Florewood Plantation Church & School

• the steeple indicates that this building was used as a church (also called Praise House):
  1) by the planter families when the circuit-rider preacher held services here.
  2) Slaves would often be allowed to join the services--probably staying outside because the building was so small
  3) When not used by the planters, the slaves might be allowed, depending on individual planters, to use the building for their own services and sing their spirituals (black folk music developed informally; black gospel music developed from formal singing in churches)
• the large fireplace indicates that winter gatherings took place in this building