Bringing History to Life: Vince Leggett and Elktonia Beach

Written from a tribute by Joel Dunn, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Conservancy, part of the National Park Service series The Vince Leggett Legacy.

The Beaches

Elktonia Beach, a 5-acre waterfront parcel on the Chesapeake Bay, is the last remnant of 180 acres bought by Frederick Carr, a freedman, in 1902. Next door, Carr's Beach and Sparrow's Beach were owned and run by his daughters, Elizabeth Carr Smith and Florence Carr Sparrow.

From the 1930s to the 1970s, "The Beaches" were a haven of joy, resilience and community — the heart of Black entertainment in the mid-Atlantic during segregation. Black audiences were welcome, and danced to Chuck Berry, Cab Calloway, The Temptations, Ike & Tina Turner, The Shirelles, Little Richard and Billie Holiday.

Saving it

For nearly 20 years, Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, led by Vince Leggett, fought to keep Elktonia Beach from development. The author calls working with Vince and other partners to preserve it one of the proudest accomplishments of his career.

It wasn't easy. Waterfront like this is extremely valuable, and it took millions of dollars. Vince was the key:

• he had a relationship with the landowners;
• his knowledge of the site's history, his passion and his storytelling won them over and inspired everyone involved;
• above all, people trusted him to protect the story of the land and its people and to share it with future generations.

Bringing history to life

Vince could tell you about every band that played on that beach and every era it stood for, connecting past to present — and that gift rallied support for saving it.

One moment stays with the author: last Juneteenth, Vince organized a celebration at Elktonia-Carr's Beach Heritage Park — great music, great food, a community gathered in joy — and there was Vince, dancing on the beach he had fought so hard to protect.

Because of him, generations will know the joy of Elktonia Beach and understand its history. The author is glad Vince got to enjoy it, and wishes he'd had more time.

The series: The Vince Leggett Legacy · previous: There He Goes, Here He Comes… · next: What Would Vince Do?

Sources

Based on "Bringing History to Life," by Joel Dunn, Chesapeake Conservancy, published by the National Park Service and in the public domain; rewritten in hubnx's own words. The author's photograph is not reproduced.