Florida Tech’s Annual African American Read-In
Each February, the School of Arts and Communication partners with Evans Library to present the African American Read-In. This event celebrates the words, rhythms, and sounds of black authors, musicians, poets, playwrights, and scholars.
Florida Tech students, faculty, and alumni join with residents in the greater Brevard County community to showcase these works and amplify the voices and influences of black achievement throughout the United States.
Noted participants have included two-time shuttle astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Winston Scott, a professor emeritus at Florida Tech, and Lizzie Robinson, a descendant of a survivor of the Rosewood Massacre in 1923 and the founder and president of The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc., an organization dedicated to preserving the event's history and impact. Also, Sonya Mallard, keynote speaker of the 2022 event and coordinator of the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex in Mims.
The African American Read-In was recognized in 2020 as the Outstanding Educational Event of the Year by Florida Tech Student Life.
African American Chronology in Brevard County: A Living History
Compiled by Dr. Gordon Patterson; Photos curated by Rolanda Hatcher-Gallop
This historical timeline highlights significant events and key people in the development and growth of several areas of Brevard County, Florida. It is designed to be an interactive and inclusive compilation, and we welcome suggested verifiable additions. Please email detailed suggested additions and contact information to Rolanda Hatcher-Gallop, communication instructor, at rgallop@letaoyizs.com.
| Year | Highlight | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1860 | U.S. Census identifies 15 slaves, 1 free “colored,” and 6 “mulattos” in Brevard. Total Population: 246 | Florida Today, September 2, 1978 |
| 1866 | William Gleason was commissioned by the federal government to perform a survey of Florida to see if it was suitable for “Negro” colonization as part of Reconstruction. | |
| 1867 |
Sometime between 1867 and 1874, Balaam Allen, Wright Brothers, and Peter Wright, settle in what will become Melbourne.
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(Raley & Flotte, 2002, p. 11; Weona Cleveland, 1994, pp. 95-96) |
| 1870 | U.S. Census Count: 19 African Americans and 15 Native Americans residing in Brevard County. Total Population: 1,197. | |
| 1872 | The first public school, a one-room log cabin, was built south of Rocky Water Park on the west side of Pineapple Avenue, in Eau Gallie. | (Weona Cleveland, 1994, p. 122) |
| 1880 | First Post Office in Melbourne | (Boone, 1988, p. 34) |
| 1880 | U.S. Census: 84 African Americans residing in Brevard County, 0 Native Americans. Total Population: 1,379. | |
| 1880 |
Wright Brothers and Mary Silas Brothers settle on 7 ½ acres southside of Crane Creek.
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| 1880 |
Andrew Gibson, barber and restaurant owner, Titusville’s first African American resident.
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| 1880 |
U.S. Census identifies 5 black men as heads of family in Melbourne; Peter Wright and Cassel Patterson listed as mail carriers; and Joseph Curley as a sailor. No occupations were listed for Balaam Allen and Wright Brothers. However, later research describes Allen and Brothers as citrus tree farmers, and Brothers later opening and operating a grocery store on Lipscomb Street.
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| 1883 | Melbourne’s First School on South Riverside Drive-in area known as “Tarheel”; with no desks, students wrote on slates. First students included Annie Goode, Edith Valentine, Isabelle Clohecy, Grace Goode, Fred Valentine, Alexander Goode, Helen Valentine, John Clohecy, Jessi Goode, Willie Brothers, Susie Allen, Lizzie Trot, George Washington Blaine, Balaam Allen, and LaFayette Allen. Attended for short time by both African American and white students. | (Boone, 1988, p. 40); Melbourne Times, February 18, 1976 9A |
| 1885 | Mary and Wright Brothers, Salina and Balaam Allen, Carrie and Robert Lipscomb organize Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal, the first African American church in Melbourne. | |
| 1889 | Richard Goode, son of John Goode, builds a second one-room schoolhouse next to his home called Fountain Heights. | |
| 1891 |
The first sanctuary for Macedonia Baptist Church (Melbourne) was built; the church was founded under a little oak tree in 1889.
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Melbourne Times, October 10, 1979 |
| 1891 |
The Clifton School is built in North Merritt Island by neighbors Butler Campbell and Andrew Jackson for their children. The school thrived until 1910 when most of the local children were older and pursuing higher education.
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| 1893 | Mary Sears Stone begins a career as a midwife, serving the community for 54 years, delivering over 1,000 babies. | |
| 1893 |
Florida East Coast Railroad reaches Melbourne on Monday, July 3.
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| 1900 | U.S. Census: Florida’s population is 528,542. Brevard County’s population is 5,258. African American population of Melbourne is 281; Eau Gallie, 277. There are a total 1,074 African Americans in Brevard County. | |
| 1900 | Mary Norton Lawrence and her husband Edward Lawrence settle in Melbourne. Mary Lawrence described Melbourne as “a lonesome town.” Her son Harry Lawrence characterized the area that is now Florida Tech’s botanical garden as “Cathead…because the area was full of wild cats and panthers. We would see them peering at us from the trees. But they never harmed anyone.” | (Weona Cleveland, 1988, p. 103) |
| 1906 | First Telephone Switchboard in Melbourne (15 telephones in city) | (Boone, 1988, p. 34) |
| 1908 |
Greater Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church is founded on May 23 by Edward Dennis Sawyer on Merritt Island.
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Melbourne Times, February 18, 1976 8A |
| 1909 | The first school for African American children in Melbourne on the corner of Lipscomb and Line Streets. One-room school with two rows of seats and two students per seat. Approximately 16 students attended. Mrs. May Piper was the first teacher. | |
| 1910 | Birth of Harry Lawrence, son of Mary Norton Lawrence and Edward Lawrence on May 20, Emancipation Day. | (Weona Cleveland, 1988, p. 106) |
| 1911 | Melbourne’s first school bus, mule team, and wagon, driven by C.R. Johnson. | |
| 1912 |
Scott Chapel (United Methodist) Church organized. John and Mary Stone were among the founders.
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(Weona Cleveland, 1994, p. 97) |
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Special Thanks To:
- Retired Palm Bay Battalion Chief James Bartell
- The City of Cocoa, Florida
- The City of Melbourne, Florida
- The family of the late Roosevelt Evans
- Evans Center
- Florida Today
- Roz Foster, founder and president of the North Brevard Heritage Foundation, Inc.
- Greater Allen Chapel AME Church
- Greater Mount Olive AME Church
- The family of the late Robert L. Hadley
- Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex, Inc.
- Teri Jones, author and historian in Melbourne, Florida
- Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
- Joseph McNeil, president, the Concerned Citizens Committee of South Brevard, Inc.
- The family of the late Julius Montgomery
- The family of the late James R. Ryoland
- Scott Chapel United Methodist Church
- Jan Stone, wife of the late Rudy Stone and owner of the historic Stone Funeral Home