CAMDEN, Del. — An concept that began greater than a decade in the past to assist protect centuries of Kent County historical past is one million steps nearer to actuality in Camden.
Delaware
New museum to preserve Delaware Underground Railroad history
County Commissioner Jody Sweeney stated the thought for the museum began greater than 10 years in the past with Lucreatia Wilson, curator of the Star Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church and Museum close to Camden.
The county was already working to stabilize and weatherproof the home on the park, “and Lucreatia picked up on that and stated it might be the right automobile to showcase the county’s historical past.”
Wilson has gathered lots of of artifacts and books on the church museum, principally specializing in the lifetime of freed and enslaved African Individuals, the Underground Railroad in Kent County and innovations by African Individuals.
She began the museum with mates on the church 34 years in the past, however the different members of the group have all died. Wilson stated it’s been troublesome to search out new volunteers who’ve time to find out about all of the artifacts and provides excursions.
Now 81, she needs to make sure the historical past is preserved within the space as a result of she’d like to maneuver to be nearer to her son’s household in one other state.
“I’d like to see this museum created whereas I’m nonetheless alive,” Wilson stated.
Along with shows within the historic residence, she would love the county to make use of one other constructing on the park for instance how slaves lived.
Sweeney has additionally been working with the Associates of Historic Camden on museum concepts.
“The ultimate plans aren’t set in stone,” he stated. “We nonetheless have some negotiating to do on Levy Court docket. We need to present the realm’s position within the Revolutionary Struggle, the Civil Struggle, the Underground Railroad and what Harriet Tubman did right here, together with how agriculture and trade formed the county.”
The Camden space has a number of ties to the Underground Railroad, serving to slaves escape to freedom within the north.
Star Hill AME Church began as Star of the East Church within the 1860s.
“Members of the church are believed to have participated within the actions of the Underground Railroad, and the church’s title is attributed to the image of the star as a information for escaping slaves,” based on the Delaware State Archives’ historic marker.
The Camden Associates Assembly Home inbuilt 1805 was “a hub of anti-slavery minded people who assisted numerous slaves of their quest for freedom,” based on the Go to Delaware web site.
Wilson stated “station masters” harbored escaped slaves and guided them north to different protected stops.
One of many station masters was John Hunn, based on the Nationwide Park Service. He was an abolitionist and Quaker who misplaced his farm in his effort to assist fugitives from slavery. Years later, his son of the identical title would turn out to be governor of Delaware.
Each are buried on the Camden Associates Assembly web site.
Sweeney stated the completed museum might be just a few years away, however acquiring the funding was the largest hurdle.
The $500,000 federal grant got here from the Nationwide Park Service’s Saving America’s Treasures program. The applying was written by Jeremy Sheppard, director of neighborhood providers for Kent County Parks, Recreation and Library.
Sheppard stated the county has been working to protect the home since 1994 after taking on possession of the property, a present from Elizabeth Howell Goggin in her will. She donated her household’s residence and 86-acre farm simply west of Route 13 on Previous Camden Street with directions to make use of them for “leisure, academic, conservation, and wildlife and historic preservation functions.”
Sheppard stated Brecknock Park is already “the jewel of Kent County,” with the park, applications about nature and the mill that after operated on the web site.
However the historic residence has hardly ever been open to the general public.
On the Nationwide Historic Register, the home dates again to the mid-1700s however has had three additions.
The county plans to rent an architect to evaluate restoration priorities for the home.
Sweeney stated the museum can be formed partly by Wilson.
“She has gathered many artifacts and it was her imaginative and prescient to deal with the location right here to advertise Kent County historical past,” he stated.