Historic Haile Homestead
A photographic story. All photographs by the author
In 1854 Thomas Evans and Serena Chesnut Haile moved their family from Camden, South Carolina to near Gainesville, Florida, and established the1,500-acre Sea Island cotton plantation. Their 6,200 square foot home was built by 56 enslaved laborers. The house stands today as a silent tribute to the skill of the enslaved people who labored to build and maintain it.
Thomas and Serena Haile died in the mid-1890s, leaving the property to Evans Haile, the 14th of their 15 children. On weekends and holidays, Serena and Evan entertained friends and family at the Homestead with parties, dances, and hunts. Lists of party goers adorn the walls of the main parlor and music room. Writing on the walls by family and friends dating back to the 1850s have become uniquely famous as “The Talking Walls.” Well over 12,500 words were found throughout the house. Party goers would travel by rail from as far away as Chicago and then complete their journey by horse-drawn buggy from Gainesville. In 1979 the movie “Gal Young Un” was in part filmed at the Haile Homestead with the fight scene occurring inside the house. The film was based on a 1932 short story by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and shot entirely in Florida. The film was wildly praised and received several film festival awards.
Given that the homestead was quite isolated and that numerous children were living there, the children were home schooled with a large room set up as a school room. The walls of the school room reflect typical children’s drawings and even math problem calculations.
When the Haile family moved to Alachua County from Camden, South Carolina in 1854, they brought with them a contingent of 56 enslaved people according to the 1854 tax rolls. Artifacts found near some of the outbuildings on the property include a heavy, lead slave ball that was chained to the enslaved people to prevent escape and serves to remind visitors of the horrors of slavery. By 1860, the number of enslaved people at Haile Plantation was reported to be 66. Many of these people were recorded only by first name or nickname and their family histories remain unknown. Efforts are underway to trace family linage for these unidentified individuals.
There is a great deal to see and learn on a guided tour of Haile Homestead. Please visit https://www.hailehomestead.org/ for detailed information and/or to plan a tour of the Haile Homestead.
