1887 First

08/25/2026

They didn’t just take control of the land they took control of the story.

For years, the public has been told that Robert Hungerford founded the school and that the Hungerford family donated 300 acres for Black education.

Neither statement tells the full truth.

Hungerford was founded by Mary and Russell Calhoun, two Black educators trained at Tuskegee.

And the land did not come from one family.

The deeds identify approximately 338 acres connected to the institution: the Hungerfords contributed multiple tracts; Black landowners Samuel M. and Mattie M. Moseley conveyed 80 acres for $1; Black lawyer John T. Shufton conveyed 40 acres for $125; the Cleavelands conveyed 40 acres for $5; and the Woffords conveyed approximately 58 acres for $3,500.

Yet only approximately 300 acres were transferred to the School Board in 1951—and only 117 acres remain today.

This is why The Ville CDC is conducting an independent historical, educational, economic and environmental impact study. We are tracing the deeds, the missing acreage, the court decisions, the removal of restrictions and the impact these decisions have had on Eatonville.

We are on our journey to our first 500 monthly donors through The Ville CDC Donor Circle.

Your monthly donation supports this study and our community programming in Eatonville. Donor Circle members will receive exclude updates & intel on our findings, programs and measurable community impact.

History is not just about remembering the past. History is protection.

Join for as low as $0.63 a day or whatever you can commit monthly.

Link in bio to join our Donor Circle. Help us uncover the complete story and protect Eatonville’s future.

08/23/2026

We’re expanding 1887 First into a stronger community media platform covering Eatonville news, press releases, public accountability, the Hungerford battle, economics, development, history, and the issues shaping our future.

Our goal is simple: follow the record, provide context, ask the hard questions, and tell the truth as clearly as we can.

Our second Op-Ed is now live:

“Before You Call Eatonville Incapable, Show Us Your Record.”

This follows our first Founders Day Op-Ed and continues a larger conversation about Hungerford, institutional accountability, land, education, and Eatonville’s right to determine its own future.

Read it here or in our bio at 1887first.com:
https://1887first.com/news/before-you-call-eatonville-incapable

Link in bio.

And we are not stopping at commentary.

We are raising support for an independent economic, environmental, and education study to document what happened, measure the long-term impact on Eatonville, and put real evidence behind questions this community has carried for generations.

If nobody else is going to commission that accounting, we will.

Read. Share. Support the study.

08/13/2026

139 Years Strong! 💪🏾

Join us this weekend for our 139th Annual Founder’s Day Celebration! On August 15, 1887, Joseph Clark, Lewis Lawrence, Josiah Eaton and several others came together to create a free Negro colony, the Historic Town of Eatonville, America’s oldest incorporated African-American self-governed municipality. Join us for two days of celebrating our history as we prepare for future and the changes it holds for our community. Check out our story for the Entertainment Lineup; Admission is free for all who wish to attend! 🍊🎉

08/13/2026

The 1887 Night Market was never meant to be just another event. It was intentionally built for Eatonville’s growth and future.

Our purpose was to create pathways for Black businesses, bring people into Historic Eatonville, create jobs, circulate dollars locally, and show what happens when culture, community, and commerce move together.

After two years, the impact is becoming clear. These are conservative estimates based on our data and surveys:

📍 19 markets hosted in Eatonville
🖤 200+ Black businesses participated
🎨 500+ children participated in arts and agriculture activities
📲 3M+ social media views
👥 15K+ estimated visitors brought to Eatonville
💵 $21K+ paid to local service-based businesses
🏛️ $4.1K paid to the Town of Eatonville
💼 10 people employed
📈 850+ vendor applications received

We’ve watched a produce vendor grow from part-time to full-time and another vendor expand into a brick-and-mortar location.

Thank you to every business, service provider, sponsor, DJ, volunteer, paid worker, and community member who has helped build this from the beginning. Being independent has not always been easy, but the impact is undeniable. Together, we have created a recognized platform for hundreds of local business owners.

And we’re only getting started.

Join us for BEYOND THE MARKET: The Economic Impact of the 1887 Night Market—a strategic conversation about business opportunity, community spending, ownership, and building an economic ecosystem that lasts.

📅 August 21
⏰ 6 PM
💻 Virtual

Comment “MARKET” below and we’ll send you the registration link.

The market is the gathering place. The bigger work is what we build from here.

06/22/2026

Walking Tour Tickets Available Here: https://experiencetheville.com/tour

04/21/2026

04/14/2026

“Why settle for the Ford when we can have the Bentley?” — Dr. N.Y. Nathiri

We sat down, had real conversations, and took the time to actually read the lawsuit. The school board is being accused of violating Florida’s Sunshine law.

Now we have questions because history keeps repeating itself and this is the perfect time to correct it.

We are in a prime position to pursue real restitution and accountability… but will our community choose a different path this time?

This lawsuit, filed April 1, 2026, raises concerns about:
• Closed-door decisions
• Lack of transparency
• Limited community involvement

By the time the public saw the deal… it was already in motion.

This is about Black land, legacy, and the future of Eatonville.

Black Land Justice & Preservation are core to our work at 1887 First. We speak on what we believe in and we stand on it.

📍 SPLC Community Briefing
🗓 Saturday, April 18th
📍 109 Washington Ave, Orlando, FL 32810
⏰ Lunch at 12:00 PM | Briefing at 12:45 PM

We’ll be there. You should be too.

04/04/2026

We’re LIVE right now at the 1887 Night Market — and we want to see YOU 🔥

Pull up, grab a pic at our branded backdrop, and show us your market experience.

👉 Tag &
👉 You might get featured on our page

We’re here until 9PM — don’t miss the vibe.

📍 Eatonville — 307 E Kennedy Blvd

04/04/2026

It’s First Saturday in The Ville!

We outside from 4-9pm tonight.

Come shop with some of the best Black farmers & businesses only in the Historic Town of Eatonville.

📍 307 E. Kennedy Blvd. Eatonville, FL 32751

Entertainment by: 🎵

03/30/2026

Some flavors don’t miss… and Nae & Nae came to stand on business.

From their signature oxtail peanuts to rich, homemade puddings and treats this is the kind of creativity that makes our markets what they are.

We’re bringing together businesses from Polk to Orange County, building something bigger than just a moment… this is community, consistency, and opportunity.

Tap in with Nae & Nae Extraordinary Eats & Treats on April 4th and come taste it for yourself.

📍 1887 Night Market
307 E. Kennedy Blvd
Eatonville, FL 32751
🕓 4PM – 9PM

See you in The Ville.