Hannibal Square

Gentrification - changes that result when wealthier people acquire property in low income communities...This generally results in the displacement of the poorer residents, who are unable to pay increased rent or house prices and property taxes. On Friday David and I spent the afternoon at Hannibal Square, located in the heart of West Winter Park, a traditionally black community.  It was a moving experience for me. More than 125 years ago the black families who lived here provided a ready source of labor for building the exquisite city of Winter Park. West Winter Park, located on the other side of the railroad tracks, stayed deeply segregated into the 1960's. And the center of activity in West Winter Park was Hannibal Square.   From it beginnings, although poor compared to Winter Park, Hannibal Square was rooted in faith, family, and community.  The west side was characterized by high levels of education, business and home ownership.  On the Square, on any given day you could find a group of old black men sitting outside an open barbecue pit, philosophizing and playing checkers.   But, eventually, business folks in Winter Park began encroaching on West Winter Park.  Developers began buying up the small homes of folks who had financial troubles.  In the 1990s my husband Ken and I along with other folks from both sides of the tracks formed a group called "Bridge Builders" to try to help West Winter Park, especially Hannibal Square, retain it's identity. One of the goals was to have a history center where the stories of these folks would be preserved.   Eventually Ken became too ill to carry on.  I gave up the fight in order to care for him.  Many of my friends felt defeated.  Folks in my church worked hard on bridge building but, on the other hand, I heard a man in my own church say "that land is too valuable for those people to have."   It broke my heart.   Hannibal Square is now a happenin' place.  Following is quoted from it's website.  Visit Hannibal Square...Enjoy fine dining, designer fashions, stylish home furnishings, fine art and unique gifts.  While you're here pamper yourself at some of the top skin care spas and hair salons.  When I'm dining with friends in a fine restaurant at Hannibal Square, they usually just don't understand why I'm sad. But here's some good historical news.  There is now a Hannibal Square Heritage Center where those strong folks from years ago have provided a collection of photographs and oral history as told be the people who experienced it.   I hope, when you visit us here in central Florida, (as everybody does eventually) that you'll stop in at the Heritage Center at Hannibal Square - and then have dinner at one of the fine restaurants. ***

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