Page 10 - 7-21-15 Tuesday's Edition

Local
Bealsville Community Celebrates Their 150th Anniversary
Last month, residents of Bealsville held a 4-day an- niversary celebration. The community, founded by freed slaves, is one of the few remaining communi- ties established by African Americans in the country.
The celebration in- cluded the reception on Thursday. On Friday, sev- eral activities took place in- cluding an Alumni Fish Fry, Alumni Golf Outing, Alumni Family Bowling, and a Teen Dance, nestled in among the other activi- ties.
Saturday was the high- light of the festival with re- enactments, family introductions, and a picnic. That evening, there was the “Bealsville Gala Signature Event.”
The anniversary cele- bration came to an end on Sunday with members of the community attending church service.
During the festival, res- idents of Bealsville cele- brated all aspects of its community and the mem- ber of those who founded it.
The Bealsville Community
The Bealsville Commu- nity came into existence after the Civil War ended and slaves suddenly found themselves free. Many of the slaves, having nowhere to go, remained on the property of their former masters.
Twelve freed slaves re- mained on the property of their owner, planning their future. After the Southern Homestead Act of 1866 be-
came law, twelve freed slaves who had remained on their master’s property were able to acquire prop- erty, ranging between 40 and 160 acres.
Plantation owner Sarah Howell allowed the freed slaves to use horses, mules and farming equipment to create the settlement. They named the community Howell’s Creek.
The original families in- cluded: Peter Dexter, Bryant Horton, Roger Smith, Robert Story, Isaac Berry, Mills Hol- lomon, Sam Horton, (the grandfather of O. V. Hargrett, Sr.), Jerry Stephens, Neptune Henry, Steven Allen, Abe Messenger, and Mary Reddick. Ms. Reddick was the only woman and the only one in the group who could read and write. Eventually, the settlement was renamed Alafia.
Alfred Beal, the son of Mary Reddick and Frank M. Beal, a white overseer, purchased prop- erties that others settlers had lost and sold it back to the original owners. He also donated three acres of land to the community for the first church, the first school, and the first ceme- tery.
In 1923, the residents of Alafia renamed the com- munity Bealsville in honor of Alfred Beal. Alfred Beal died on November 25, 1948, on his 89th birthday. (Photography by TOBY SCOTT, of Chow & Scott Keepsakes).
William Thomas, Jr., served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Heritage Festival.
Mrs. Leola Berry, at 97, is the oldest living resident of the Bealsville Community. She is shown enjoying a snow cone and tell stories about the good old days.
Trinity Scott had lots of fun during the celebration.
Tealeah Scott enjoyed the cotton candy available at the festival.
Randall D. Hampton (right), Valerie B. Mackey, Josie Bagley, and Cavoniss Lewis were on hand welcoming festival attendees.
PAGE 10 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015