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BARTOW, Fla. — If you’re a house owner in DeLand or Bartow, there’s an opportunity your own home might need a bit extra historical past than you notice. Especially when you didn’t construct it your self.
A book just lately revealed on the life of a former slave turned profitable entrepreneur may get you questioning the place your own home might need come from. You additionally may need to look to the Historic L.B. Brown House for these solutions.
“Here’s an important story on when Clifton first realized this house had some real significant historical value,” writer Charles Warren mentioned as he opened the book, ‘From Slavery to Community Builder.’
Charles is the writer of the book in addition to a board member. He was referring to his colleague and pal Clifton Lewis, founding President of the Neighborhood Improvement Corporation of Bartow, Inc.
Charles Warren
The essential story is a couple of home that was nearly torn down and forgotten eternally.
The Historic L.B. Brown House, positioned at 470 L.B. Brown Ave in East Bartow, is 2 acres of land purchased and constructed on by a former slave freed when he was 9 years previous, Lawrence B. Brown.
But Clifton Lewis, who knew the home was previous, nearly missed that half within the late 80’s.
“Our nonprofit needed a place to meet and we found this home which was abandoned and ready to be torn down. I knew it was a historical home so I thought I could help restore it,” Lewis mentioned.
The Lakeland Ledger caught wind of the restoration and did a narrative on it. Lawrence Brown’s solely residing son (he had seven youngsters and just one grandchild) Robert Brown, who lived in New York City on the time, caught wind of it and traveled right down to Florida to see who as restoring the home he grew up in. His son handed away just a few years in the past.
“As they were walking around the property, Brown commented to Lewis, ‘When my father built this house…’”
A surprised Lewis shortly realized there was one thing a lot larger than each of them occurring at that second.
“If those 5 seconds hadn’t happened, we might not be sitting her today,” Warren mentioned.
Years later due to intensive documentation and data stored by Lawrence Brown himself and given to Lewis and Warren by his late son, the story of L.B. Brown has way more element.
The Story of Lawrence B. Brown
Freed from slavery when he was 9, he spent his youthful years on his mother or father’s farm close to Gainesville. Around the mid 1870’s he moved to DeLand, Florida the place he by some means acquired property and constructed at the very least 9 rental houses there. In the mid-Eighteen Eighties, as phosphate was beginning to growth and folks had been flocking to Central Florida, he moved to Polk County. Taking what he had discovered in Volusia County, it’s estimated he’s answerable for at the very least 40 to 50 houses in East Bartow alone.
“He had the kind of personality, and he was comfortable around white people. Let’s not forget that at that time, after the Civil War, many white people did not like the idea of Blacks being free but he was able to be someone who was involved in the community, working with and doing business with both white men and Black men,” Warren mentioned.
Besides constructing houses, Brown was additionally very helpful in lots of different methods. He owned a enterprise the place he repaired umbrellas, silvered mirrors, dug wells and bought bibles. Lots of these artifacts might be seen on the Historic L.B. Home on show.
“Whatever there was a need for, Brown did it. He was kind of an every man,” Lewis mentioned.
Thanks to ledgers and different supplies supplied by Brown’s late son, Warren and Lewis have made it their mission to ensure his story won’t ever get misplaced and his impression on the group will reside on for generations due to the book, ‘From Slavery to Community Builder.’ In it, they’ve revealed most of the documentation they’ve acquired to assist inform his story.
The restored home is now a time capsule that showcases a person who was not solely enterprise savvy but in addition fascinated about rather a lot of various things.
Documents present a handwritten research Brown did after a butcher store had opened up in Bartow. He wished to know if it was cheaper to purchase a pig from the butcher or elevate his personal.
“One year, two months, and 22 days is how long he had the pig,” Charles Warren mentioned with a smile as he learn Brown’s notes.
Another reveals a observe merely stating that his brother Joe owed him $40 and telling somebody to get it from Joe and provides it to his mom in addition to a contract for rental,
detailing that with a $5 down cost on a rental, as soon as the resident will get to $45, they’ll formally develop into a house owner.
Inside the home you could find authentic furnishings in addition to donated items. Pictures of his household line the wall within the entrance hallway. An previous range nonetheless sits within the kitchen together with an previous ice chest, or as we might name it lately, a fridge.
Outside, authentic water provides nonetheless sit on the property. A pump deal with and a properly. There are two houses on the property that Bartow Inc. watches over with one other two that aren’t owned by them. The property consists of the mansion and a rental home.
It’s a residing image of a time that appears not so far-off lately.
“He was an example of how we should be living today, I think that should be his legacy,” Warren mentioned
Clifton Lewis needs younger individuals to search out inspiration in Lawrence Brown’s story. A narrative he calls a real American story.
“Look at what L.B. Brown overcame. Born into slavery. Born into nothing. Having no formal education yet becoming a highly successful entrepreneur. That legacy for young people should say, ‘if he can do it, my God, I can do it too,’” Lewis proclaimed.
You can go to the Historic L.B. Brown House anytime and tour the grounds. To tour inside, name 863-944-6136 to schedule a walk-through. You can find more information on their website.
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