April 21, 2024
 
Hi Everyone,
 
I hope you all are doing well. Your turnout at our commission meetings has been amazing, thank you all for supporting your community. Participation is essential to the health and well-being of our city and it’s having an impact.

Historic Macedonia AME Church

Recently the City of Oak Hill purchased the property at 222 Cummings Street for $65000. This parcel of land is home to the Historic Macedonia AME Church building.

A description provided by FLORIDA MEMORY, State Library and Archives of Florida, reads, “the WPA Church Record for Macedonia A.M.E. Church in Oak Hill, Volusia County, established in 1890. This African Methodist Episcopal church served a mainly African-American congregation, and was pastored at the time of the survey by W.L. Gainer.” Click here to view this description and learn more about some of the other churches that have made Oak Hill their home in the last century or so. Click here to view some historic documents pertaining to this church.

Why does this matter?
If you ask Google “what is a legacy in history,” it responds with this all telling passage: “In historical terms, a legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. Often it means something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor.”
 
What legacy does this historic church represent to our city and its citizens?  How would a person old enough to have attended service there describe that experience to a child who asks, “what is that building?” What would you say to that child?

• This is where I learned to love God?
• This is where I learned how to socialize and get along with others?
• This is where I learned the value of helping those in need?
• This is where I learned about human frailty?
• This is where I learned that I want to be a good person?
• This is where I learned the value of Fellowship?
• This is where I fell in love with your mother?
• This is where we said goodbye to Grandma?

If our city fails to preserve its legacy, there will be nothing to remind us, therefore nothing to say. Be it with the loss of this historic building or another, a generation or two is all that would stand between legacy and lore. This building stands today as a reminder of what some may say was a simpler time. I say that time was no more simple or easier than another, but what we must not loose is what we learned and how we learned it.

What this church and building represents is the legacy we present when answering that child. Without it, our descriptions are limited to memory, writings, and photographs, none of which provide a venue of understanding that compares with a visit to a historical landmark. Where the visitor is able to glean his or her own impression and incorporate that into a worldview that is formed by what is seen, felt, and sensed. A worldview that is not limited by the skill set of a writer or photographer, but one formed by the wisdom of a community that has the foresight to preserve what is theirs.

If we fail to preserve our past, our future becomes limited. Those who be, tell the story the way they see fit. The value of this historic church can only be measured by the enthusiasm and support our community has for its preservation. By all indication so far, the consensus with the Mayor, city administration, and the Historic Preservation Board is that it’s not practical to salvage the building and it should be torn down to make way for the expansion of the Nancy Cummings Park and a future community center.

A view that was held by the city when faced with a similar situation regarding the preservation of the VIA Hall, which now serves as an educational tool for the community and represents part of our city’s legacy.

The parallels between the VIA Hall preservation and the Macedonia AME Church building are remarkable. Both were/are deemed by the city to be unsalvageable, both properties are owned by the city. Both properties were/are historic and eligible for County ECHO grants. Both grants are or could be applied for jointly between the city and a 501-C3 not-for-profit organization. Both stand to serve the greater good of the community.
 
Now we are faced with a choice that once made, cannot be taken back. The church will be destroyed, the sense of being it brought to the community will be lost and the artifacts it housed will be disseminated where administrators see fit. There’s no going back. Let your city commission know how you feel about this issue. Click here to send an email to the Mayor and Commissioners.

Rusty Spur – Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park

Brittny Olson runs an organization that educates people about horses and takes them by horseback into the Indian River / Mosquito Lagoon. Brittny and her colleagues have five horses whose temperaments are suitable for many types of recreational and educational activities. They love wading in the river. Brittny has found a stretch of shoreline along River Road that is ideally suited for this type of activity. The river bottom can support the weight and the water depth is ideal.

So, What’s the Problem
Brittny and her beautiful horses are currently gaining access to the river through Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park. The city is concerned about the potential for liability related to this activity being conducted on its property and “brick and mortar” business owners are concerned about the competitive advantage an arrangement like this provides, i.e., bypassing the enormous expense associated with buying, renting, or leasing riverfront property to support this activity.
 
In response to these concerns, Brittny has prepared a presentation that will be given at Monday’s City Commissioner’s Meeting. 6:00 P.M. at city hall. Click here to preview her presentation in the agenda pack for Monday’s public meeting. She points out that her horses and riders are passing through the park and gaining access to the river the same way kayaker’s gain access to the waterway.

The Jimmie Vann Sunrise Park has a kayak ramp that is ideally suited for both launching a kayak or as a walkway for someone on horseback. One is no more or less consequential than the other. Brittny does not conduct business on ty property and the activity that her horseback river tours feature do not occur on city property. Brittny has assured the city that any messes that may happen as her tour passes through the park will be attended to directly. Seasonally, throughout the week, and even daily, the usage of Sunrise Park can vary considerably. Brittny asks that during times when usage is low and parking is adequate, that she be allowed to load and unload her horses from their trailer in the parking lot. She assures the city that she will use her discretion and will be responsive to any complaints that may arise from this activity.

At previous commission meetings, as a result of Brittny’s horseback river tours, the idea of creating a city ordinance that prohibits anyone from conducting business in a city park has been floated. Volusia County has an ordinance that prohibits business in county parks. An ordinance such as this would serve to protect the interest of the “brick and mortar” businesses I had mentioned earlier.

Again, Brittny does not conduct business on city property or in a city park. Another idea that has been proposed in response to Brittny’s horseback tours is an ordinance prohibiting farm animals from our city parks. This proposal would seem to be specifically targeted toward preventing people on horseback, like Brittny, from accessing the riverfront through the same facility the city provides for other citizens. It would also unnecessarily prevent pony rides or petting zoos at family activities held in our public park.

Upcoming Events

Memorial Day Service – Saints and Sinners Cemetery.
The Oak Hill Saints and Sinner’s Cemetery Group will be holding it’s Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27. 2024, at 11:00 AM, The American Legion Post 285 Honor Guard and Chaplain will present the service. The Legion will present each veteran grave with a flag there will also be a 21-gun salute in honor of the sacrifice these veterans made to give us freedom.

If you have any questions, please call Spence Youman at (904) 517-0555 or Dru Ann Welch at (386) 689-4786.

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Our City Commissioner’s meeting is Monday,April 22, 2024 at city hall. The time is 6:00 PM. Click here for the agenda pack.

Please come and let your voice be heard. Your presence and participation are how we hold our commission to account.

As always, it’s my pleasure to serve you, I appreciate your support. Please let me know what I can do to help. I’m here to represent you…

Thanks again,

Joe Catigano
Oak Hill City Commissioner
Seat 3