Walters A.M.E. Zion Church, 423 Broad Street Walters African American Episcopal Zion Church has been located at this site since 1882. When its original structure was destroyed by fire in 1951, the current building was erected on the surviving foundation. The building is one of few remaining reminders of an … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: New London (2)
Hempsted Historic District Area surrounding 11 Hempsted Street Located in the center of New London and surrounding the seventeenth-century Joshua Hempsted House (see different info over at the Underground Railroad section), the Hempsted Historic District includes houses that were purchased by free African … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Manchester
Walter Bunce House 34 Bidwell Street While there are many structures in the Southern states which are attributed to the craftsmanship of African Americans, few such buildings exist in New England. One example, however, is the Walter Bunce House, constructed by Alpheus Quicy. Born in June 1774, Quicy dealt in real … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Wethersfield
Ancient Burying Ground, Main and Marsh Streets After thoroughly enjoying Comstock, Ferre & Co. (The oldest continuously operating seed company in the US), Damian and I walked across Main Street to the Wethersfield Ancient Burying Grounds. Located behind the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, it shares … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Enfield
Paul Robeson House, 1221 Enfield Street Paul Robeson was an All-American football player, a Phi Beta Kappa scholarship student at Rutgers University, and a graduate of the Columbia University Law School. An African American of extraordinary artistic gifts, he later became an internationally known actor and singer, … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Griswold
Glasgo (Mill Village) section of Griswold, Intersection of Routes 201 and 165 After a morning of hiking in the area, I made it a point to detour slightly south to hit this Freedom Trail spot. Glasgo is a tiny little hamlet within the town of Griswold that I don't think I knew existed until this week. After … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Colchester (2)
Old District Schoolhouse for Colored Children site (Town Green) As I'm sure you'll be racing out to experience this tiny town green for yourself, it's right off of exit 18 along Route 2 where 85 and 16 come together. All kidding aside, the reason for this being on the Freedom Trail is surprisingly … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Norwich (2)
Boston Trowtrow Gravesite Norwichtown Old Burying Ground When you're trying to get to a billion places all over Connecticut, sometimes you must visit some at night. And upon doing so, your "views," so to speak, aren't the best. Such was the case here, at my visits to Boston Trowtrow's grave and the Jail Hill area … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: West Hartford (2)
Bristol Gravesite Old Center Burying Yard, Main Street My hometown makes the grade! And not only that, we get one of the fancy stone monuments to boot! Interred in the Burying Yard is Bristol (ca. 1731-1814), an African kidnapped into slavery before the Revolutionary War, who purchased his freedom and … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Middletown (2)
1. Leverett Beman Historic District, Cross and Vine Streets Yeah, okay... I'm not sure how I'm to take a picture of a "District." So I'll grab a satellite image. I can report I drove all around here looking for the CT Underground Railroad Trail and Middletown Heritage Trail's Freedom church. The first … [Read more...]