CENTENNIAL
26
in a small house next to the school provided her by Dr. C.C.
Benton. It stands today as a historical structure with a monument
to Hurston outside.
Walter Pierce was in one of the classes that Hurston taught.
He and Earl Little, former LPA choral director from 1955 to
1970, said that for most students, Hurston was more odd than
compelling. She dressed like someone who cleaned floors for
a living, Little said.
“The students didn’t know what a jewel they had,” he said.
LPA LEGENDS
There are plenty of
notables who are linked
to LPA beyond Hurston.
LPA graduate James E.
Hair in 1944 was one of
the famous Golden 13
who were the first blacks
to be commissioned as officers
in the U.S. Navy.
Another member of the
same family was Alfred
Hair, who became one of
the Highwaymen painters
now celebrated on the
Treasure Coast.
Little was valedictorian
of the Class of 1944.
1944 LPA YEARBOOK
Earl Little, 96, voted Most Likely to
Succeed and was valedictorian of the
Class of 1944, went on to Oberlin
College and the University of Michigan
After a prestigious college
career and teaching at
Southern University in
and was later LPA choral director.
Louisiana, Little was LPA’s choral director for 16 years, then
moved over to teach at Fort Pierce Central, which was the >>
1959 LPA YEARBOOK
Lincoln Park Academy’s sports teams played other all-black schools, mainly
from Cocoa and Melbourne to the north and Dania now Dania Beach to
the south. From the 1959 LPA yearbook is Alonia Hair, whose family has a
deep history in Fort Pierce and LPA.
N AT U R E + C ULT U R E
THE CREATIVE HEART OF F LORIDA
TOGETHER WE PASS IT ON
Discover the art and inspiring stories of
A.E. BACKUS, the FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN,
and an enduring legacy to pay it forward
A.E. Backus (American, 1906-1990), Spanish Bayonets, c.1960.
Harold Newton (American, 1934-1994), Poinciana, c.1960
Wednesday-Saturday 10-4
Sunday 12-4
Closed Monday & Tuesday
A . E . B A C K U S M U S E U M & G A L L E R Y
500 N. Indian River Drive | Historic Downtown Fort Pierce
772.465.0630 • www.BackusMuseum.org
@AEBackusMuseum
Summer Hours:
Saturday 10-4 & Sunday 12-4
through mid-August
/www.backusmuseum.org
/www.BackusMuseum.org
