Clifton Colored Schoolhouse, North Merritt Island,Florida

Why isn't the Clifton community recognized as a historical site?

The Clifton Colored School-

Merritt Island,1892-1920.

School sessions were held during the summers after citrus and crop picking season was complete so children could help in the groves. Students had to complete primary school and “demonstrate proficiency in all of their subjects  math, Latin, English, and physiology.” There is very little information known on the small, African American community of Clifton.Portions of where the community existed are now a part of State Road 3 on North Merritt Island. However, The North Brevard Heritage Foundation is reconstructing and restoring the schoolhouse to move it to Brevard Community College’s Titusville campus to serve as a museum within a park.

Photos: Bob Paty/ the North Brevard Heritage Foundation

THE CLIFTON COLORED SCHOOL
1890-1891

Before the Clifton Schoolhouse was built, Butler Campbell and Andrew Jackson's children were home schooled by a black teacher, Mr. Mahaffey. The County paid the teacher five dollars per student, but would not provide a schoolhouse. In 1890-91, Campbell and Jackson decided to build a schoolhouse. A neighbor, Wade Holmes provided a one-acre lot on the northwest corner of his property. The three men built a 12' x 16' heart pine structure that sat on coquina cornerstones about one foot off the ground. The west-facing front was fitted with a double-paneled door. Two sets of glass-paned windows were on the north and south sides. The roof was made of cedar or cypress boards. Campbell's children included Florida, Eugenia, Agnes, Henry and Willie, Valedictorian in 1892. Jackson's children were Annie, Mary, Floyd and Douglas, Valedictorian in 1893. Studies included reading, physiology, English, math and Latin. By 1910, the children were out of school or attending school elsewhere. In 1924, Eugenia returned to Clifton and later lived in the structure. When NASA bought properties on North Merritt Island in the 1960's, the families relocated to other areas and most of the houses were moved or demolished.

A FLORIDA HERITAGE SITE SPONSORED BY THE BREVARD COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, THE BREVARD COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE - F-557 - 2005

Marker is located 2.8 miles north of the Haulover Canal on the Canaveral National Seashore, on the east side of U.S. Route 3.

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photos of the former Clifton area and what's happening now.

The Clifton Colored School-

Merritt Island,1892-1920.

School sessions were held during the summers after citrus and crop picking season was complete so children could help in the groves. Students had to complete primary school and “demonstrate proficiency in all of their subjects  math, Latin, English, and physiology.” There is very little information known on the small, African American community of Clifton.Portions of where the community existed are now a part of State Road 3 on North Merritt Island. However, The North Brevard Heritage Foundation is reconstructing and restoring the schoolhouse to move it to Brevard Community College’s Titusville campus to serve as a museum within a park.

Clifton Schoolhouse group photo

hand scribbled map by resident; circa 1920-30

dismantling site

dismantling site

while dismantling, had inscribed writing of  member of Campbell family

Photos: Bob Paty/ the North Brevard Heritage Foundation

Merritt Island facts to get your inner history buff started- Share your stories

Merritt Island Facts to get Your Inner History Buff Started

Merritt Island, Florida is a community in Brevard County on the east coast of Florida. It is the home of space technology (NASA), land of Indian River citrus. Merritt Island also has a wealth of Black history. However, as with most communities throughout the US, historical contributions, photos/artifacts, and family stories have been lost within the community and the families.

I welcome contributions of photos, stories,links and information to this blog to document more of the history of this warm and welcoming community--Merritt Island. My memories and your memories will help us create the missing stories and histories of those who are not long gone but, unfortunately, quickly forgotten.

Some facts to get your memories started:

• Anyone ever hear of the Florida Highwaymen? This group of 26 self-taught artists from the 1950's and 1960's were known to sell their artwork along the side of the highway out of the trunks of their cars since galleries would not sell their work. Their artwork was mostly Florida landscapes and waterscapes. Sam Newton is reported to be one of the Highway men who lives on Merritt Island but now has his own gallery on Cocoa Beach. He was encouraged by his brother Harold to paint. Another Highwayman, R.L. Lewis, taught in Brevard County for some time.
• Before integration, there was a Merritt Island Colored School. Harriette Moore, wife of Harry T. Moore, taught at the school in the elementary level before she was married to Harry Moore. Anyone who is unfamiliar with civil rights activists, can learn more by visiting the Harry T. Moore Museum, located in Mims, Florida, or email htmcc@brevardparks.com.
• Greater Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church collects and gathers family information, photos and land ownership histories about Black Merritt Island residents. They also have ownership of the Dennis Sawyer Cemetery, an historic landmark located on beautiful North Tropical Trail. Grave sites date back from 1919 and is still used. Two of the historic Black community on Merritt Island buried there are Reverend Fred Gillins and Joseph McDonald. More research and information to come on these individuals. For more information about the GMO-AME Church, visit the church at 1240 North Tropical Trail on Merritt Island.

Way Across the Bridge


This is my first blog. However, history has been fascinating to me since my college history courses with professor Benny Arkwright's lectures and assignments at Savannah State University. For such a small community, Merritt Island, community on the eastern shores of Brevard County has a wealth of information about the natural environment and white culture. Without being sarcastic, it is easier to locate diverse wildlife sanctuaries and boating spots than to gather knowledge on the diversity of humans on the Island.


The objectives for this site are to help readers, through facts and photos/captions, clearly connect that African Americans on Merritt Island, Florida, played a key role in the settlement and growth of the entire Brevard County; ignite curiosity and more questions,references and comments from others; and, most importantly, support local historians as they search for knowledge leaders and community story tellers. The next novels, news articles and tourism guides won't omit the history of our neighbors.




Recently, playwrite and local director, Mary Purdy noted that she experienced a lot of frustration in searching for historical information on people of color  in both Titusville and Merritt Island. At the premier of her local play, "Footprints-A Black Anthology", in Titusville, 2010, she reflected, "Not many know that Merritt Island was settled by black pioneers and that the spark that ignited the Civil Rights Movement was struck right here" in this community.

• Stay tuned for detailed information on Zora Neale Hurston's residence on Merritt Island, Douglas Dummitt and wife Leadra Fernandez, Dennis Sawyer-built and organized the Greater Mt Olive AME Church;Clifton Community School;Harry T. Moore's wife Harriette Sims Moore. More recent historical facts will be shared about Donald Williams and Noel Harris-Tuskegee Airmen, Dr. Henry Jerkins-doctor, David Moss-first black honor graduate at Merritt Island High School ( I was the second black honor graduate in 1982); Leon Bright-football player;Bubba McDowell-football player; Florida Highway men artists live on Merritt Island, Tropical Park Civic League organization, Palmetto Elementary School