STUART, Florida – Just east of the railroad tracks and south of downtown Stuart lies a small community called East Stuart.
It is a place that Joseph Cooper calls home.
“I was born and raised here in the ’60s,” Cooper explained. “That’s important because it’s part of who I am.”
For the community of East Stuart, it is more than just a neighborhood. The history of the neighborhood dates back to 1913.
“East Stuart is one of those historic communities where the black population that was brought in to build and provide all the services was housed near the railroad tracks,” Cooper said. “It was segregated at the time, so it was a self-contained community.”
Today, blue signs in front of several houses and churches commemorate the history. The community now hopes to preserve some of these buildings long-term by applying for national monument protection.
City Commissioner Eula Clarke believes they have a good chance of being selected based on a recent survey conducted as part of the application.
“Some of the older buildings have been lost, others are still standing in the community and we are really working to preserve those memories,” Clarke said.
Although gentrification and development are probably inevitable, Cooper hopes that the designation will preserve what exists.
“Ultimately, I believe that a community worth cherishing should always be preserved as it is,” Cooper said.
A part of the city that many believe is worth protecting.
