Florida Marion County Black History Museum

Dear Friends of Marion County Black History Museum,

I hope everyone is doing well. Why hasn’t there been a consistent sustained effort to get a black school historical marker for Howard Academy? Howard Academy was opened in 1866 by the Freedmen’s Bureau. At this time, only American National Thrift Association Hospital and Paradise Park at Silver Springs have historical markers. Both of these institutions had ties to the black history of Marion County and beyond. Other good historical marker candidates would be the Mt Zion AME Church, 623 South Magnolia Avenue in Ocala, Florida, and Fessenden Academy. The church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1868, a school was esta

blished by the African American community of Martin, Florida, under the leadership of Thomas B. “Father” Ward.

Finally, there is the former home (Private) of Doctors Effie Carrie Mitchell Hampton and Lee Royal Hampton. The house still stands. Dr. Mitchell was the first African American woman to become a doctor in Ocala. She was also the first black woman licensed to practice med

icine in Florida. Dr. Hampton was the first African American dentist in Ocala.

Warm regards,

Alonzo Hardy

The history of Marion’s first school for blacks

Source: Ocala Star Banner, February 2, 2019

American National Thrift Association Hospital

Paradise Park at Silver Springs

Howard Academy High School on Chestnut Street

Source: The Historical Marker Datab

ase HMdb.org