The Black Community at Stewart's Springs

Subject

Community

Description

A series of documents and old Florence newspaper articles chronicling the Black community of the Stewart's Springs neighborhood of West Florence.
Stewart's Springs was the name of Dr. James W. Stewart’s (ca. 1812-1891) plantation and resort, overlooking a series of springs on what is presently the 700-900 blocks of Dixie Avenue in West Florence, which had a series of grape vineyards on a hill, hence that area's name, "the Vineyard". According to Sandra Sockwell’s entry for Stewart’s Springs in The Place Names of Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama: “Dr. James W. Stewart had a large home overlooking this spring on what is presently the 700-900 blocks of Dixie Avenue.”

Stewart advertised that his resort, whose water was said to be "equal in virtue with the celebrated 'Bailey's Springs, found in the same region of country, was set to open "by the 1st of June next," in May and June of 1851. Stewart noted that "the water of my spring, within half a mile of Florence, Ala., having effected many remarkable cures, in a variety of diseases. I have been induced to make extensive improvements, for the accommodation of the public."

Just exactly how long Stewart's Springs was open as a resort isn't known.

Anecdote has it that slave pastor Robin Lightfoot (ca. 1791-1864), the first recorded pastor of Church Springs ME Church, now Greater St. Paul AME Church, was lynched at Stewart's Springs. However according to the wartime diary of Mrs. Eliza Weakley (1815-1898), wife of Florence cotton merchant Samuel D. Weakley (1812-1897), on May 8, 1864, Lightfoot was arrested at Florence Mayor (1861-1862; 1869-1870; 1871-1873), future AL Secretary of State (1873-1874) and Unionist Neander H. Rice's (1815-1886) house on Court Street by men under Confederate Colonel William A. Johnson on May 7, 1864, probably for what was described as "stirring up strife" among the slave population. According to Mrs. Weakley Johnson’s men also caught 57 prisoners. Robin was hung the next day, May 8. According to Mrs. Weakley:

"Col. Johnson had Robin Lightfoot hung near Mrs. Southerland’s & then shot him twice. The soldiers arrested some other negroes . . ."

The Mrs. Southerland referred to was probably Louisa Southerlin (ca.1819-aft. 1860), a widow who in 1860 lived two houses down from Mr. Josiah Pollock (1807-1898) in Florence.


After the Civil War a community named Stewart's Springs grew up in the area of the old plantation and resort which had a white population as well as a fairly large African-American population.

No listing for Stewart’s plantation has been located in the 1850 Lauderdale County agricultural census however Stewart’s 1850 census enumeration recorded the value of his real estate as $12,000. This figure had decreased to $3,000 by the time of the 1860 census.

According to his 1860 agricultural census enumeration, James W. Stewart owned 62 acres of land, but only 12 of those acres were improved. The value of the property was recorded as $3,000. According to this census, by June 1, Stewart had produced 250 bushels of Indian corn, 50 bushels of peas and beans, 50 bushels of Irish Potatoes and 50 bushels of sweet potatoes.

Although Stewart’s plantation wasn’t enumerated in the 1850 ag census, his slaves were enumerated in the 1850 slave census for Lauderdale County, recording 31 slaves at Stewart’s Spring—16 men and 15 women, ranging in age from 1 to 93. Six of these enslaved persons—including a 93 year-old Mulatto, or mixed-race man—were recorded as “fugitives from the state,” meaning they had run away from the plantation. The number of enslaved persons at Stewart Springs had thus increased from 3 in 1840—one girl under 10 years and two women between 10 and 23, to 31 by 1850.

In 1860 19 slaves were enumerated at Stewart’s Springs—9 men and 10 women ranging in ages from 1 to 56. The 1860 census also noted a total of four slave houses at Stewart’s Springs.

One of the slaves at Stewart’s Springs may have been Peter Stewart (ca. 1825-1925), who according to his obituary in the Florence Herald died Sunday, February 15, 1925 at one hundred years and five months old. Florence historian the late Jill K. Garrett recorded a story allegedly told by Stewart himself about burying a sum of money on the hillside above the spring during the Civil War.

