African-American Heritage

African-American Heritage. Flat Branch Park. , The Flat Branch has witnessed the accomplishments of Columbia's African-American community for generations. A free African-American, John Lange (later shortened to Lang), Sr., operated Columbia's first butcher shop in the public market from 1851-1865. At one time Lang Sr. was the largest landowner among local African-Americans possessing most of the land within the boundaries of Fourth Street, Walnut, Fifth Street and Broadway. After the War Between the States, local former slaves settled in this area with the assistance of Lang Sr., community leader Gilbert Akers and master carpenter Beverly Chapman. Quite likely a community garden was operated and a community woodpile was established. By the turn of the century, Flat Branch included numerous cottages that were residences for African-American laborers, their families, domestics, and their widows., John Lang, Jr., a successful public works contractor, constructed a ten-room residence at 10 North Fourth in 1889. His sister Eugenia and her husband, the famous pianist John William "Blind" Boone, lived in the home for most of their lives. Lang Jr. was Boone's manager and co-owner of the Blind Boone Concert Company until his death in 1916. Lang Jr. also played a significant role in the community through his association with Second Baptist Church. The congregation met in the Cummings Academy at Third and Ash Street until it constructed its own house of worship at Fifth and Cherry Street in 1873. Its present building at Fourth and Broadway dates to 1894., Blind Boone immortalized this neighborhood with his 1909 ragtime medley titled "Strains from the Flat Branch," which included "Carrie's gone to Kansas City," and "I'm Alabama Bound."