On August 15, Biddy Mason born a slave, overcame slavery and travel west to California. Mason became a nurse and midwife, using the skills she learned as a slave. Some patients gave her land in payment for delivering their children. She also saved her money and invested in downtown real estate, including buying the property at 311 Spring St. that would become her home.
The Spring Street property was also where Mason and others established the First AME Church, the oldest African American church in the city. The initial meetings were held in Mason’s home. The Biddy Mason memorial Park currently sits where Mason use to live and gives the story of her heroic life.
