Download
[Page]
[Document]mcc-ns1-480
Farming For A Better Future, page 454
generosity was focused on creating opportunities for a particular set of vetted individuals who were deemed industrious enough to support themselves, their families, and community within a semi-isolated environment. The Cedar Lake Colony was meant to be a self-contained community that produced its own food, governed itself, and built its own necessary institutions without the need to rely upon or interact with the outside community much more than beyond trading skills and products. Higher education was simply not necessary to achieve these goals.
In 1930, there were only 43 households in Cedar Lake - far short of the 140 homes that were planned, funded, and required for the city charter. Since the charter was never fulfilled, it is possible there was never a mayor or city council elected; there is no record of anyone serving as the constable, notary public, or ex-offico Justice in Cedar Lake. The rewriting of the Alabama State Constitution in 1901 impacted the dreams of the Cedar Lake Colony. While some families were able to buy land, build houses, schools, and churches, and farm the land, the colony never became the city it was intended to be. The disenfranchisement
of African Americans in the new 1901 constitution ensured that “an experiment” such as the colony would never succeed to its full potential - most importantly in obtaining any form of city government. While this effect may not have been any conscious effort on the part of the people of Morgan County or the state of Alabama, the undeniable disenfranchisement of the African Americans of Alabama must have taken a toll on the efforts of the Nelsons and the community of Cedar Lake.
(Left) 1930 Census Pages Labeled “Cedar Lake.”
(Below) 1930 Census Excepts for Hillard Tate, Will R.
Garth, Jim Skinner, and Will Martin - Showing Home Ownership and Farming Occupation. - (4982)