Daytona Beach - Rich in Black History Too

Daytona Beach - Rich In Black History Too
By Felicia Persaud

Say Daytona Beach and immediately images of warm blue water, white sand beaches and cars racing at incredible speed may rush to mind. But while Daytona may have copped a place on the world map because of its infamous Daytona 500 races and its wild spring break parties on the beach, it is the rich black heritage of this area that rarely ever makes the news.

Presently, home to over 20,000 African-Americans according to the U.S. Census, Daytona Beach has been attracting blacks as far back as the 18th century. Historical accounts show that African-Americans were among Daytona Beach's earliest settlers with a large colony of freed slaves established in 1866 by Esther Hill and John Milton Hawks in an area just south of modern-day Daytona Beach. Hawks and his wife reportedly were both physicians and also staunch abolitionists. Stories tell of them spending the Civil War years caring for black Union soldiers. Apparently, these soldiers and their families, about 1,500 of them, later settled in this area once the Civil War ended. The area was named Freemanville and today includes the towns of Ponce Inlet and Port Orange.

Other prominent African-Americans soon followed in the footsteps of the Hawks. Jackie Robinson was allowed to play as a Brooklyn Dodger for the first time after the council of Daytona finally ruled in his favor. But of course Robinson still could not stay in the same hotel as his white teammates and despite the joy blacks felt at this historic ruling, many could only stand outside and listen to the announcer call the game because the "Blacks Only" section was filled to capacity. Today, baseball fans of all color can enjoy a game at the historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark on City Island.

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Howard Thurman have also left their legacies here in the Daytona Beach area. Dr. Bethune founded a school for young girls with only $1.50 in assets and a few packing cases for seats. Through diligence and hard work, the Cookman Institute became the Bethune-Cookman College. Today, the college stands strong at 640 Mary Bethune Boulevard, since its formation in 1904 by this sharecropper's daughter. Located on a 62-acre campus, it still boosts a large percentage - 58 - of women on campus. You can tour the home of Dr. Bethune and her graveside by scheduling a tour by calling 386-255-1401.

Dr. Thurman, a mentor of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Daytona Beach in 1900, in the city's oldest residential section at 614 Whitehall Street. He later moved to Jacksonville but of course achieved prominence for his advocacy for racial unity. His writings on non-violence, done during his years of teaching at Morehouse College and Howard and Boston universities, were later adopted by the civil rights movement. Today, visitors can visit Dr. Thurman's home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more insight into Daytona's black history, trek over to the Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens, the site of an old sugar mill that traces its origins back to the horrific days of slavery. Located at 950 Old Sugar Mill Road in Port Orange, the Gardens is also a great place to simply experience nature at its best as well as pause for quiet reflection into what life was like for blacks back in the days before they were freed.

Other Places of Interest

Daytona Beach officials have made eco-tourism a major thrust of their marketing campaign and it's amazing to see that so many area residents have adopted the campaign. Captain Mark Sheets is one such person. Sheets, who operates the Sunny Daze and Starry Nites cruise line along the Halifax River, takes great pride in ensuring that his guests learn as much as possible in the hour-long tour of the river. They include everything from the beautiful bottle-nosed dolphins who can show up without a moment's notice to manatees, pelicans, herons, egrets, waterfowls and of course the various aquatic plants that line the river.

The Marine Science Center at 100 Lighthouse Road is another place where visitors can learn about Daytona's natural wonders. The Center's staff have combined Daytona's natural attractions with the technicality of marine science and vigorously market it to visitors and area residents alike. A major highpoint of this 5,300 square-feet center is its endangered and threatened sea turtle exhibit. These are real turtles that have been injured by swallowing cigarette butts or choking on hooks. They are housed for rehabilitation in five turtle pools located in front of the main facility. The turtles are usually released once they have fully recovered. The Marine Center is open Tuesdays - Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from noon - 4 p.m.

After seeing the turtles, you may feel the urge to view the world from a natural high. The Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, located at 4931 South Peninsula Drive is an experience that will leave an indelible print on your mind and the 203-steps climb to the phenomenal view from the top is sure to take your breath literally away.

To learn more of the area's history, head over to The Halifax Museum at 252 S. Beach Street. There you can definitely take a walk down memory lane as you trace the lives of the area's earliest residents, the Timucuan Indians right through the Spanish, British and the Civil War as well as learn about the Pioneer and Victorian periods. You can also discover the history of auto racing in Daytona as well as view artifacts from the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II.

Another stop for those history buffs is the Museum of Arts and Science, located at 1040 Museum Boulevard. You can walk through most of the exhibits for yourself including the Root Family collection, which captures the history of the man who first created the Coca-Cola bottle, a bottle that today has become world famous. Cuba's History of Art is also another interesting exhibit with most of the pieces showing life among white Cuba prior to 1959. Many of the pieces in this collection were donated by General and Mrs. Fulgencio Batista. Batista was overthrown by Fidel Castro, his brother Raul and colleague Che Guevara in the Bay of Pigs invasion that preceded the revolution.

