Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center

 Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center, Located in St. Augustine, FL.

Date of Visit: January 28, 2021

The museum and cultural center were extremely informal, it enables you to become absorbed in the history of African Americans within the local community.  The museum itself "is housed in the historic Excelsior School Building - which served as the first public black high school in St. John County in 1925." To read more about the cultural center, click here!

Artifact One:

Swilley's Grocery & Market fan

The origin of the fan stems from Douglas Swilley, who opened a grocery market on Riberia Street (located on the outskirts of Lincolnville).  Prior to being a business owner, in his youth, he actually went to the Excelsior School.  As the card says, "[the] market was one of the largest black owned grocery stores in the city" and to this day, no one compares to his "greens and watermelons!"

Artifact Two: 

Community Remembrance Project (Equal Justice Initiative)

This may just look like a jar of dirt - but it's a jar of IMPORTANT dirt.  The purpose of this is "to commemorate and recognize the traumatic era of lynching by collecting soil from lynching sites."  This is a cruel, inhumane part of history; something that should not be ignored.  So viewing this artifact surrounded among the larger displays, is truly eye-opening to the nation's darkest history.

Exterior of the former Excelsior School

The image on the left is the full exterior of the building, taken from across the street.  On the right is a closer view of the former Excelsior School, showing the MLK remembrance marker directly in front of the entrance.

Images in Conversation with the Site

The first photo shows the inside of one of the Palace Market in Lincolnville.  The man standing there is actually Frank B. Butler, who was an influential figure in St. Augustine.  I thought this photo was worth including as the markets during the time period were essential to the community. The second image showcases  the side entrance of the Corner Market, which was also housed a library.  I actually included the current exterior of this building on the Accord Freedom Trail post.  So this really comes full circle to emphasize the importance of this building.  

Creative Element

Again, I made a quote graphic to summarize the overall feeling of the Cultural Center.  This quote emphasizes the importance of determination, which is what the attendees of this former high school had to do.  In order to demand change within society, they had to "become a diver."

Quote from ENG 202

"His face was twisted with pain and streaked with tears and dirt, but wasn't crying aloud." - Kindred, Octavia Butler 

Once again, this reiterates the hardships that were endured throughout Lincolnville's early history.  The museum has a jar of dirt stressing the pain that so many innocent lives had to suffer.  However, this quote in Kindred, detailed the pain that the privileged underwent.  Even though it wasn't anything in comparison to the so called "disadvantage."  Nevertheless, every individual went through some form of discomfort, as society was a place where no one truly relaxed.  The tension was too strong within any circumstance, so we must always remember this pain.

Accord Freedom Trail

 Accord Freedom Trail, located in St. Augustine, FL.

Date of Visit: January 21, 2021

The site was extremely informational and interactive simultaneously due to the fact that it was a walking museum of sorts.  There's so much history to be absorbed regarding the Civil Rights movement - many of the indicated landmarks were households that provided a refugee for those traveling.  There are over 20 sites to visit - all of which will leave you feeling inspired. To find out more about the site, click here!

Location One:
97 M.L. King Avenue

The actual location once was a popular "confectionary & sundries store." The back part of the store has a "pool room, then eventually a barber shop."  There's also the Lincolnville Public Library that operated in the '50s & 60's.  As depicted in the image, there are hand-painted advertisements for items sold at the store.

Location Two:

94 South Street

The White family lived here during the movement. Their son,"Samuel was one of the 'St. Augustine Four' - teens who were arrested because of a "sit in at the Woolworth's lunch counter downtown." Not only did their son partake in the movement, so did their daughters Janice and Jeannette." They took part in the movie Dare Not Walk Alone. The White family were all involved with the Civil Rights movement.

                    Lincolnville Streets

The image on the right is of an abandoned old school house, portraying the rough history of Lincolnville. Whereas the photo on the left is strictly of the suburban street, standing to be the complete opposite. 

                              Images in Conversation with the Site

The photo on the left is of MLK after being arrested for trying to eat at the infamous Monson Motor Lodge.  I felt that this is very fitting with the Freedom Trail, as this incident is what people were marching to prevent from occurring.  On the other hand, the second image shows "MLA hugged by Lennette Pembleton in St. Augustine after learning that the senate passed the Civil Rights Bill in June 1964."  I incorporated this photo as well to depict polar opposite events within St. Augustine's history.  That the suffering so many people went through eventually yielded life changing results.

Creative Element

I chose to creative a quote graphic, as I feel that this is a best way to encompass the experience of the site visit.  I specifically included this quote by MLK because it goes hand-in-hand with the idea of the freedom trail - we must never give up despite whatever odds are thrown at us.  So the mantra of always walking forward is evident, being a potential theme within Lincolnville.

Quote from ENG 202 

"I stared out into the darkness fighting to calm myself.  It was not calming, though, that there was no city lights out there.  No lights at all." -Kindred, Octavia Butler.

I felt that this quote could be related to Lincolnville, as during the time of the Civil Rights Movement, things were unsettling throughout St. Augustine.  This ultimately paralleled what Dana was experiencing - a great discomfort. As she was thrown into the Antebellum South with nothing to comfort her.  The "darkness fighting" - it's the internal battle that Dana undergoes.  Something I'm sure the residents of Lincolnville experienced as well.