Question: What is the slogan for the town of Eatonville, Florida?
Answer: The Town That Freedom Built
Newly freed slaves who had come into the area from Georgia, Alabama, further north, and the not-yet-incorporated Maitland first settled the town in 1880. These newly freed men labored at clearing land, planting crops and citrus groves, and helping to build houses, hotels, and the railroad system. In a few years, some of them became community leaders, businessmen, and respected citizens of the newly developed town of Maitland. By 1887, African American settlers in Maitland had become interested in establishing their own town. An all-African-American town was Joseph E. Clarks’ dream, but he was unsuccessful in his attempts to purchase land.
Eventually, through the goodwill of Lewis Lawrence, a northern philanthropist, and Josiah Eaton, a local landowner, Joe Clarke and others acquired 112 acres, and they comprised the original city limits of the Town of Eatonville. Lewis Lawrence suggested the name in honor of Josiah Eaton. On August 15, 1887, 27 electors gathered at the “town hall” and cast their votes for Columbus H. Boger as mayor; for Joe Clarks, Matthew Brazell, David Yelder, E.L. Horn, and E.J. Shines as aldermen; and for several other town officers. Thus, the first town to be organized, governed, and incorporated by African-American citizens in this country was born. Central to early life in Eatonville were three institutions: the church, the school, and the family.
