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Farming For A Better Future, page 360
there petitioned the Army to name it Jamar Cemetery, notably Ms. Elnora Clay Lanier, whose grandmother was Octavia Jamar (born 1882), daughter of the white plantation owner, James Jamar (1852-1927).
There are no visible markers in the cemetery, only depressions of several graves. Voices within the local community agree that the cemetery was used exclusively by people of color. Ms. Lanier reported that the cemetery was not associated with the church but was only in close proximity. Those known to be buried here include Nick Fitcheard (died 1925) and David O. Barley (died 1935).
53B
New Zion Steadfast Primitive Baptist Church
Located at the intersection of Dan Crutcher Road and Jordan Lane/Ardmore Highway in the community of Toney, this church may have originally been located where Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church is now. However, New Zion is marked on the 1958 USGS topographic map.
In the early 20th century, the land was owned by a farmer and person of color, John Tibbs. Tibbs owned about 100 acres in six parcels on the east side of Toney.
(Above) 1958 USGS/TVA Topographic Map, Ardmore, Alabama Quadrangle (Right) New Zion Church on Madison County Land Records, 1959-1968 (Index of
Land Records, Madison County, Alabama)
511
Oakwood University
Oakwood University was established in April 1896 on land that was formerly a plantation. Founded by members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church as an industrial school for people of color, the original 380-acre property included the “Old Mansion,” nine slave houses, three other buildings, and 65 oak trees, which gave the school its name.
The first students at Oakwood Industrial School were: Frank Bruce, George Graham, Charles and Mary Morford, Robert Hancock, Thomas Murphy, Harry and Daisy Pollard, Grant Royston, Samuel J. and Lela Thompson, Ella Grimes, Etta Little-John, Mary McBee, Nannie McNeal, and Frances Worthington.
In its first few decades, several buildings were erected by the founders, teachers, and students, including the Morning Star school house, the President's house, the milk house, a dry kiln, garages and pump houses, an orphanage, Henderson Hall, Study Hall, Irwin Hall, Butler Hall, and West and East halls. The only building from that time period that survives today is East Hall, later known as Eastwood Hall or the Oakwood Sanatorium.
(Below) Photograph of Oakwood Junior College in 1917 (Huntsville Revisited Facebook Page) (Top) Photograph of the Morning Star School House (Huntsville Revisited Facebook Page) (Above) East Hall on Oakwood University Campus (Huntsville Revisited Facebook Page)
* Indicates a Historical, Non-Extant Resource - (4888)