Isaac
Walker Sugar Mill
Orange Bend, Florida
Isaac Waker, a Black
man, built this 2 story house in 1898 in Orange Bend, Florida.
He lived here with
his wife Sarah Walker, and his ten children.
On the back of the
property is a sugar mill, an orange grove, and a sugar cane field.
Here is the chimney
of the sugar mill before restoration.
Mules would walk
in circles and grind the sugar cane to a liquid which dripped
into a large pan that was cooked until it was boiled down to sugar
cane syrup.
Here is the back
side of the Isaac Walker House.
Isaac Walker Sugar
Mill, Inc. is a 501(C)3 tax-exempt educational orgainzation dedicated
to restoring the Isaac Walker home, farm, and sugar mill. Our
goal is to completely restore it to be used for weddings, family
reunions, a sugar cane festival in the fall, a literacy center,
Black cultural musem, Black History classes for Lake-Sumter Community
College, community meetings, youth stay-overs, and a Black historical
center.
Currently, according
to Rick Reed, the museum curator at Heritage Museum in Leesburg,
there does not exist any written or photo Black history for Lake
County. He visited the Walker House and was very excited about
our project.
For more information
call 877-566-7264
Cleveland Williams
(92) and Patrica (Walker) Fields, President.
Cleveland adopted
Pat from the Walkers when Pat was about 6 years old.
Ira Robinson Jr.,
the grandson of Ira Robinson Sr., his granfather owned one of
the two Sugar Mills in Orange Bend. Ike Walker owned the other.
Ira says there were no alligators in those days, and they lived
on possum, armadillos, raccoons, and their gardens and the sugar
mill.
I interviewed Jesse
(Bobo) Smith (95) on March 25, 2005.
Bobo was a good
friend an acquaintance with Ike Walker. They both lived in the
Orange Bend.
A typical 1890's
sugar mill grinder.
The woodshed where
Isaac kept his farming tools.
The porch kitchen
with the second chimney.
A pot belly stove
would have been connected for cooking and heat.
The second floor
bedroom. Notice the wood walls.
A second kitchen
on the second floor of this 10 room mansion.
All the black people
of Orange Bend owned their own homes. They were all two-story
buildings built by the community. The children attended an all
Black school, Orange Bend Elementary School, near Lisbon, had
lots of books and went to school many times bare-foot. The school
house no longer exists.
Pave the Way for
Future Generations to Know Their Roots
You can leave a lasting
impression as we build for the future of Black students. Our planning
for the brick driveway and walkway, in conjunction with the reconstruction
of the Isaac Walker House and Sugar Mill is under way.
The driveway and attractively
landscaped grounds will be paved with special commemorative bricks
to display the names of individuals, families, businesses, clubs
and organizations. This personalized brick driveway and walkway
has been established to fund the restoration of the Walker House,
the Sugar Mill, the orange grove, a picnic/wedding area, the shed,
the sugar cane field, and to relocate the Orange Bend Depot railrod
trackss between the Walker House and the orange grove. Because
of the limits to the drvieway and walkway, only a limited number
of bricks will be available. Act now!
Choose a Brick
This is a wonderful way
to recognize businesses, groups and organizations while supporting
the Isaac Walker Sugar Mill. These special bricks also make lasting
gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and other important
occasions. Reserve a brick for a family member, a friend or group
of friends, yourself or your business.
There's Room for More than Your Name
The larger bricks can be
engraved with more than one name, your class, your company name
or the name of your group or organization. Or you may wish to
leave a special message to future generations.
Be Remembered Daily by all
Who Pass Through the Driveway, House, and Grove.
Facing a high-traffic area,
the driveway and walkway will be attractively designed and landscaped.
It will be well-lighted, complete with benches and additional
seating where many can enjoy the great days of Florida history.
Reserve Your Place in Florida History
Cost per brick: $100.00
20 Characters per line
60 Characters per brick
Larger Bricks $250.00
Brick example may or maynot
reflect actual bricks in the final project.
Make your check or money order out
to:
Isaac Walker Sugar Mill, Inc.
8851 C.R. 44
Leesburg, Fl 34788
For more information......877-566-7264
Map
to the Isaac Walker House and Sugar Mill
Board of Directors:
President Patricia
W. Fields, Great-Grand-Daughter of Isaac Walker
Dr. Christopher
B. Ward, Vice President, Pastor of Logos Christian Fellowship
Rita Ward, Vice
President, Lake County Reading Resource Teacher, Villages Elementary
Annie V. Reid, Vice
President, Miami
Patricia L. Mackey
, Vice President, Lake County
The Isaac Walker
Sugar Mill Inc, is in phase two of applying for the Florida Department
of State Historical Site Grant. We have met with Gary Goodwin
of the Division of Historical Resources and our application is
due April 6, 2005.
You may confirm
our application by calling Gary Goodwin at 850-245-6348.