After the Civil War “Uncle Peter” as he was known to locals, attended at least two United Confederate Veterans’ reunions at Mars Hill, indicating that during the war he served as a body-servant or camp slave to a white soldier, or possibly was hired out as a cook or a teamster.

After the war Peter Stewart lived at Stewart’s Springs, where he worked as a farmer. He and his wife Sarah (ca. 1832-bef. 1900) had at least nineteen children, eleven of whom preceded Peter in death.

During the Civil War Stewart's Springs was the site of some skirmishing, and there are actually several rifle pits on a bluff in the wooded area on the west side of Cumberland Street overlooking Wildwood Park Road. Near the ranger station on Waterloo Rd there is a long line of Civil War breastworks.

The Vineyard, where Florence’s first pest house (a smallpox quarantine camp) was located, was situated at the north end of what later became Wildwood Park, originally a part of the Stewart plantation.

According to the December 15, 1865 minutes of the board of aldermen:

"A called meeting of the board of aldermen of the town of Florence, Friday morning December 15, 1865 at the office of Judge [Vincent M.] Benham present his Honor W. B. Wood Mayor pro-tem, Al. Jno. W. McAlister, V. M. Benham, Z. P. Morrison, Wm Ragsdale, W. T. Price, Joseph Milner, & Geo. W. Karsner.

"His Honor the Mayor stated that the board was called together for the purpose of providing a Pest house for cases of Small Pox. A case of a Negro woman and several of her children has been reported to him as sick with the Small Pox in [the] heart of our town.

"After some discussion on the subject of a Pest house and the place to put it on motion a committee of two was appointed to get some house and have it removed and put up at or near Seaton Spring, and if a house cannot be got the committee be authorized to procure suitable lumber and have a pest house built.

"Al. [aldermen] Morrison & Farmer were appointed said committee.

"On motion the Town Constable was authorized to procure proper supplies for Milly Weakley & her children during this time of their sickness of Small Pox and have it charged to the corporation.

"No other business being before the board on motion they adjourned."

Another called meeting was held on January 2, and the minutes record:

"A called meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the Town of Florence Ala. Held at the office of Judge [VM] Benham Tuesday night January 2, 1866 . . .

"The Committee on Pest [house] reported that Mr. Coffee offered to sell a good double log cabin out at the Hood place for a reasonable price and suggested the Vineyard as a suitable place to put it.

"On motion, Al. McAlister the committee was authorized to accede to the proposition of Mr. Coffee and have the house removed and [illegible word] at the vineyard as soon as practicable. . . ."

A local African-American woman named Milly Weakley and her children were the first to be diagnosed with smallpox in December of 1865. This family of four, a mother and three small children, was taken care of during their sickness by the city.

In the 1866 Lauderdale County, AL State Census a Milly Weakley, aged 30-40, was enumerated with two males under 10 years and 1 female under 10 years in her house.

I find a Milly Weakley, widowed, age 46, occupation listed as "laborer," with an 8 year-old boy named Jim (b. 1872) listed as her son, on South Market St. (now Wood Ave). in the 1880 federal census.

A 60 year-old Millie Weakley (b. 1839), her 27 year-old widowed son James (b. 1877), and a 19 year-old boarder named James Jones, were enumerated on Vulcan St. in East Florence in 1900. By 1900 this Millie Weakley had had a total of six children, with four still living in 1900.

If these are the same Milly Weakley (the ages are right) then apparently Mrs. Weakley and some if not all of her children survived their 1865-1866 bout with smallpox. Nothing more is known of these Weakleys at this time.

The pest house apparently remained at Stewart's Springs through the early 20th century, though in 1900 a new series of buildings was constructed at the site.

During the February, 1900 smallpox outbreak the city council ordered the construction of a series of buildings on the site (the old cabin was apparently no longer being used and might have been torn down):

One two-room building, each room 8x16, for use as the women’s ward.

One one-room building, 12x14, designated men’s ward no. 1.

One 16x20 tent designated men’s ward no. 2.

One 10x20 tent designated men’s ward no. 3.

A “shed room” for cooking the patients’ meals.

