Our History
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1
Between 1898 and 1907 a company by the name of American Cyanamid, started clearing land about 10 miles south of Mulberry, to start mining phosphate. The company built homes, a church and a school. This little town was given the name of Brewster, Florida.
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2
Around 1911 and 1912, the company started mining phosphate. People who worked at the mine lived in the homes the company built, and their children attended the school.
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3
In the late 1920's and early 1930's Brewster was divided into four sections where black people could live. Those were the The New, Georgia, Dry Bin Quarters and Red Quarters (where the small church was built). There were two denominations that held services in the church. The Methodists held service on the first and third Sundays, while Baptist held service on the second and fourth Sundays.
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4
Ultimately, the Baptist church was named Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. In those days the deacons of the church would walk the dirt roads of the town to collect what was called church dues. Adults were assessed $.25, and children $.10. Compared to the way we live today it is easy to ask how could a church operate on such little dues?
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5
In 1945 or 1946 the small wood-frame church building was moved from the Red Quarters to the New Quarters. The people of Brewster began migrating north to a town called Bradley and in 1960 the church was moved from Brewster to Bradley on Church Street. After the continued growth of its members and their faithful giving, Mt. Olive decided to build another church building in the same spot as the original church.
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6
So, in 1963, instead of destroying such a precious part of history the church was sold to Elder Daniel Lavan and moved to West Bradley, commonly known as The Grass patch. The church stood until is was demolished in the late 70's to early 80's. The new church that was built still stands today, under the leadership of Pastor Eugene Kendrick, and still bears its original name.