Shopping
Daytona is home to one of the largest flea and farmers market in the country. Located at the Junction of I-95 and Highway 92 (Exit 87) the market is THE place for shoppers looking for great merchandise at bargain prices. From t-shirts and other clothing to jewellery, shades, watches, antiques and even fresh produce, the Daytona Flea Market is definitely a must see for anyone visiting Daytona. The best part is it's open every weekend between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. despite the weather.

Riverfront Marketplace in the heart of Old Daytona Beach is also worth checking out especially for its antique stores. This area is definitely under construction and will benefit greatly from the planned revitalization city officials have in store for it. But for now, it's a quiet little strip on the waterfront where you can simply feel the history and browse.

For those lovers of chocolate, Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory at 154 South Beach Street in historic downtown Daytona Beach is another must see. The factory is an institution and traces its roots back to 1925 and the humble beginnings of Michigan-born candy makers Miss Ridell Angell and Miss Cora Phelps. The stores changed hands in 1935 when it was purchased by Edward and Helen Reisinger and was sold again in 1994 to Dr. Alvin Smith, who, along with his wife Ann and sons, Alvin, Jr. and Chuck, still run the operations today.

Thirty-minute tours are offered Mondays through Fridays and visitors get a chance to view the arduous candy making process from behind glass windows. The process between taking the candy off of the fire to actually packing it in boxes is incredibly time consuming. The mostly female staff spends countless effort manually ensuring that most of the candy is covered in chocolate and the right size and numbers are packed into boxes for shipping or for sale to customers at its onsite store. The chocolate comes in all shapes and sizes but they are all delicious.

Places To Dine
Angell & Phelps also has a restaurant and wine bar adjacent to the chocolate factory, where patrons or visitors strolling the downtown streets can chow down on sandwiches, soups, salads and of course, a chocolate dessert.

Another great restaurant is the Inlet Harbor Marina and Restaurant. Not only is this a place with a great view of the water and superb island ambience inside, but the food here is excellent. The chowder and the blackened grouper sandwich is 'to die for' and since most of the seafood is brought in fresh everyday, there is no need to worry about freshness. The Marina Bar and Grill is also a fantastic place to lunch. The food here is definitely Caribbean as is the entire look and feel of this establishment that is right on the marina.

The LPGA International Knickers Bar & Grill is a different but superb choice for breakfast, and after dining, you can always decide to try a round of golf.

For dinner, try the North Turn in Ponce Inlet. The crab cakes here are especially tasty. Stonewood Tavern in Ormond Beach is yet another delightful option. The food here is truly delectable as is the ambience.

But the best place for me on this trip was the famous Buca di Beppo restaurant at 2514 W. Int'l Speedway Blvd. It is definitely the finest Italian food in town, plus the décor and service is phenomenal. The Catholic-themed restaurant features different tables named after various Catholic leaders. There is of course the Pope's table, the best and most demanded one in the house, as well as the Cardinal's table. Your experience begins with a tour of the kitchen where the food is prepared fresh everyday and served in huge portions as is common in most Italian families. Buca di Beppo definitely gets my vote for the best dining experience in Daytona.

Places To Stay
The top place to stay in Daytona is the Ocean Walk Resort. Not only is the view unsurpassed in town - particularly if you're on the top floor overlooking both the ocean in the front and the river in the back - but the staff here make you feel right at home. It's an ideal choice for families to stay, especially because the accommodations consist of self-contained suites that are tastefully decorated with an island-theme. Additionally, the outdoor jacuzzi and 250 ft. pool on the property plus the 23-mile white sand beach just outside the resort, makes Ocean Walk a real gem in Daytona.

Of course the recent creation of the new $250 million Oceanside district, the Ocean Walk Village, right smack next to the resort, is another major advantage. It's the fruition of a 10-year rejuvenation dream and features a family-theme watermark, surfside entertainment in the form of video arcades, a miniature golf course, restaurants, a 10-screen all-stadium seating movie theater, sports bars, lounges, a fitness center and boutiques.

Getting To Daytona
Getting to Daytona is easy. Delta Airlines flies there from LaGuardia via Atlanta. But be careful with your luggage. Mine got left behind and only arrived the next day. Take advantage of the Bureau's new 'Bommer Beach Getaways' promotion, which runs through January 31st. With the Boomer special, you will be able to get accommodations for special rates. Log on to www.bommerbeachgetaways.com now or for more information contact the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-544-0415 or on line at www.daytonabeachcvb.org.