A St. Augustine couple restored a historic home once lived in by Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston, transforming it into a museum and community center.

Lavardis and Dwala Anderson purchased the home on W. King St. in 2023 after it sat on the market and faced the threat of demolition. Hurston, best known for Their Eyes Were Watching God, stayed in the home during her time in St. Augustine and completed her autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road, while living there.

“Zora Neale Hurston was more than an author; she was a pioneer,” Dwala Anderson said. “We wanted to make sure her history here in St. Augustine was preserved.”

The Andersons said the property needed extensive repairs when they bought it. After more than a year of work, the first floor has been renovated to serve as a

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