In the February, 1900 outbreak there were four cases of smallpox but no deaths due to widespread vaccinations. In the May, 1901 outbreak there were 34 cases and only 15 deaths, again, due to widespread vaccinations. According to the Florence Times, "those who die are buried near the spot," however some of the casualties who died in 1901 were buried in the Florence City Cemetery. Exactly where this pesthouse cemetery was located has been an issue for many years as the records don’t specify the precise location of either the pesthouse, or the cemetery.

In March of 1896 the Florence City Council, "on the application of the colored [sic] church at Stewart's Spring," appointed Frank Thompson a "special policeman" for that neighborhood. Thompson received no salary, instead being paid from the convictions of offenders.

There were a handful of white-owned businesses at Stewart's Springs. For example, in April of 1907 AJ Phillips moved his general merchandise store from Seven Points to Stewart's Springs; in November of 1909 Phillips sold out to James "Jim" Burtwell at Stewart's Springs and bought a store in Seven Points. In August of 1911 grocer CB Garner moved his store from Court Street in Florence to Stewart's Springs, to AJ Phillips' old location, the building owned by James Burtwell. Garner's store was destroyed by fire in October of 1911. Whether Garner opened back up isn't known at this time.

In December of 1912 Florence City Commissioner BB Garner sold 26 acres of land on the hill at Stewart Springs to Dr. CN Martin of California, who intended to open a modern sanitarium. This became the El Reposo Sanitarium and is now Mitchell Hollingsworh Nursing Home.

Among other improvements Martin's staff planted 2 1/2 acres of strawberries, 300 grape vines and 150 fruit trees as well as a bakery, a greenhouse and a garden for employees. Water from the nearby springs was piped up the hill.

The new rest home was to be conducted along the same lines at the famed Kellogg Sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michigan.

There had also been a tan yard at Stewart's Springs, which Dr. James Brock refitted and put back into operation in April of 1874.

By 1890, Wildwood Park was owned by the Florence Investment Company, which was comprised largely of Philadelphia capitalists, and owned some of the most valuable business and residential property in the city. In 1890 Capt. JHH Figgat was company president.

By June of 1896 a "five-mile loop" for cyclists was in the works, with "Messrs. Price, Blair and Smith as contractors," which would include thirteen bridges across Wildwood Park brook, which would need to be replaced, as they had fallen away from neglect. The "five-mile loop" was to begin "at the Court House, driving out Wood avenue [sic] to Seven Points, through Wildwood Park to Cypress Creek, returning by Stewart Springs and Pine street [sic] to the point of beginning." Work on the first bridge began in June of 1898.

According to the Herald, the park "is 6,700 feet long, beginning where the road turns off at the Baptist University, and coming out on Cypress creek, near the Waterloo bridge [sic]."

In June of 1897 a "Wildwood Park Commission" was established, with AE Walker, president, NC Elting, treasurer, WM Bunting (Herald editor), secretary, with a committee of three known as the "Road Committee" also appointed.

In 1898 Mayor John B. Weakley's administration made plans to purchase Wildwood from its private owners. At that time the park consisted of some 60 acres. It was finally purchased by the city in May of 1899 for $1,800, with a $300 cash down payment and the balance to be paid in five annual installments at 6 percent. A mortgage for the $2,000 balance was executed by the city, which mortgage was transferred to Frank M. Perry.

Friday night, June 23, 1899, the Herald reported that at its regular meeting the Florence City Council passed a resolution favoring the purchase of Wildwood Park and appoints a committee to finalize matters with the 208 acres of land (purchased at $10 an acre) to be used both for a park and a new city cemetery.

On Thursday, June 29, 1899, the Florence Herald reported that the Florence city council has appointed a committee “for the purchase of a cemetery tract and park” which committee is “to negotiate with the owners of Wildwood Park for the purchase of that property,” consisting of some 208 acres, which contained several acres of level land. On Thursday, July 13, the Florence Herald reported that, “The city council has virtually purchased Wildwood park [sic], consisting of 208 acres, from a Philadelphia syndicate through Nelson & Ware. The price paid is $10 an acre, which is considered very cheap. The park takes in all the new Wildwood park drive and extends from the east side of Cypress creek [sic] at the Waterloo bridge to Blue hole [sic] and thence north and east, taking in the park proper.”

