New Hickory Hill Primitive Baptist Church has been a cornerstone of the community since its establishment in 1875. The first Pastor, Wade Richardson, served from 1875 to 1897, guiding the congregation through the early years of the church's history.
Our journey begins with the land known today as Tall Timbers Research Station. Spanning nearly 3,000 acres of rolling red hills on the north shore of Lake Iamonia, this land has seen various uses, from antebellum cotton plantations to fire management studies. However, the one constant thread from the 1830s is the presence of Black workers who evolved from slaves to tenant farmers and their descendant families.
In 1860, this land was part of the Woodlawn Plantation with 105 enslaved people. By 1870, the property was renamed Hickory Hill Plantation. Our church’s journey began in 1875 in a bush harbor. A bush harbor, also known as a hush harbor, was a secluded and informal structure often built with tree branches. These places were used by enslaved African Americans to gather secretly for religious worship and community meetings. During the antebellum period, enslaved individuals were often prohibited from assembling without supervision, so they created these hidden spots to practice their faith freely. These gatherings were crucial for maintaining cultural and spiritual practices, offering a sense of hope and community despite the harsh conditions of slavery.
Many Black families who lived and worked on this land stayed after the Civil War, making new working arrangements with the landowners. Notably, the first five families recorded —Nix, Wyche, Fisher, Stratton, and Vickers—created a vibrant community that thrived. They rented land, cultivated crops, and built their lives despite their challenges. Their perseverance is a testament to their strength and determination.
By 1880, these families pushed to persevere. Some, like John Fisher, registered to vote on July 30, 1867, after the passage of the Reconstruction Act in March 1867. During this time, voting was a radical act that took courage. Black Americans voted in huge numbers across the South, electing a total of 22 Black men to serve in the U.S. Congress. The Reconstruction era saw biracial diverse democracy exist in the South for the first time, though much of the power remained in white hands. Black voters and Black officials faced the constant threat of intimidation and violence.
The establishment of independent Black churches grew within the community. Edward Beadel purchased the land in 1895, renaming it Tall Timbers. His wife had a Hickory Hill Church built on the north side of State Road 12 for the tenants. There are no remains of that building. The New Hickory Hill Primitive Baptist Church on the south side of State Road 12, where the church stands today, was built in 1933, replacing the previous church. The building was painted white with a steeple and bell. To celebrate Emancipation Day on May 20 each year, workers halted farming operations to have picnics at the churches. One of the largest was held at Hickory Hill Church. Education also played a crucial role in their lives. Hickory Hill was listed as a school for black children in 1880 and the school received $18 per month for operations. By 1900 six of the ten school-age children attended school (Henry and Corine Vickers, Gilbert, Jr., George, June, and Ella Nix). Hampton, Stratton’s twenty-five-year-old daughter-in- law, Hattie, and John Wyche’s son, John, and his wife, Mary, could read and write. Each successive generation in this community appeared to become more literate.
Despite the hardships, including declining wages and the struggles of tenant farming, these five families remained resilient. Through their hard work, they maintained their homes and supported their families. They also contributed to the community's growth by participating in tenant farming, a system that offered them autonomy and the chance to control their agricultural production. They lived in modest homes, often small log cabins. Their family sizes were large, partly due to the need for farm labor. The church's cemetery holds the remains of many families who worked on Tall Timbers and their children. John Fisher's great-granddaughter, Marie Jones, is among those buried, and her descendants continue to attend the church. Other gravesites across Tall Timbers property are unmarked.
References: Florida Memory • Hickory Hill Baptist Church State Library and Archives of Florida. 1938
On the Land for Life: Black Tenant Farmers on Tall Timbers Plantation by Susan Hamburger. 1987
Florida Memory • Fisher, John State Library and Archives of Florida. 1867
