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Lake Monroe is a major
tributary, and is considered the St John’s River in these parts. The
St John’s River and the Nile River, in Africa are the only two rivers
in the world that flow south-to-north, and it was considered to be
an area that reflected a natural place for ‘black folks’ displaced
in these Americas.
The north side of Frank & Montez Harris’ home overlooked this
waterway, that was considered the hub of central Florida’s commerce
during the turn-of-the-century, it has the deepest water entrance
inland in Florida and was very accommodating to large shipping vessels
delivering anything Florida needed imported, including the slave trade.
Frank and Montez could see it from their “HARRIS NEST” front porch.
They could also look into downtown Sanford, into the finances of this
part of Florida. They took that view that they had and helped, more
than a few other African American families and businesses to prosper.
When the banks, other finance institutions, and insurance companies
were not accommodating to these people, freeman, former slaves, and
veterans of the Civil War, Frank & Montez were there to help them
keep their lives on track to success. As it was, Sanford, Florida
may have had more wealthy African American’s living here than any
other part of this country.
The west side of the property was dawned with a very ‘exotic flowered
garden’, with benches and man-made ponds. The east side is an open
yard, shaded and very comfortable for entertaining guests. It was
in this ‘garden party’ setting that Frank & Montez could ‘network’
and help themselves and the lives of those around them to prosper.
 Frank
H. Harris was born in 1868, where he was from is unknown,
he died in 1940. “He came to Sanford” and began his prosperity as
a janitorial service for one of the wealthiest white businessmen in
the area, Mr. M.F. Robinson owner of Welborn Block Company, Sanford,
Florida.
Frank and Montez were married April 7, 1901.
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