The mortgage for the $2,000 balance came due in February of 1907 during Mayor AE Walker's administration, and the city almost lost the park (which by then consisted of 200 acres) however due to the efforts of a group of citizens, Perry was persuaded to extend the mortgage for two more years.

In David Beasley's history of the Kiwanis Club, p. 112, he cites a Florence Times article of August 16, 1928, which states that the Florence Kiwanis Club was granted permission by the city commissioners to develop "that section of Cypress Creek known as 'Bar-Bar' where it is planned to build a recreation ground. Only recently permission was granted the club by the Florence City Commissioners to use a part of the Wildwood Park property, where it is planned to build several houses and to equip the grounds for the kiddies." By July of 1930 the Kiwanis Club had built a swimming and recreation center which included a beach, bath houses, and a swimming pool. In the wake of a spree of vandalism at the park a notice in the Florence Times of July 16, 1930 vowed that anyone "found removing or damaging the equipment at 'Bar-Bar', the Kiwanis Park, located on the edge of Florence on the Savannah Road would be vigorously prosecuted."

On December 15, 1933, the FH reported that plans were being developed to convert a section of Wildwood Park into a "Colored Park," to be located on the "south side of Cypress Creek, south of the bend in the Kiwanis Park . . . a beautiful area, equal to any section in either Kiwanis or Wildwood Parks."

On Thurs, April 11, 1957, the Florence Herald reported that the Florence Jaycees were planning the development of the "Old Kiwanis Park", which included their five-year plan for the 13 acre park which had been turned over to them by the Florence Parks and Rec Dept. The plan included replacing several trash cans, picnic tables, restrooms and BB-Q pits. Thieves stole the trashcans while a 1952 flood washed away the BB-Q pits, picnic tables and restrooms.

In March of 1952 Florence State Teachers College (now the University of North Alabama) purchased some 17 acres north of Circular Drive and south of Equator Street, "a hilltop and ravine area," in an expansion program. Highway Department men and equipment were to be used to cut the top off of the hills, fill in the ravine, and grade and drain the area for an ROTC drill field, an athletic practice field, and sites for several future buildings (including Flowers Hall).

Under consideration for two years, the project was under the supervision of State Highway Department division engineer HD Burnum of Decatur, AL and Highway Department project engineer CL Bolling of Florence.

Several local families sold their property to the school and a few had their houses relocated to new lots. According to the Florence Herald the college was able to work out "satisfactory sale agreements with the property owners of the newly-acquired land over a period of two years."

The two photos are 1) of Peter Stewart and 2) George W. Seawright.

George W. Seawright (ca. 1848-1931) was born a slave in Gainesville, Sumter County, Alabama, He had at least one sibling, an unnknown brother who had apparently died by 1900 . George's parents' names according to his death certificate, were Ivan Calhoun and Millie Seawright. George is believed to have been a slave of George Seawright (1832-1904), a native of Sumter County who married Fannie Malone Wilson of Lauderdale in November of 1859. George W. Seawright accompanied Fannie’s brother, Mitchell Malone of Co. K, 7th AL Inf, CSA and Co. F, Roddey’s 4th AL Cav, CSA as Malone’s body servant. Wash, as he was known by locals was one of at least eighteen pro-Southern blacks from Lauderdale County. After the war Seawright attended at least three Confederate veterans’ reunions. By May of 1884 he had opened up a boot and shoe-maker’s shop “in the room recently occupied by Mr. Fink over the store of Mr. Jacobs.” By 1890 George had relocated to the Stafford Block of East Mobile Street-his shop was just up and around the corner from the present Grogan’s Jewelers. In Dec. of 1891 a fire totally destroyed all the shops in this block and George was forced to relocate; by early 1892 he was working out of the back of Young & Simpson’s Shoe Store. By September of 1899 George’s shop had moved to the Perry Block of Mobile Street, next door to WH Dismukes’ grocery store. George was married to Francis Jackson (ca. 1848-aft. 1920), a daughter of Nancy Jackson (ca. 1818-aft. 1900) and they had three children, all but one of whom had died by 1910.

