“UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS”
The history that Hobson Village had to show their children is being destroyed by the City of Suffolk VA.
One of our historical homes where over seven generations have lived was bull dozed by the City of Suffolk
for Black History Month, yesterday.
Hobson, VA is one of the few freestanding African-American communities that can date itself back to
the late 1700’s. Its current residents are not folks who just recently ambled into Hobson, but are the sons,
daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the original deeded landowners of this neighborhood.
Many of these same children have come back to Hobson with the intent of restoring the thriving nature of
this community and enhancing, resurrecting and memorializing the history of it. Many of the homes date as
far back as the late 1700’s.These were not rocket scientists that built the existing houses and buildings but
farmers and fishermen …WHO HAPPEN TO BE FREED BLACK MEN!
Just like slavery the city of Suffolk, VA came in the dark before the sun came up and knock the house
down.
The City of Suffolk knew that there was no secret on the plans for this house as well as the entire Hobson
Village. We believe that the City of Suffolk felt if the house was torn down ,what’s the worse that could
happen to them. Our question is who pulled the trigger to get this done? This is nothing but a conspiracy to
eradicate a historical black community.
On September 10, 2009, “the Suffolk Commission for Historic Landmark submitted a letter to the Virginia
Department of Historic Resources whereby they voted unanimously to recommend that the request move
forward to the State Review Board and the Virginia Historic Resources Board for to add Hobson as a
historic landmark.”
On September 17, 2009, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Board of Historic Resources
placed the Historic and Architectural Resources of Hobson Village in the Virginia Landmarks Register and
has forward for recommendation to the National Park Service that Hobson Village be eligible for listing in
the National Register of Historic Places.” The Department of Historic Resources is presently preparing
application for the historic properties to be individually listed on the historic register.,
Estelle Neal, property owner, was born and raised in the Hobson Village but now resides in New York and
is recovering from breast cancer.. Mrs. Neal mailed a certified letter to Community Development and
Planning formerly called Neighborhood Development Services authorizing Mary Hill as the contact person
for the property. The obvious response from the city was there is no letter.
According to Donald Bennett with Suffolk Community Development and Planning (African American), he
had “the power to demolish anything and that he was going to demolish fifteen more houses in the Hobson
Village.” This includes homes where elderly and disabled black folks presently live. It is African
Americans like Donald Bennett who do not know their past and are mean spirited.
The city of Suffolk has identified themselves as Advocates for Preservation“. City council, recently, voted
unanimously to save the historic Louise Obici House. This property was dilapidated for years, purchased
and owned by the city of Suffolk. Why doesn’t one size fit all. In spite of the city letters of support from
Mayor Johnson and City Council they have shown a double side by allowing Selena Cuffee-Glenn to pull
the trigger. Obviously, they do not want a black community to be designated as historical in the City of
Suffolk VA.
What once had been a promising and almost certain project with Department of Historic Resources has
now become nothing more than an insignificant neighborhood to the City of Suffolk, Virginia.
WE must point out that our efforts here today are not for vanity but for survival…FOR OURSELVES,
OUR FOREPARENTS, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN FUTURE!!! Too many
African American communities founded by FREED MEN such as Rosewood, Florida or the original City
of Tulsa, Oklahoma are nothing more than rusting road makers. It is our determination that Hobson will not
become a ghost in history, a symbolic mention in the history books but continue on as a visible historic
cornerstone in the African American village/community and among all folks, Black, White, Brown, Yellow
or Red who are Americans.
We are urgently crying out for your support and ask that you contact the City of Suffolk Mayor Linda
Johnson and City Council at 757--923-2000 , the media and the internet to stop the bull dozer and help to
preserve the Hobson Village that has been recognized as a historic landmark.
Thank you
Mary Hill, Director
Suffolk African American Cultural Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 6008
Suffolk, VA 23433
757-582-8895