eatonville, Florida (June 1935) via Library of Congress Digital Archive, Lomax Collection of Photographs

Zora Neale Hurston and three boys in Eatonville, Florida (June 1935) via Library of Congress Digital Archive, Lomax Collection of Photographs

City Council and jail, Eatonville, Fla (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

City Council and jail, Eatonville, Fla (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

J.E. Clark’s pineapple farm, Eatonville, Fla (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

J.E. Clark’s pineapple farm, Eatonville, Fla (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

Residence of S. M. Moseley, Mayor of Eatonville, FL (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

Residence of S. M. Moseley, Mayor of Eatonville, FL (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

Residence of J. E. Clark, Postmaster, Eatonville, Fla. (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

Residence of J. E. Clark, Postmaster, Eatonville, Fla. (1907) via New York Public Library Digital Collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division

The Independent Florida alligator p. 3 (February 02, 1999) via University of Florida Digital Newspaper Library

The Independent Florida alligator p. 3 (February 02, 1999) via University of Florida Digital Newspaper Library

Welcome to Eatonville Sign via Town of Eatonville

Welcome to Eatonville Sign via Town of Eatonville

Additional Reading

“About Eatonville,” http://www.townofeatonville.org/about/

“About Eatonville | Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community,” https://preserveeatonville.org/about-eatonville/

Erika Bryan, “Eatonville, Florida (1887– ),” March 9, 2016, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/eatonville-florida-1887-0/

Damien Cave, “In a Town Apart, the Pride and Trials of Black Life (Published 2008),” The New York Times, September 28, 2008, sec. U.S., https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/us/29florida.html.

Project Contributors

Allison Mitchell

Allison Mitchell

PhD Candidate, History

Allison Mitchell is a Ph.D. student in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia. She studies 20th-century African American history, focusing on Black political organizing during the Civil Rights Movement.

The Eatonville Culture and Heritage Foundation

The Eatonville Culture and Heritage Foundation

The Eatonville Culture and Heritage Foundation Inc. is committed to nourishing cultural and creative opportunities in the community. They are set to accomplish this by way of visual art, performing arts, culture, environment, health, human services and community development in the Historic Town of Eatonville. "At our levels best, it is our duty to sing the praises of the significance of our historic town far and wide.  We intend to celebrate the town's total heritage acknowledging its greatness by way of the visual arts, performing arts, culture, environment, health, human services and community development.  We have a lot to celebrate and everyone should know about us.  We will be that household name synonymous with what is right about a small Black town." -J. Benderson (Founder) https://www.eatonvillechf.com/  

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Top banner: Stephen Vincent / Alamy Stock Photo

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