Social life in the community was comprised of many things and it, too, was depicted by race. All the citizens shared the responsibility for recreation and entertainment in the community: the church, the mill, and the private sector. The church, The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, provided activities in the community. There were picnics and an overall active time for the church during the 1920's. Reverend Moore organized the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in 1901 and it is considered one of the first Methodist churches in the area. Today, the church is called Wesley Chapel C.M.E. Church. It does not sit on its original site; however, the structure of the building is basically the same. The Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company would provide food for picnics three times a year in the white and black community.
Another source of entertainment was the recreation building. The building was built by the mill for recreation in the black community. The building provided an area for plays and dances. It also sheltered Negro workers and their families until proper housing became available. Gladys Hicks stated that Century was a fun town. She told me that where the baseball field is today, a cotton field used to be there many years ago. She stated that clubs were all over the area and that people were having parties on Friday and Saturday nights at their homes. There was a black businessman who owned a dry cleaning service, and other people sold cookies and candies out of their homes. She said Century is different now, nothing for the children to do but get in trouble.
The Black Experience in Century
SOCIAL LIFE
Next page
This page last modified on Saturday, February 25, 2012