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Hernando Today

Black History On The Hill

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: February 7, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Fielder Harris was a man ahead of his time.

The former slave from South Carolina was hired by the Robins family to care for Chinsegut Manor and sprawling property north of Brooksville when they purchased it in 1904.

As a free man and head caretaker, Harris oversaw a staff that included whites.

"That was unheard of in the Jim Crow era," said Kate Hughes, a part-time manager of what is now the USF Chinsegut Hill Conference & Retreat Center.

Harris' story will be among those celebrated during three days of events at the center to celebrate Black History Month.

Events at the center, located at 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road, will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Among the attractions lined up:

•Mable Sims of Brooksville will display her family artifacts, history and African American art.

Sims is a descendant of another former slave who lived in Hernando County, Arthur St. Clair. St. Clair who went on to become Hernando's first post-Civil War voter registrar, founded Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church and established the county's first all-black school, among other achievements. He was named the Great Brooksvillian last year.

•Re-enactors will portray residents from the slave era.

•A presentation of old-time printing operations by Jim Anderson, owner of The Old Mill House Gallery and Printing Museum and Gallery in Homosassa.

•A slide show will include highlights from journals and letters from the Elizabeth Robins Special Collection at Fales Library in New York City.

•Drumming and other musical entertainment.

•Tours of the manor and the grounds will be available.

The celebration is a first for the center and the brainchild of the fledgling Friends of Chinsegut. The nonprofit group formed last year to organize events and raise money for the manor, portions of which date back to 1849.

The idea for the black history celebration came after reading more than 300 pages of slave narratives, including Harris's story, Hughes said.

"We'd like to share more of that," she said.

Those who would like to get an early start on festivities can head to the African-American Read-in at the Old Citrus County Courthouse in Inverness from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature readings from the works of prominent African-American writers.

If you go

WHAT: Black History at Chinsegut Hill.

WHEN: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

WHERE: USF Chinsegut Hill Conference & Retreat Center, 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road (Take U.S. 41 north from Brookville to Snow Highway).

ADMISSION: Free.

CONTACT: 796-6254.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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