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Historic Florence Massachusetts
Florence
was selected for the site of the Sojourner Truth statue because
Sojourner lived in Florence from 1843-1857. It was here that she worked
closely with other abolitionists, dictated her Narrative, and bought a
house where her family was finally reunited. The history of Florence is
rich with the tradition of abolitionists, progressive thinkers, and one
very notable Utopian Society.
In 1842 a group of
progressive thinkers from throughout New England formed the Northampton
Association of Education and Industry. The 500-acre plot that the group
purchased makes up the center of Florence today. The goal of the group
was to promote equal rights to all people without distinction of color,
sex, sect, or religion. Labor was paid equally to both sexes and all
occupations received the same compensation. The "Community" as it was
commonly known, owned a large silk mill, a successful school, and saw
mill.
The Community suffered financial failure
and disbanded in 1846, but the spirit of the egalitarian system stayed
with the members who settled in Florence. While short lived and perhaps
unknown to some current residents, the Community was internationally
famous in its day. Today the village is dotted with small businesses
and homes. The center of Florence is two and one half miles from
downtown Northampton, Massachusetts.
Florence was selected for the site of the Sojourner Truth statue because Sojourner lived in Florence from 1843-1857. It was here that she worked closely with other abolitionists, dictated her Narrative, and bought a house where her family was finally reunited. The history of Florence is rich with the tradition of abolitionists, progressive thinkers, and one very notable Utopian Society.
In 1842 a group of progressive thinkers from throughout New England formed the Northampton Association of Education and Industry. The 500-acre plot that the group purchased makes up the center of Florence today. The goal of the group was to promote equal rights to all people without distinction of color, sex, sect, or religion. Labor was paid equally to both sexes and all occupations received the same compensation. The "Community" as it was commonly known, owned a large silk mill, a successful school, and saw mill.
The Community suffered financial failure and disbanded in 1846, but the spirit of the egalitarian system stayed with the members who settled in Florence. While short lived and perhaps unknown to some current residents, the Community was internationally famous in its day. Today the village is dotted with small businesses and homes. The center of Florence is two and one half miles from downtown Northampton, Massachusetts.