Goldsboro Museum

Goldsboro: A Letter From The Past

webmaster — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:21:05 +0000

GOLDSBORO: A letter from the past.

I am Catherine B Bostic. Born to Mr. & Mrs. Ed Bostic on January 31, 1900. As a child I attended the West Side Elementary School, which

was a one room building in Goldsboro. It was very large located on what is now called, William Clark Ave. in Goldsboro. The school didn’t

have a name, just Goldsboro School. Every grade was in the same room. As years past, the attendance increased, and more rooms were

needed, so two more rooms were added to take care of the incoming students. Our first teacher was professor Martin, second was Rev.

Williams & Rev. Hector. We also had some women teachers, Mrs. Austin, Mrs. Lampkin’s & many more. Students that were in advance grades

transferred to the East Side School, which is called Georgetown, and the school was Hopper Academy. Prof. J. N. Crooms was principal, and

his wife was the Assistant Principal along with other teachers on the staff. I was in the sixth grade nearing my closing year of school for the

term. I did not get promoted because of an accident at home. Our back porch was being repaired and on my way to school I fell through the

porch & was crippled for three or four months.

When school opened the next term, I had to attend school by cab because of the walking distance, and my leg/foot still being sore.

Through the obstacles, I finally finished high school with the help of great teachers. My graduation year was June 1920. A very happy year for

me. After graduating from public school, my intention was to become a nurse but, my parents were not able to send me off to nursing school.

Instead, I took a correspondence course, and worked alongside Doctors. The first doctor to start me off with my practical work was Dr.

Denton. I was a good helper for him so, he told other doctors about how cooperative and Zealous I was with staying on task and being busy

with everything. With the news traveling around about my work, I was able to work as a practical for 3 1/2 years or more.

I eventually had to take the state examinations to be a licensed practical nurse and pass to receive my certificate. I decided later on, if I

could do this good at being a practical nurse I could better myself become a graduate nurse. So I wrote the superintendent of Brewster

Hospital in Jacksonville Florida, and accepted me after I filled out the application. I entered training that September, 1924. There were about

twenty student nurses, some were either first, second, or third year. After, my probationary period, I passed the exam and was given my

whole uniform. I worked faithfully and advanced in everything. I was well liked by most of the patients and doctors. I had a few hardships in

training but, I could only think that they were responsible duties for my success in becoming a nurse. I finally finished nursing after three

years. After, commencement exercises and renewing my diploma, I was awarded a five-dollar gold piece for keeping the cleanest room and a

certificate for neatest uniform during the three-year inspection period. After graduation I took the State Board examination and received my

registered nurse certificate as a R N. This was the greatest day of my life.

My first job was in Palatka Florida at Lawton’s Sanatorium for Second years. Second job was at home in Sanford Florida at Fernald

Langton Hospital for twenty-two years. I finally quit and worked in Orlando Florida at Orange Memorial for two years. I finally came back

home after getting service call to come by the superintendent. When the Seminole Memorial Hospital was built I moved with the staff and

worked for seven years on the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, in charge of second floor. I worked there for seven years until my retirement in 1962. I

worked for 33 years as a R.N. I am now fourteen ears retired and loving it.

Catherine B. Bostic

1008 w. 12th street, Sanford, Fla. 32771.

Education has always been important in the Goldsboro community. It has been the

foundation for success with the Blacks in this area. Come out and visit us for more stories.

Goldsboro Historic Museum.

Written by William Taylor

History of Bokey

webmaster — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 19:59:45 +0000

This History is important because “It Is Black History”

The story goes something like this!
Between 1910 and 1970, Black People moved from 14 states of the South, especially Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida to the north. The moving from Florida started much later. Black People from Sanford loaded their families on trucks, in buses and cars to travel from Sanford Florida to Rochester NY. Many Black folks from Florida, among other Southern states, went (Up State) to work on farms, orchards and vineyards in rural areas outside of Rochester. That is why the Black population in small towns and communities like Medina, Sodus, Lyons, Williamson, Newark, etc are from Florida. This Migration started to occur before the 70s, somewhere around the 40s. They were seasonal migrant workers living on migrant camps in small farming cities working on farms, orchards and vineyards in rural areas outside of Rochester.
The ride from Sanford to Rochester was hard and long, sleeping, eating and relieving themselves in the woods along the way.
After the late 60s many came to work in area factories and other industries in Rochester. Some of the major companies were Kodak and Xerox that had diversity initiatives where they were looking for talented minorities/people of color. That started in the 70’s and many of these folks lived throughout the area, with Henrietta being the first suburban town where you started noticing a diverse population emerging. People that migrated from Sanford to Rochester went to better themselves, and improve the lives of their families, no different than any other migration throughout history.

Bo-key
Some men and women would “hop Freight Trains” from points all over Florida to Sanford. Sanford was a major stop for migrant workers coming from Jamaica and Florida southern cities, and this was because of its’ full service train station. The station was located in Goldsboro on 8th and Poplar Ave. Which is now a Coastline Park, named after the Seaboard Coastline Station.
When the train was heading north and stopped, the Caboose would be somewhere near
13 Street in Goldsboro. At that time the tracks ran through the heart of Goldsboro to the station .
I was told the “last cab on each train going north was called “Bo-Key” and if you were a “Hobo” riding you wanted that cab to get off the train in Sanford.
The word went out that “Bo-Key” would take you to Sanford and put you off in Goldsboro.
So my definition of Bo-key as it relates to Sanford means “Going Home” whether its
By car, truck, train, or bus. It all started by migrants coming from Rochester to Bo- Key.
“Going To Bo-key”

The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Goldsboro

goldsboroadmin — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 03:47:18 +0000

Goldsboro, An American story of Hope, Freedom, and Independence.

A community of African American citizens living in Orange County, Florida dreamed of having their own incorporated Township. Lead by Mr. William Clark, a store owner, carpenter, and community leader eventually those dreams came to fruition.

Mr. William Clark was the brother of Joe Clark, one of the founders and incorporators of Eatonville, the first incorporated all black township in the State of Florida.

In 1891, Goldsboro became the second all black incorporated township within the United States.

During the Goldsboro Township, there lived a community of educated, hard working, and Christian Value led people.

In 1911 Goldsboro lost its charter, when Forrest Lake, a powerful Sanford banker and state lawmaker, devised a plan to dissolve the charters of both Sanford and Goldsboro, to create a new charter that would make Goldsboro a community within Sanford, a part of Mosquito County.

After the demise of Goldsboro, the town began a downward spiral with abandoned buildings, rising unemployment, and the loss of ambition.

In 2009, A group of leaders created The Goldsboro West Side Historical Community Association to celebrate and preserve the history of Goldsboro.

Since the Historical Association, Goldsboro boasts a cultural arts district with three museums, The Goldsboro Museum, The Francis Oliver Cultural Arts and Goldsboro Welcome Center, The Crooms Academy Museum, Velma Williams Resource Center , The Goldsboro Arts Square, and The Goldsboro Heritage & Art Garden. Also a host of thriving businesses and a new police station.

The dream that Mr. Clark envisioned for Goldsboro is still alive and the community is on its way back to gaining the Dignity, Distinction, Character, Culture and Respectability that it rightfully deserves.

By: Francis Oliver