Creator

1-3. Sandra Sockwell
54. The Landrum Collection

Source

1. The Place Names of Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama



2. The Place Names of Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama


3. The Place Names of Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, Alabama


4. 1830 US Federal Census, Lauderdale County, Alabama, p. 23.
5. 1830 US Federal Census, Lauderdale County, Alabama, p. 23.
6. 1840 US Federal Census, Lauderdale County, Alabama, p. 109 A.
7. 1840 US Federal Census, Lauderdale County, Alabama, p. 109 B.
8. 1850 US Federal Census, Slave Schedule, Lauderdale County, Alabama, p. 1013.
9. 1860 US Federal Census, Slave Schedule, Lauderdale County, Alabama, p. 214 B.
10. Huntsville (AL) Democrat
11. Montgomery (AL) Advertiser and State Gazette
12. Florence (AL) Gazette
13. Records of the Corp of Florence, Ala., Dec 15, 1865, p. 444.
14. Records of the Corp of Florence, Ala., Jan 2, 1866, p. 445.
15. Florence (AL) Herald
16. Florence (AL) Times
17. Florence (AL) Herald
18. Minutes of the City of Florence 9/5/1899 - 12/2/1907, p. 37.
19. Florence (AL) Herald
20. Florence (AL) Herald
21. Florence (AL) Herald
22. Florence (AL) Herald
23. Florence (AL) Herald
24.Florence (AL) Herald
25. Florence (AL) Herald
26. Florence (AL) Herald
27. Florence (AL) Herald
28. Florence (AL) Times
29. Florence (AL) Herald
30. Florence (AL) Herald
31. Lauderdale County, Alabama Circuit Court Minutes F, March, 1907-June, 1911.
32. Florence (AL) Herald
33. Florence (AL) Herald
34. Florence (AL) Herald
35. Florence (AL) Herald
36. Florence (AL) Herald
37. Peter Stewart from the Landrum Collection's August 30, 1921 Mars Hill United Confederate Veterans Reunion photo.
38. Florence (AL) Herald
39. Florence (AL) Herald
40. Florence (AL) Herald
41. Florence (AL) Herald
42. Florence (AL) Herald
43. Florence (AL) Herald
44. Florence (AL) Herald
45. Florence (AL) Herald
46. Florence (AL) Herald
47. Florence (AL) Herald
48. Florence (AL) Herald
49.Map of the City of Florence, Alabama by Ditterich & Kirby, Oct., 1890
50. Map of the City of Florence, Alabama by Ditterich & Kirby, Oct., 1890
51. Florence, Alabama, 1923 by Evans and Meade, Engineers
52. Florence, Alabama, 1923 by Evans and Meade, Engineers
53. Your Map of Lauderdale County and Florence, Alabama, undated (ca. 1960s or 1970s).
54. The Landrum Collection

Publisher

1. UMI Dissertation Information Service
2.UMI Dissertation Information Service
3. UMI Dissertation Information Service
4. Ancestry Library Edition.
5. Ancestry Library Edition.
6. Ancestry Library Edition.
7. Ancestry Library Edition.
8. Ancestry Library Edition.
9. Ancestry Library Edition.
10. Newspapers.com
11. Newspapers.com
12. Newspapers.com
13. City of Florence, AL
14. City of Florence, AL
15. Newspapers.com
16. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division
17. Newspapers.com
18. City of Florence, AL
19. Newspapers.com
20. Newspapers.com
21. Newspapers.com
22. Newspapers.com
23.Newspapers.com
24. Newspapers.com
25. Newspapers.com
26. Newspapers.com
27. Newspapers.com
28. Bell & Howell Micro Photo Division
29. Newspapers.com
30. Lauderdale County, Alabama
31. Newspapers.com
32. Newspapers.com
33. Newspapers.com
34. Newspapers.com
35. The Landrum Collection
36. Newspapers.com
37. Newspapers.com
39. Newspapers.com
40. Newspapers.com
41. Newspapers.com
42. Newspapers.com
43. Newspapers.com
44. Newspapers.com
45. Newspapers.com
46. Newspapers.com
47. Newspapers.com
48. Newspapers.com
49. Diiterich & Kirby
50. Diiterich & Kirby
51. Evans and Meade
52. Evans and Meade
53. No Publisher Listed
54. The Landrum Collection

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

Jpeg.

