The former Allen AME Church was being restored for a theater company’s use. Contractors found a letter linked to Alexander Herritage Newton, a prominent abolitionist, in its rafters.

CAPE MAY, New Jersey − The former Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church yielded a few finds when contractors began renovating it to become East Lynne Theater Company’s new home: some old bottles, collection envelopes from the 1940s, a little metal globe bank whose dusty, rusty surface obscured most of the world’s countries and oceans.

But one item went a little farther back: a snippet of a receipt that may have been hand-written and signed by a prominent Civil War veteran, abolitionist, Underground Railroad facilitator and pastor. The snippet even bears a date: June 19, 1891.

“To all whom this may concern, Elwood Rowland, formerly of Media, PA Daniel Galvin, (formerly of) Phila Plastered this church during The month of June for $250 Rev. Dr. Newton, Pastor (unclear),” the snippet reads.

That name − the Rev. Dr. Newton − connects Allen AME to the famed abolitionist, Civil War veteran and author who spent time in Cape May, though little is known about his stay there. It’s also thrilled history buffs in this seaside resort town full of Victorian architecture, old churches and sites linked to some of the most prominent Black Americans of their time.

Who was the Rev. Dr. Newton?

Alexander Herritage Newton (whose middle name is sometimes listed with one “r”) was born in 1837 in North Carolina to a free mother and an enslaved father. He came north to New York during the 1850s, where he married and started a family, and where he also became involved with the Underground Railroad as his mother worked to buy freedom for her husband, Newton’s father. In 1863, Newton joined the Union cause in the Civil War, serving with the 29th Connecticut regiment in the U.S. Colored Troops.

Newton later settled in Camden, New Jersey, just outside Philadelphia, where he wrote a memoir, “Out of the Briars.” He was active in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1794 in Philadelphia by Richard Allen. And Newton served as pastor at Allen AME Church, which itself was founded by Stephen Smith, a wealthy Black businessman who lived in Cape May, from 1889-1892.

A fire, a renovation, a revelation in the rafters

After a 2018 fire, Allen AME Church, which is in a section of Cape May that was once a center for Black civic life, was in dire straits. The building, which dated to 1888, landed on Preservation New Jersey’s Most Endangered Sites in 2021.

In Cape May, history is as much of a draw as its beaches, restaurants, shops and nature trails. “So when the church was slated for demolition, the mayor and city council knew we had to save it,” city manager Paul Dietrich said.

“The church did not have funds to do it, so it was incumbent on the city to do so,” Dietrich said. Thanks to a combination of county and state preservation grants, work is nearly complete: The wooden steeple that was destroyed in the fire has been replaced by a steel structure, not only to prevent another fire but also better able to withstand the coastal winds and storms. Drywall has been placed and painted over the wood walls. And the stained glass windows, many donated by families that belonged to the church, have been restored to their former colorful beauty.

“But we also didn’t want it to be an empty shell,” Dietrich added, and so the city partnered with East Lynne Theater Company, which now performs at another nearby church but was looking for a home of its own.

“The contractor is a local, so he knows how important history is here,” Dietrich said. When Kyle Carter of DKC Contractors discovered the letter nailed to a beam in the church rafters, he understood its significance and told city officials what he’d found.

History hidden, revealed and hidden again

Mark David Boberick, East Lynne’s executive artistic director, said he was thrilled to hear about the discovery of the hand-written note.

“We’ve been storytellers for 45 years, and now we’re telling another story − about the culture and history of this community,” he said. East Lynne, a summer equity theater company that stages classic American plays, is hoping to start using what will be called The Clemans Theater later this year for productions and for events such as art exhibitions, film screenings and fundraisers this summer.

Bernadette Matthews, president of the Cape May Chamber of Commerce, East Lynne board member and AME Church member called the discovery “fascinating,” noting the significance of the note’s date, June 19, or Juneteenth, in American history.

She talked about other nearby sites, including Stephen Smith’s house, Franklin Street School, Macedonia Baptist Church and the Harriet Tubman Museum, all within a few blocks and all central to Cape May’s historic Black community.

“This whole quadrant is what’s left of the vibrant African American community that was here,” she said.

Newton mentioned his time in Cape May in his memoir, and even alluded to the work noted on the paper that was found in 2025:  “The church building was not plastered or seated, so we decided to borrow money for this purpose,” Newton wrote. 

The note, though, had to remain in place, Boberick said. Removing it from the wood to which it was attached would likely destroy it.

It remains where it was found, Dietrich said, at the request of former members of Allen AME Church.

Do you want to share a slice of Americana with USA TODAY? Contact Phaedra Trethan by email at ptrethan@usatoday.com, on X (formerly Twitter) @wordsbyphaedra, on BlueSky @byphaedra, or on Threads @by_phaedra

New Jerseyans aren’t always civil, but it’s still possible for a liberal Democrat and a conservative Republican to have a rational and pleasant conversation about politics in the state. Dan Bryan is a former senior advisor to Gov. Phil Murphy and is now the owner of his own public affairs firm, and Alex Wilkes is an attorney and former executive director of America Rising PAC who advises Republican candidates in New Jersey and across the nation, including the New Jersey GOP. Dan and Alex are both experienced strategists who are currently in the room where high-level decisions are made. They get together weekly with New Jersey Globe editor David Wildstein to discuss politics and issues.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham told the New Jersey Globe’s Joey Fox that he hasn’t had any discussions about a pardon for Bob Menendez, either with the former senator or with the White House.  Graham and Menendez are friends, and Graham has close ties to the Trump administration.  What does that tell you about the speculation that Trump might pardon Menendez?

