Marianna in Jackson County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The West End Community
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, February 10, 2017
1. The West End Community Marker
Inscription.
The West End Community. . As early as 1825, African Americans settled in the Jackson County area. After 1865, interconnected communities developed their own infrastructure including cemeteries, schools, and churches. From these communities, a large population came together on a 563 acre parcel, later named West End, near downtown Marianna. It was bordered by Borden Street, Lafayette Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, and South Street. Home styles included shotgun, block types, and brick ranch. Over the years, the West End community grew from hundreds to over a thousand. Farming and sharecropping were originally the main sources of income, but later residents also held teaching and governmental jobs. A renaissance period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought the construction of new schools and churches, coupled with thriving, minority-owned businesses. Historic institutions in the West End were St. James A.M.E. Church, St. Luke Baptist Church, Gilmore Academy, and Jackson County Training School. Involvement in city government remained important and five city mayors hailed from West End between the 1980s and 2016. The community's maxim evolved from the Akan word, Sankofa, meaning "learn from our past, going into the future."
As early as 1825, African Americans settled in the Jackson County area. After 1865, interconnected communities developed their own infrastructure including cemeteries, schools, and churches. From these communities, a large population came together on a 563 acre parcel, later named West End, near downtown Marianna. It was bordered by Borden Street, Lafayette Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, and South Street. Home styles included shotgun, block types, and brick ranch. Over the years, the West End community grew from hundreds to over a thousand. Farming and sharecropping were originally the main sources of income, but later residents also held teaching and governmental jobs. A renaissance period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought the construction of new schools and churches, coupled with thriving, minority-owned businesses. Historic institutions in the West End were St. James A.M.E. Church, St. Luke Baptist Church, Gilmore Academy, and Jackson County Training School. Involvement in city government remained important and five city mayors hailed from West End between the 1980s and 2016. The community's maxim evolved from the Akan word, Sankofa, meaning "learn from our past, going into the future."
Erected 2016 by Saint James A.M.E. Church, Castoria S. Borders Family, Johney Baker,
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Sr. and Carrie Ephraim Baker Family, Maggie Pender Atwater Family, Evelyn P. and Chalmers Wilson, Jr. Family, C. Wilson III, the Chipola Historical Trust, the City of Marianna, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-920.)
Location. 30° 46.588′ N, 85° 14.144′ W. Marker is in Marianna, Florida, in Jackson County. Marker is at the intersection of Lafayette Street (U.S. 90) and Borden Street, on the right when traveling east on Lafayette Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2910 Borden Street, Marianna FL 32446, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2017. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 488 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 16, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
