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This
Black community grew as businessmen, fisherman, physicians,
nurses, teachers, farmers, contractors, carpenters, laborers,
drivers, masons, blacksmiths, laundry workers and railroad workers
made this area their home. Along Sixth Street were pressing
clubs and lunchrooms, meat and fish markets, grocery and general
merchandise stores and a variety of other businesses providing
goods and services for the growing community. From the time
of this community's founding, the Black residents living and
working here have played a vital role in the development of
both the City and the County of Sarasota.
The first Black settler here was Lewis Colson who, in 1884,
assisted in surveying the Town of Sarasota. By 1886, several
Black families were living here. In 1899 Lewis and Irene Colson
organized the Bethlehem Baptist Church. Later, F. H. Haynes,
C. H. Murphy, Campbell Mitchell and Leonard Reid organized the
A.M.E. Church. In the early days school was taught by Josie
Washington in her home. In 1912 a public school was established
with Wright Bush, Henry Clark, Elbert Clark, J. P. Carter, Campbell
Mitchell, John Mays, John Woods, Ed Carmichael, and J. H. Glover
as trustees. Emma Booker was principal of this school for many
years.
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