Alex Wilkes: I don’t speculate about what President Trump may or may not do because if I were good at it, I’d have as much money as the Murphys and scenic views of the Navesink. I also think that Senator Graham isn’t always the easiest to pinpoint either. It was a surprise, even understanding their friendship, when he showed up last time in Newark to testify. Those, however, were different times and different crimes. Wrongly or rightly, I think it’s safe to say that public opinion at the time – not to mention the jury’s ultimate verdict – reflected an attitude of “eh, it’s a gray area, but not too bad by New Jersey standards.” The problem with what the evidence showed this time is that it was just so cut and dry. You could watch 10 seconds of News12 at a diner or doctor’s office and understand that Menendez had traded his influence for gold bars and new cars.

In terms of a pardon, I think that would have to fit within the general theme of the “Weaponization of Justice” – basically, that the government went after people with flimsy arguments out of political retribution (oddly enough, the first Menendez trial may have fallen into this category given how strongly Republicans believed that President Obama and Eric Holder had done this, and their latent dislike of Menendez). Someone like Mayor Eric Adams better fits this bill. He spoke out against the unruly and dangerous Biden immigration policies and then got jammed up by the Biden DOJ on airline upgrades. I would think that Senator Graham has a long list of favors for the President and the new administration, and I just don’t think Gold Bar Bob makes the cut. He can always contribute to the commissary account, though!

Dan Bryan: I am out of the predictions business in general, and especially with anything having to do with President Trump. But if I were Senator Menendez, I wouldn’t be holding my breath. I don’t think a pardon of a Senate Democrat convicted of corruption would go over well with the MAGA base.

Jack Ciattarelli spent about fifteen minutes sitting with President Donald Trump on Friday night, and Bill Spadea had a quick, standing conversation with him on Saturday. Acknowledging that neither of you are speaking directly to the President, what’s your take on the impact of a Trump endorsement in the governor’s race, and what would you tell Trump do to if you were advising him?

Dan: I think a Trump endorsement of Ciattarelli effectively ends the Republican primary, and an endorsement of Spadea (though I hear it’s unlikely) would make it a real race.

I don’t know what President Trump has to gain by wading into the primary. If he stays out, Ciattarelli probably wins, and the Republicans have a strong general election candidate without a Trump endorsement weighing him down. If he endorses, and his numbers continue to sink in New Jersey, Ciattarelli probably suffers for it a bit in the general. If they’re smart, they stay out of it.

Alex: I think a President Trump endorsement for Jack Ciattarelli effectively ends the race, one for Bill Spadea brings it close to a draw, advantage still to Jack*, and, finally, that no endorsement benefits Jack.

*I say this because you need to have money to communicate that endorsement, particularly with no line and an uncertain turnout universe. As popular as the President is, you simply cannot count on voters to know who Bill Spadea is or even that there’s an election going on.

I will further nuance my comments by adding, “what kind of endorsement are we talking here?” Is it a post on Truth social? Is it robocalls? Is it one or two big rallies? Do his related PACs put money behind it? If the President opts for the Cadillac plan of all of the above, then the race is a real nailbiter.

Steve Sweeney has a new TV ad pledging a $400 tax rebate for millions of middle-class New Jerseyans.  What do you think of the idea — and the ad?

Alex:

I think that promise carries about as much weight as the tax breaks Democrats promised in 2023 and conveniently could not deliver right after Election Day. Do I like the idea of cutting taxes? Of course I do. We get absolutely hosed here with little to no return on our investment. Nearly 70% of Newark elementary school students can’t read, and over 80% aren’t meeting math standards in a state with some of the highest taxes in the country. We have a mass transit system that does not function. And these lunatics in Trenton and paid Tesla dealership protestors want to tell me and my family we don’t pay our fair share? GTFO.

But, I’m not representative of the Democratic base. I mean some of these nutjobs want to use money we don’t have to pay for things like free healthcare for illegal immigrants. I don’t think any level of taxation would actually satisfy these people because they do not believe in fundamental western concepts like private property and individualism. Maybe there are still some sane members of the Democratic Party voting in this election, but it must be a lonely place.

Dan: The former Senate President, much like Congressman Gottheimer, has firmly picked the lane of affordability through tax cuts. The ad is solid, and I can see it appealing to a certain type of moderate Democratic voter.

But I do think it contains too narrow a view of affordability. I don’t hear people talk about taxes (even property taxes!) when they complain about affordability in our state. They talk about how expensive the housing market is, how expensive groceries have gotten, how expensive college tuition is, how expensive daycare is…and on and on. The real drivers of unaffordability in New Jersey can be attacked through smart, consistent state investment, rather than slashing revenues and programs that people rely on.

