Sunday Favorites: Sarasota's First Black Settlers

A former slave established the first black community in Sarasota. Lewis Colson originally came to the area in 1884 as an assistant surveyor for Richard E. Paulson, an engineer for the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company.

Colson reportedly drove the first stake into the ground at Five Points, the present-day intersection of Main Street, and Pineapple and Central avenues. The Five Points historic marker even bears Colson's name. (The landmark has been the nucleus of downtown Sarasota for more than a century).

When the surveying concluded, Colson remained in the area becoming the first free black resident. He contributed to Sarasota's development and many ways, establishing the first municipal for African-Americans.

Colson married a midwife named Irene. At the time, being a midwife was one of the few employment opportunities for women, especially women of color. Irene and other midwives were well respected in the medical field, and provided essential services to the black community members who did not have access to hospitals or even doctors, according to the article "Overtown Leaders and Residents: The Reid & Colson families" researched by Newtown Alive.

Lewis was a landowner and businessman. In the late 1800s, he brought several black families together to begin the first community of color in Sarasota near the intersection of Central Avenue and Sixth Street, which came to be known as Overtown. He also helped organize Bethlehem Baptist Church, by selling land to the church trustees for one dollar. The church was built on the corner of present-day Seventh Street and Central Avenue in 1899. Lewis served as the pastor. The church is considered the first African-American church in the area, according to the article "Sarasota's Five Points" by historian Ann A. Shank.

The church served as a community center for many families. In addition to Sunday service, activities for children and families were held throughout the week. In an interview with Newtown Alive, resident Yvonne Brown fondly described an array of plays that were popular during the holidays. Brown also remembered traveling to rural neighboring communities to preach the gospel, which was traditional for the time.

By 1916, Overtown consisted of a movie theater, pressing club, market, lunchroom, grocery, and general stores, according to a business directory. Most buildings were one-story, wood-framed structures with front porches. There was also a baseball park located at 501 Lemon Ave.

It wasn't just year-round residents who enjoyed Sarasota. Black tourists were also attracted to the warm climate and beautiful beaches. However, unlike white travelers, they were unable to stay at hotels.

The Colson Hotel was constructed for this very reason. Built by E.O. Burns and opened late in 1926, shortly after Lewis' death in 1923, Burns named the hotel in his honor. Built for black tourists and residents, it was conveniently located on Eight Street just off Central Avenue and consisted of 28 rooms, and a plush lobby with a fireplace, according to Shank.

Both Lewis and Irene lived full lives and bared many children. They are buried in Rosemary Cemetery, which was owned by the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company. They are the only two African-Americans buried there. Despite a misspelling of his name of the marker above his grave and lack of an obituary in the paper, Lewis made a lasting impact on the area. He and his wife created diversity where there was none and a community for those who felt alone. What started as a stake in the ground, eventually grounded generations of black families in this place we call home.