The GMelbourne Founders Festival Committee, Greater Allen Development Corporation, (a 501c3 nonprofit Public Charity),
2416 S. Lipscomb Street, Melbourne, FL 32901, 321-724-1557.
Where: Along the banks of Crane Creek, Corner of Prospect Avenue and Lipscomb Street, Melbourne, Florida
When:
• Friday- May 25, 2018- VIP/ Welcome Reception, 7 to 9pm, at Groundswell Startups, 2412 Irwin Street, Melbourne. Cost $15.00;
• Saturday, May 26, 2018, 12 noon to 7pm
• Sunday Gospel Fest, May 27, 2018, 2PM to 7PM.
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Media Contact: Mr. Marquis Campbell, marq.campbell@gmail.com or 321-288-3384 or Ms. Elsenna Jordan, elsennaj1@bellsouth.net or 321-632-8844
The vision of the festival was conceived by Pastor Laws based on the following historical facts. Shortly after the civil war, (1868-1874), three Black freedmen: Wright Brothers, Peter Wright and Balaam Allen settled in Florida along the banks of the river that is now known as Crane Creek. Each of these men received property on the north and south sides of Crane Creek. According to the 1880 census of Brevard County there were just five Black men who were heads of families which included Brothers, Wright and Allen.
In 1884, in a tiny house on the southern banks of Crane Creek, Wright and Mary Brothers, Robert and Carrie Lipscomb, and Balaam and Salina Allen met for the purpose of organizing a place of worship for themselves and others of the Black community. In 1885, the first church structure for Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church was built on the northern end of what is now Lipscomb Street. This was Melbourne’s first house of worship. According to the Florida Star, the founders of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, now known as Greater Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Balaam Allen passed away in 1893, Wright Brothers passed away in 1910, and Peter Wright in 1925. Greater Allen Chapel celebrated 132 years of service to the community in February.
Given the history of Crane Creek, now known as Melbourne, Greater Allen Chapel is hosting the festival to increase awareness of African American culture and history, the role it played in the development of the city of Melbourne and to provide future community enrichment activities. The ultimate goal for this event is to provide a sense of pride for the aggregate Melbourne community.
To ensure
