Gainesville: A City Frozen in Time Story and Photos by Bryanna Basillio
Once upon a time, a Timucuan village thrived on what is present-day Gainesville, according to Historic Gainesville Inc. In 1824, after Florida was annexed to the United States, Alachua County was created with Newsnansville. It wasn’t until 1853 Alachua County residents voted to create a new town on the railroad line and thus, Gainesville was born, bearing its name from Seminole War General Edmund P. Gaines.
of writing on the walls; altogether over 12,500 words and artwork is etched in every room, including the closets. “The oldest writing dates back to the 1850s,” said Karen Kirkman, president and historian at the Historic Haile Homestead. “The tour lets you explore the thousands of living histories throughout the house. We also have a number of exhibits in our Allen and Graham Visitors Center.”
Only a month into new cityhood, a cotton plantation owner and former county treasurer, Maj. James B. Bailey, sold over Kirkman said the guests are shown two videos while they 60 acres of his land to be used for the new city. wait for their tour to begin. Both focus on how the Haile Plantation slaves came to be and their enslavement to The book “Historic Gainesville: A Tour Guide to the Past” by freedom. John B. Pickard explains that Bailey’s home was built through slave labor and constructed from the lumber cut from his land, “It’s a brutally honest narrative about enslaved people, according to Historic Gainesville Inc. not just on the Haile Plantation but in Alachua County in general,” she said. “We talk about the lynchings throughout Pickard regards the Bailey house as “one of the oldest Alachua County and the contribution of enslaved people. remaining houses in Gainesville,” and adds “the frame It’s the truth and it may make people uncomfortable, but we vernacular residence reflects the characteristics typical of need to understand the past to go forward and heal from mid-19th century plantation buildings.” It would serve as an that.” example of Gainesville’s early plantation architecture known as antebellum. Most compelling is how the museum historians have connected with African American descendants of the slaves The James B. Bailey house is only one of several historical that worked on the property. Kirkman says they reach out buildings in Gainesville with national historical landmark status wanting to know about their ancestors and the historians and an interesting past. provide as much information as they can.
If Walls Could Talk
“There are quite a few families now that we’ve worked with,” she said.
In 1856, the Haile family from Camden, South Carolina established a 1,500-acre Sea Island cotton plantation, which Guests can visit the Historic Haile Homestead for $5 on they named “Kanapaha,” meaning “small thatched houses.” weekends and learn about the economic, cultural and social According to the Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha issues in this setting. Plantation website, the Haile Homestead was the home of Thomas Evans Haile, his wife Esther Serena Chesnut Haile and A Home Frozen in Time 14 of their children. The Visit Gainesville Alachua County Visitors & Convention The Hailes brought along 56 slaves from South Carolina to work Bureau lists the Matheson House as a historic site for on the plantation. The same year, enslaved black craftsmen tourists to learn about Gainesville and Alachua County. completed the 6,200-square-foot manse. The number of The Matheson House was built in 1867 by the Mathesons, slaves increased in 1966 to at least 66. They lived in 18 small another family from South Carolina. Not only is the home one-room frame houses on the property. old, but it is unique for its time. According to the Alachua Conservation Trust, the surviving Haile family partnered with the trust in the 1980s to restore the family house on the property. The Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation was turned into a museum thereafter. The descendants of the Haile family still retain ownership, and at least 40 acres of land was donated to the Alachua Conservation Trust.
American Heritage magazine describes the home as a “blend of South Carolina plantation and classic revivalraised cottage architecture with gothic elements in its roof and stairway. The period furniture and personal possessions are a testament to the Mathesons’ family history and Gainesville itself.”
Opening as a museum in 1994, renovating and maintaining On the website, it notes the biggest attraction is “the talking the property has been a challenge. walls.” The website further explains that the Hailes had a habit 38 The Origins Is sue
The Origins Is sue 39
