Friends of Marion County Black History Museum, Inc.

Home
United States
Ocala, FL
Friends of Marion County Black History Museum, Inc.

Directions Website

A support organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history & accomplishments of Black and African American people in Marion County, Florida.

Donations Accepted via Zelle: [email protected] & Cashapp: $Marionblkhistory1

11/04/2026

Have you visited your neighborhood museum today??? If not, you should!! 😃 We’re waiting for you!

Also, every dollar donated helps further our mission to preserve the Marion County Black History Museum!

Please donate! Thank you in advance!!

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/friends-of-marion-county-black-history-museums-memberships

10/30/2026

❤️🖤💛💚Did You Know? George Giles and his cotton gin were so successful and renowned among both the black and white communities that Washington (DC) sent cotton seed to Mr. Giles to distribute to local farmers for testing!!! Read below (The Ocala Evening Star 4/26/1898):

10/29/2026

❤️🖤💛💚Your family may be holding a piece of Marion County's Black history.

There are photographs, church programs, military uniforms, school yearbooks, letters, Bibles, quilts, business records, newspaper clippings, or family keepsakes out there that tells a story that deserves to be remembered.

The Marion County Black History Museum is asking our community to look through attics, closets, trunks, memory boxes, and family albums for items that help tell the story of African Americans in Marion County.

Many of history's greatest treasures were once tucked away in someone's home. Don't let an important piece of our community's story be lost.

We are seeking:
• School memorabilia
• Church and civic organization records from 1800-1900
• Military uniforms and medals
• Business documents
• Letters and journals
• Funeral programs from 1800-1900
• Newspapers and yearbooks
• Clothing, tools, and household items
• Any artifact connected to African American life in Marion County

Together, we can preserve our history for future generations.

📩 If you have an item—or aren't sure if it's historically significant—please contact us at (352) 671-4175 or email: [email protected] or [email protected].

We are honored to help preserve our community’s legacy.

❤️🖤💛💚History lives because someone cared enough to save it.❤️🖤💛💚

10/29/2026

❤️🖤💛💚Did You Know? The Men of Metropolitan Savings Bank: George Giles (1863-1919)

George Giles, was born in St. George Bermuda in 1863 and came to America in 1883. He first moved to New York and five years later, made his home in Ocala, Florida. He was an expert carpenter and quickly realized the possibilities available to him in Marion County.

He married Ruth Mozon, a native of North Carolina. They had two sons (JP Giles and Philip) and one daughter (Lethia).

He opened a grocery store and soon added dry goods to the store. Soon after he opened a cotton-gin factory.

❤️🖤💛💚A cotton gin factory was built to separate the fibre from the seed of the cotton so it could be baked and made ready for shipment. He served as president of the Metropolitan Knitting Mills of Ocala.

He purchased several houses in town and worked with other prominent African American men in the community to open the Metropolitan Savings Bank. George Giles served as president of the bank.

The bank was a three story building with a frontage of 70 feet along two streets. The bank, together with stores, occupied the main floor, offices were on the second floor and a large dance floor was on the third floor.

He also served as president of The Metropolitan Realty and Investment Company of Ocala which was used to purchase property, renovate it and then make it affordable for purchase by the black community.

Because of the prejudice he was confronted with when he attempted to go see a movie…he erected his own movie theater with a capacity of 200 for use of Marion County’s black community.

Mr. Giles also opened a two-story hotel for Marion County’s African American community, St. George Hotel. The hotel was located on the corner of Magnolia and South Second Street.

Mr. Giles also served as president of the County Fair.

Fun Fact: In 1907, the Giles Memorial Reading Room was established to promote reading among the African American community. It was established in honor of George Giles’ brother, William Giles.

Fun Fact: He is related to US Congressman George K Butterfield.

Fun Fact: He was one of the founders of Marti City.

Fun Fact: He owned a cigar factory, Espuncia Cigar Manufacturing

Fun Fact: His father, Joseph Giles was an Englishman and served in the Crimean war. His father received several medals for bravery. The medals were pinned on Joseph Giles by Queen Victoria. The medals were dated 1854 and 1855. Joseph Giles married a Bermudan woman when he moved to the Bermuda Islands.

Information taken from the following sources: Alonzo Hardy, Ocala Historian; Cynthia Graham, Ocala Historian; The Royal Gazette 11/17/2006; The Royal Gazette 10/27/2006; Who’s Who of The Colored Race; The Ocala Evening Star 10/16/1919; The Ocala Evening Star 11/11/2914; Jacksonville Journal 6/5/1907 & 12/15/1914

Visit the Marion County Black History Museum to learn about additional history facts

10/23/2026

D W Goodwin’s shoe shop, Goodwins Electric Shoe Works, was located on the NE corner of S. Main St. and E. Ft. King. The Montezuma Hotel occupied the entire corner with individual businesses located on the ground floor.

The building would be modernized, remodeled, and renamed the Harrington Hall Hotel in 1912.

The first image shows the Montezuma Hotel in the late 1800s, and the second image shows the Harrington Hall Hotel sometime after 1912.

The Harrington Hall Hotel was demolished in the mid-1950s.

Historical information and photos provided by Alonzo Hardy.

Visit the Marion County Black History Museum to learn additional Black History facts.

Address

306 NW 7th Avenue
Ocala, FL
34475

Opening Hours

3pm - 6pm

Website

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/newsletter-form/connect-with-the-friends-of-marion-county-black-history-museum-2, https://ww

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Friends of Marion County Black History Museum, Inc. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.