Mary Harrell and her husband, Jimmy, are the heart and soul of a former church that now serves as the Black Heritage Museum. Located at 314 North Duss Street in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., the museum sits back a bit off the street.

“The building was once a Catholic church,” Mary explained. “We outgrew it and it was moved here and became a black Catholic church daycare and center.”

After integration, St. Rita Colored Mission Church members were able to attend wherever they wished, Mary explained; attendance at the little church dropped off and it fell into disrepair. “The Catholic church gave the building to the black Catholics to use as a museum,” she said.

Built in 1899, the church was a working mission. In 1956, a new church was built that could hold 400 people, rather than the 80 of St. Rita’s. The little church was moved to its current location and in 1969 became a daycare and clinic. It was in 1997 that the Harrells took over renovating the building.

According to an article written in Florida Catholic by Laura Dodson in 1996, the church was officially placed in the Harrells’ hands. “In celebration of the church’s centennial, Diocese of Orlando Bishop Norbert Dorsey deeded the completely restored property to the Black Heritage Museum and Festival,” she wrote.

Since that time the church has received a Historic Preservation Award and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and a Florida Historic Site.

Inside, Mary offered a tour of items created by African-American inventors. Some of the inventions included a biscuit cutter, hair straightening comb, tool sharpener, clock, horseshoe, doorknob, lemon squeezer and many more items used on a daily basis. The second section included many kitchen items such as a dough kneader, coffee grinder, orange squeezer and butter churn.
The Daytona Beach area was settled in part by African-Americans after the Civil War; the area was originally called Freemanville. The museum offers a display of hand tools titled “Building America by Hand.” These tools offer insight into how those early Americans tamed the Florida frontier.

Tools on display include a carpenter level, cane stripper, animal shears, corn shucker, sling blade, singletree lopping shears, drawing knife, tobacco seedling planter, bush saw, brace, cane knife, ripsaw, ice hooks, hatchet, drill and harness.

In addition, some of the Harrells’ personal items are in the museum. Mary was particularly fond of one exhibit that holds Depression glass from her own family collection. Her favorite story about a donated item was about a hanging chandelier.

“One of my favorite people said they were tearing down their aunt’s house and they had some stuff they could donate to us,” she explained. “They brought this hanging chandelier in. I washed it and fixed the electric section.”

The former owner stopped by and could not believe what Mary had accomplished and how beautiful the light had become. Mary laughed and said that he told her, “You can keep it until you die, then it is going back to my family.”

The museum also serves as a reminder of the darker days the African-American community once faced. With a picture of former slaves sitting outside of a shack and a related sale notice, visitors are reminded of the way things were for those who once attended this church. Other photos also reflect progress hard-won over the years.

The time both Jimmy and Mary spent teaching school are well used sharing the museum and educating the public on African-American and Catholic heritage in New Smyrna Beach. For questions about the museum, call 386-478-1934.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.