Something unexpected happened Tuesday at the City of Sanford’s event naming February 9 “Historic Goldsboro Day” and unveiling a commemorative quilt made by Goldsboro community elders.
First, understand that Goldsboro is now part of Sanford, but it started life in 1891 as the second Black incorporated municipality, founded by William Clarke (his brother, Joseph Clarke, helped found Eatonville, the first Black incorporated municipality, in 1887). The town thrived until 1911 when Sanford city lawmakers took steps to dissolve the city’s charter and, with it, its independence, wealth and identity.
That history set the stage for ongoing strained relationships between the two communities…