1/18: Historic Eatonville and the Fight to Preserve "America's First Incorporated Black Town" in the 21st Century

1/18: Eatonville, Florida 

Eatonville, Florida as a model of the late 19th/early 20th century black town-building and a case study in the late 20th/early 21st century historic preservation versus gentrification... 

I. What circumstances led to the establishment of Eatonville as an all-black subdivision of Maitland and late, and an independent, self-governing black township?

    Eatonville represented a new South. A vibrant culture that embraces its culture and values that its founders held close. Eatonville rose a the first self-governing all-black municipalities in its 1887 incorporation as a direct result of the experience of the founders. As the CBS video mentioned, it was remarkable that Eatonville was created after the end of the Civil War in 1887 when formerly enslaved African Americans moved to Central Florida to work. Eatonville was a product of three men coming together, acquiring plot of land making afford houses. I believe this is a very point and is an example of the fact that race in the United States aided in shaping the geography in construction in the post-World War II era. 

    Hungerford School, now the only school left in Eatonville, was established two to three years after the founding of Eatonville-- connecting all the black communities around Eatonville. Connected through the churches, Hungerford School, and numerous social networks. This school highlights the importance of black communities to use as many facilities as possible in preserving their culture, heritage, identity, and land in the face of infrastructural change (McPherson, 2018). 

II. What has enabled it to survive into the present when so many other Black townships have disappeared?

    As argued in the "Black Towns," text in the Encyclopedia of African American Culture and History, many black towns could not survive successfully and compete with larger cities and the attraction that came along with them. Leverage of Eatonville as a historic and cultural place aids Eatonville's ability to survive. For six years, the community members were voters. When one speaks of the foundations of Eatonville they cannot fail to mention religion, faith in God, family, education, as well as civil pride. Associations were also created with the goal of preserving this town. 

    Community members of Eatonville want to preserve and hold on to their culture, expresses one interviewee from the first WUCF TV Youtube video. Eatonville has a rich history. Andre Smith and his vision of an artist colony-- he had built an art center in Maitland where various artists could work and experience with several new mediums. Zora Neale Hurston (anthropologist and notable writer)-- at one point most prolific African-American writer at her time-- with her stories and books often time taking place or being based off those community members of Eatonville. Zora Neale Hurston festival held every year. 

    Community members CAN make a difference. The stories of the people within a certain community can make a difference. The people of Eatonville's sense of community and yearn to preserve culture have most definitely contributed to it's survival. Public engagement can make a large difference. 

III. What challenges does Eatonville face today?

    Eatonville is now struggling-- and positioned to be fated in a land fight where it is the largest undeveloped parcel of land in Orange County. It's space--land-- that it is located on is closely tied to its past and now it's future. 

    Orange County Public Schools buying parcels of land on the Hungerford School property and taking away land where African Americans can earn an education. What is important here is economic justice-- one interviewee from the CBS segment expressed that "land it economic justice."

IV: What strategies have local preservation advocates deployed, over the past four decades, to preserve the historic character of the town and ensure its long-term survival?

    McPherson's piece titled: "Why Not Us?: Infrastructural Citizenship in Eatonville, Florida," explains the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. Here in this text he promotes P.E.C. by declaring: "Communities across America have historical relevance and value, and the P.E.C. serves as a model for not only resisting infrastructural changes, but promoting cultural heritage in the process" (McPherson, 2018).  

    Here, McPherson expresses the P.E.C. and it's ability to add several victories under it's belt despite being in the face of great odds (going against Orange County) (McPherson, 2018). The P.E.C. provides a model for community alliance. Application to the National Register of Historic Places was sought during the mid-90s. In short, the P.E.C. took control of their culture and heritage.