Live Oak in Suwannee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Edward Waters College Original Site

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 17, 2018

1. Edward Waters College Original Site Marker

Inscription. Live Oak was the birthplace of Edward Waters College, Florida's oldest black college. Here, the Rev. Charles H. Pearce, Elder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, envisioned an institution to educate newly-freed slaves. In 1866, aided by the Rev. William G. Steward, Florida's first AME pastor, Pearce raised funds for a school offering elementary, high school, college, and seminary level education. In 1870, the AME Church resolved to expand Pearce's school. Live Oak was chosen for the school site in 1872 due to its proximity to railroads, and 10 acres of land was purchased for the construction. Named Brown Theological Seminary, the school was renamed on 1873 to Brown University. The school relocated to Jacksonville in 1883, and in 1892, was renamed Edward Waters College in honor of the Florida AME Church's third bishop. Edward Waters College operates in Jacksonville but its roots are here in Live Oak at the site of its first building. For over 150 years, the college has played a significant role in higher education in northeast Florida, which is embodied in its alma mater, "Dear ole Edward Waters College, you're

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the world to me."

A Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2017 by Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., Bishop of the 11th Episcopal District, Tony D. Hansberry, Presiding Elder, 11th Episcopal District, Dr. Nathaniel Glover, President, Edward Waters College, Malachi Beyah, President, Jacksonville Alumni Chapter, Lillie M. Vereen, Event Chair, Alumnae, The Jacksonville Alumni Chapter, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-955.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 30° 17.925′ N, 82° 58.673′ W. Marker is in Live Oak, Florida, in Suwannee County. It is on Lisle Avenue north of Clay Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Live Oak FL 32064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Florida.

It is also in the American

Edward Waters College Original Site Marker and surrounding area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, January 17, 2018

2. Edward Waters College Original Site Marker and surrounding area

South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Harry Tyson Moore ~ A Native Son of Suwannee County (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lynnette Ricketson Millennium Park (approx. half a mile away); To Honor Stephen Collins Foster (approx. half a mile away); Suwannee County Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Suwannee County (approx. half a mile away); Florida Memorial College ~ Original Site (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Douglass Center (approx. 1.2 miles away); Plot Exposed (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Live Oak.

Also see . . . Edward Waters College. (Submitted on January 21, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 14, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 21, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,003 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.