A Living Monument
From Profile of a Black Heritage
by the late Dr. Lester F. Russell

Hosts of mourners, black and white, from all walks of life attended Zack Hubert's funeral. Many of them, particularly those who were Springfield residents, asked the Hubert children the same question their father asked them on many occasions: "What will become of the land?" It was known that most of the children resided in faraway places like New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Oklahoma and feared that none would be interested in maintaining the property. The greatest concern was that the land would be sold and possibly become the property of persons who would not be interested in fostering growth of the community as Zack had done. Since the Hubert place had been the focal point of community interests and progress, they feared that should the land be sold the entire community would would deteriorate.

The Hubert children were equally concerned about the Springfield property and community and were determined to do something about both. They were well aware of what their parents had done to leaven the community and felt they owed it to them to continue their ideals. They knew, for example, that blacks comprised ninety percent of the total population in the twenty-five mile community; were owners of over 12,000 acres of land; could boast of having more children in college than any other rural community of similar size in the country and that the spirit of the community was geared to even greater heights.

PgFwd