Language

English

Type

Still Imagea.

Files

Sockwell 1.jpg
Sockwell 2.jpg
Sockwell 3.jpg
Jas Stewart 1830 p 1.jpg
Jas Stewart 1830 p 2.jpg
JW Stewart 1840 1.jpg
JW Stewart 1840 2.jpg
1850 Slave.jpg
1860 Slave.jpg
STewart's Springs Ad Huntsville AL The_Democrat_Thu__May_29__1851_.jpg
Stewart's Springs Mont Ad Advertiser and State Gazette Wed June 18 1851 p 4.jpg
Notice Florence_Gazette_Sat__May_19__1855_.jpg
Records of the Corp of Florence, ALa, Dec 15, 1865, p 444 (1).jpg
Records of the Corp of Florence, ALa, Jan 2, 1866, p 445 (1).jpg
Passed a Bike Ordinance.jpg
City Council.jpg
Thompson Fined 10 Dollars.jpg
thumbnail_Minutes of the City of Florence 9-5-1899 - 12-2-1907, p 37.jpg
Smallpox Again The_Florence_Herald_Thu__May_2__1901_.jpg
Smallpox Situation The_Florence_Herald_Thu__May_9__1901_.jpg
Wednesday's Bulletin The_Florence_Herald_Thu__May_9__1901_ (1).jpg
Wednesday's Bulletin The_Florence_Herald_Thu__May_9__1901_ (2).jpg
In Colored Circles.jpg
Went Up in Smoke.jpg
Woman Selling Whiskey.jpg
Stabbing Affray.jpg
Negro Killed Over Crap Game.jpg
Killed with a Stone.jpg
Twelve Year Old White Girl Kills Negro Boy.jpg
Circuit Court is About to Close.jpg
Annie Powers' Indicttment.tif
Bold Highway Robbery Occurs The_Florence_Herald_Fri__Jun_7__1907_ (1).jpg
Bold Highway Robbery Occurs The_Florence_Herald_Fri__Jun_7__1907_ (2).jpg
Captured Three Prisoners The_Florence_Herald_Fri__Feb_7__1908_ (2).jpg
Criminal Court Week The_Florence_Herald_Wed__Mar_25__1908_ (1).jpg
Negro Over 100.jpg
Peter Stewart at the Aug 31, 1921 UCV reunion at Mars Hill..jpg
Negro Arrested.jpg
House Burned FrI Night.jpg
Negro is Burned to Death.jpg
Negro Boy is Hit by Ice Truck Sunday.jpg
Freeman Parker is Held for Robbery.jpg
Granny Lula Passes Her 112th B'dy.jpg
Life Sentence is Given Floyd Coats.jpg
Granny Lula Observes 113th B'day.jpg
Local Negro Youth Suffers Injuries The_Florence_Herald_Thu__Dec_29__1949_.jpg
Howell Street Bus is Discontinued The_Florence_Herald_Thu__Jun_22__1950_.jpg
College Acquires Additional LandThe_Florence_Herald_Thu__Mar_27__1952_ p 1.jpg
Ditterich & Kirby Map 1890.jpg
Map of the City of Florence, Alabama by Ditterich & Kirby, Oct. 1890.jpg
Evans and Meade 1925 Map Caption.jpg
Wildwood Park 1925 from Florence, Alabama Evans and Meade Engineers, Florence, Ala..jpg
Map ca 1960s or 1970s.jpg
George W Seawright 1921 Landrum Photo.jpg

Collection

Community

Citation

1-3. Sandra Sockwell and 54. The Landrum Collection, “The Black Community at Stewart's Springs,” Shoals Black History, accessed April 28, 2024, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1273.