COMMUNITY Iowans celebrated African-American History Month during this past February, and I attended a function that displayed an important historical significance regarding the descendants of African-Americans who once lived and worked in Buxton, Iowa. Buxton was an unincorporated small city that was founded by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway company as a coal mining town in 1895. During that time, trains were powered by coal, and Buxton was rich coal resources. In order to find more economical labor to work the coal mines, the company hired many of their laborers from the South, particularly AfricanAmericans. At one point, African-Americans comprised the largest percentage of the Buxton population. As the African-American population grew, their growth spawned African-American professionals as well, such as teachers, lawyers, and doctors. One lawyer, George H. Woodson, was a co-founder of the ‘Niagara Movement’, which later became the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Although Buxton has no residents, Its historical relevance lives on via being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. On February 7, I was privileged to be able to interview United States Senator, and Presidential Candidate, Cory Booker. When my daughter (Celeste) and I arrived at the event where the interview was scheduled to take place, we met up with Iowa State Representative Ruth Ann Gains as we walked from the parking area. As we entered the building, Representative Gaines, Celeste, and I all sat at the same table. As the official program for the evening commenced, LizZ Sharp (check her out on Facebook), a coorganizer of the event (and a likely candidate for induction into the Central Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame), announced the purpose and schedule of the gathering. I’ve known LizZ as a past headline performer at an Iowa Juneteenth Observance event. While guests were getting their food, I noticed Lori Young sitting at a table on my right. Lori and I had collaborated on a Targeted Small Business workshop for an Iowa Juneteenth Observance when she was with the Iowa Economic Development Authority. I saw several other people at the event that I have know for some time, or had recently met. Last, but not least, I had a chance to shake the hand of a senior lady who was recognized as the eldest living descendent from Buxton, Ms. Alma Morris. I was impressed that LizZ Sharp, Lori Young, Alma Morris, and others at the event who are relatives and descendants from Buxton, Iowa. In addition, the person who I had come to interview, United States Senator Cory Booker, is also a relative and descendant of Buxton, Iowa. Courtesy of University of Iowa Libraries and Archives, Osborn, Nancy, “Buxton Wonders Baseball Team,” 1915 As the demand for coal decreased, due in large part to using resources other than coal to power trains, the population of Buxton declined until the last coal mine was closed in 1932 and the town was void of residents. Iowa remains rich in African-American history, not just in February, but all-year round! The Urban Experience 15
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