In other words, tax relief and efficient government are good, but not sufficient. We need to show that Democrats can address the real cost drivers that make life unaffordable for families.

In a press release this week, the Democratic Governors Association said, “Jack Ciattarelli Has Always Been a Never-Trumper.”  What’s their endgame in the primary?

Dan: November’s general election will be extremely competitive. Any advantage Democrats can get will matter.

I find it hard to believe that it’s a half-hearted attempt to affect the Republican primary, which is all but wrapped up. My guess is they’re looking to affect enthusiasm for Ciattarelli among the base, keeping them home for the primary and making it less likely they vote for him in the general. If so, it’s a smart play.

Alex: Many people, trips to Mar-a-Lago, phone calls to Bedminster, and events you never even see coming could influence President Trump to weigh in on this race. A press release from the DGA ain’t it.

Attorneys for former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil are set to take on the Trump administration in a New Jersey courtroom Friday as the president’s team fights to deport the anti-Israel activist. 

There will be a hearing in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, at 10 a.m. before Judge Michael E. Farbiarz. New York Judge Jesse Furman transferred the case to New Jersey, where Khalil was in custody when his attorneys filed their original writ of habeas corpus challenging his detention.

Khalil has since been moved to Louisiana, though, where the Trump administration wants the case to play out.

Khalil, who holds legal permanent resident status in the U.S., came under the administration’s wrath for his alleged support of Hamas terrorists in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2022 attack on Israel. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Khalil “led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”

IVY LEAGUE ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL WITHHELD DETAILS OF FOREIGN TIES FROM VISA APPLICATION: FEDS

“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a post on X earlier this month.

The DHS alleged in a Sunday filing in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey that Khalil willfully failed to disclose his employment with the Syrian office in the British Embassy in Beirut when he applied for permanent U.S. residency.

Federal officials alleged that Khalil was “inadmissible at the time of his adjustment” because of “fraud or willful misrepresentation of material fact” in his status application.

The agency also accused Khalil of failing to disclose his work with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and membership in Columbia University Apartheid Divest.

“It is black-letter law that misrepresentations in this context are not protected speech,” the filing said. “Thus, Khalil’s First Amendment allegations are a red herring.”

“Win Without War Banner” outside the White House on March 26, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The group is calling on President Trump to free Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose green card was revoked over his involvement in demonstrations at Columbia University. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Win Without War)

Marc Van Der Hout, one of Khalil’s lawyers, and Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdalla, released statements in a series of Instagram posts. They characterized Khalil as a “political prisoner detained at an ICE facility in Louisiana.”

Khalil’s lawyers have argued that his support for Palestinians is protected by free speech and that the administration’s deportation efforts are an effort to prevent his “current and future speech” and to deter others from doing the same. 

“The Policy, including as-applied to Mr. Khalil, does not give the proper notice to anyone residing in the country which of their otherwise-lawful speech, opinions, beliefs, or advocacy will result in the government targeting them for detention and removal, and it provides government officials with unfettered discretion to target disfavored speech,” the lawyers wrote.

His lawyers also noted that the administration does not define who qualifies as a “Hamas supporter.” They say that there is no clarity on Khalil’s activities that are “aligned to Hamas.”  

Protesters rally against the arrest of former Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil in New York City on Monday, March 10, 2025. Khalil was one of the main student organizers of the student encampment last year at Columbia University. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)

A federal judge in the Southern District of New York blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to deport Khalil on March 10.

VIDEO SHOWS ARREST OF COLUMBIA ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL

On March 18, Khalil wrote: “In the weeks ahead, students, advocates, and elected officials must unite to defend the right to protest for Palestine. At stake are not just our voices, but the fundamental civil liberties of all. Knowing fully that this moment transcends my individual circumstances, I hope nonetheless to be free to witness the birth of my first-born child.”

Khalil, a native of Syria and citizen of Algeria, entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2022 and later filed to become a permanent resident in 2024.

He is the first target in the Trump administration’s crusade to revoke student visas for participating in protests.

WATCH MAHMOUD KHALIL’S ARREST:

Khalil’s arrest comes after President Donald Trump issued a Jan. 29 executive order titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism” which mandates colleges “report activities by alien students and staff” on the grounds of antisemitism.

COLUMBIA STUDENT CLAIMS CLASSMATE ARRESTED BY ICE ‘HATES AMERICA’ 

The anti-Israel protests wreaked havoc on college campuses following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, leading to Trump’s campaign promise to revoke foreigners’ student visas.

“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” Trump is quoted in a fact sheet issued by the White House. “I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.”

Protesters rally against the arrest of former Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil in New York City on Monday, March 10, 2025. Khalil was one of the main student organizers of the student encampment last year at Columbia University. (Stephanie Keith for Fox News Digital)

DHS and ICE did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Khalil is represented by Amy Greer from Dratel & Lewis, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Alina Das, co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at New York University School of Law. Fox News Digital has reached out for comment.

Fox News’ Maria Paronich contributed to this report.