Farristown community dedicates sign

Current and former members of the Farristown community gathered Sunday in the Farristown Middle School Cafeteria to celebrate another step in preserving the neighborhood’s unique identity as a historically African American hamlet.

Aaron Banther, who has led the effort to help preserve the history of Farristown, served as master of ceremonies at the unveiling, which was observed by Zoom while volunteers unveiled the stone sign located at the northwest corner of the Menelaus Road and Mayde Road intersection.

As nearly 100 observers looked on, Banther paid tribute to the industriousness and perseverance of the settlers of Farristown, a close-knit agricultural community. While Banther acknowledged that much has changed over the years, he said the spirit of that proud interracial community remains today to be celebrated.

“Yes, we all know that Farristown has changed a whole a lot. A lot of the old houses and buildings are gone, the landscape has changed, the bridge is still currently down. And a lot of the original descendants of this community have either passed or understandably moved on. But make no mistake. This community is and will always be Farristown,” Banther said.   

Originally founded in the 1830s, Farristown became a destination for many black families in the post-slavery era, enabling them to raise their families, own land, tend farms and build successful businesses.

But Banther reminded the audience that in addition to honoring the Farris family, who helped many black families settle and farm in the community, many other people contributed to Farristown’s success.

“When we honor this community, we must always remember other prominent names like Ballard, Baxter, Bennett, Boggs, Broaddus, Chenault, Dunson, Jenkins, Martin, Mundy, Shearer,  Simpson, Walker, Watts, White…just a few that I mentioned,” Banther said. “We all played a role in building this community.”

Many who were gathered at Sunday’s event were ancestors of the people who persevered and thrived despite the racial attitudes of the times, Banther said.

“Like my great-grandmother, Nancy, Farristown was home to many descendants of the original George White from Maryland, who was born in 1792,” Banther said.  “George White was brought to Kentucky and worked his way up from being a slave to owning hundreds of acres of land in northern and southern Madison County. He was so disciplined and determined, he not only paid off his debts but he freed his own slaved children That is you! That is your blood!”

Banther has played a prominent role in working with the City of Berea to encourage efforts to preserve Farristown’s history. The city has since applied for a Community Development Block Grant to build a Farristown community center, which will help educate visitors about the neighborhood’s rich contribution to forging the Berea we know today.

Berea City Administrator Rose Beverly said the decision on the grant application may come as soon as fall or winter. In the meantime, the group Farristown Friends, which has a Facebook page, marshaled resources and people to build the stone sign.

Banther noted that more work needs to be done in preserving Berea’s centuries-old reputation as community that builds bridges between people of different races.

“Some people don’t like to talk about race relations because it makes them feel uneasy. But I personally believe meaningful dialogue can actually bring more understanding,” Banther said. “Not every white person you see and have a disagreement with is a racist. And not every black person you see is lazy and looking for a handout. If we sit and really listen to each other, we have the same values and we ultimately want the same thing. That unity that we have here in Farristown is the foundation of the Glades that later became Berea. My prayer is this community continues to be the example of that unity. And that Berea continues to find ways to bridge those gaps. Because things are not perfect!”

At one point, Mayor Bruce Fraley was invited to give his remarks, whereupon he recalled some happy childhood memories of Farristown. But Fraley also cited the cooperation between the city and Farristown citizens as an important example of what could happen in Berea and beyond if only people would listen to one another.  

“In a time when people seem to want to tear each other down, we’re building each other up. In a time when there’s negativity, we’re doing something positive. In a time when there seems to be so much hatred, we’re showing love for one another,” Fraley said. “I think our job moving forward is to spread the news that we can be unified. That we can be positive. That we can move forward together shoulder to shoulder, complementing each other, and that we can show love for one another.”

Banther appeals to citizens to share information about Farristown so it can be preserved and eventually added to the collection that may be housed in the community center.

“We need you to be willing to share your stories and experience to pass down to folks my age and younger,” Banther said. “Anyone that can help me get in contact with people to do an oral narration with a descendant, or can share their life experience in Farristown [or eventually Bobtown and Middletown] is mainly what I’m after at this point.”

If you have information, or if you know of a Farristown resident with a story to share, you can contact Aaron Banther at banther1978@gmail.com or (850) 207-9107.