Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Smokey Hollow Spirit Houses

Cascades Park

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, July 30, 2023

1. Smokey Hollow Spirit Houses Marker

Inscription. Understanding the importance of history, a spirit house connects the past with the present. It allows individuals of all generations to experience and learn about the strength and resolve of the former Smokey Hollow Community, a segregated neighborhood located in what is now Cascades Park.

The Smokey Hollow Community was rooted in family life. The spirit houses provide an engaging public space to connect with the heart of Smokey Hollow. They are a starting point for exploring the commemoration of this. The spirit houses are constructed in the shotgun house style. The name is thought to derive from the idea that one would have a straight "shotgun" view from the front door to the back door. However, the intent of the house design was to provide cross ventilation, which kept it cool in the summertime.

The typical Smokey Hollow yard was a tidy swept surface and included pecan and fruit trees, gardens and fire pits. Climbing roses, gardenias, hydrangeas, and camellias were common flowering plants found around the house.

(captions)
Rear of homes along St. Augustine Street in the Smokey Hollow Neighborhood, Tallahassee,Florida, 1963. State Archives of Florida

Homes along St. Augustine Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 1955, Dorothy Dodd, Photographer, State Archives of Florida

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Typical shotgun house floor plan

Erected 2021 by City of Tallahassee and Leon County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 30° 26.321′ N, 84° 16.621′ W. Marker is in Tallahassee, Florida, in Leon County. Marker is at the intersection of E. Pensacola Street and S. Meridian Street, on the right when traveling west on E. Pensacola Street. Marker located within Cascades Park close to the Pensacola/Meridian Gate. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tallahassee FL 32301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Enduring Spirit of Smokey Hollow (a few steps from this marker); The Community Spirit of Smokey Hollow (within shouting distance of this marker); Althemese Pemberton Barnes Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Family and Home Spirit of Smokey Hollow (within shouting distance of this marker); Smokey Hollow Commemoration (within shouting distance of this marker); John G. Riley Center & Museum of African American History & Culture (within shouting distance of this marker); Smokey Hollow Barbershop

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, July 30, 2023

2. Smokey Hollow Spirit Houses Marker

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Gilmore Riley House (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tallahassee.

Also see . . .
1. What You Didn't Know About The Foregrounds Of Cascades Park. (Submitted on August 12, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Smokey Hollow Commemoration. (Submitted on August 12, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. Cascades Park. (Submitted on August 12, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 12, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.