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January 11, 2012 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog

Historical Preservation Expert Joseph McGill to Visit Claflin University Jan. 19

Joseph McGill, a program officer with National Trust for Historic Preservation, will speak at Claflin University on Thursday, Jan. 19.

McGill has drawn national attention for his Slave Dwelling Project initiative, which seeks to garner increased recognition and resources for the restoration of former slave dwellings used in the antebellum South. For the cause, McGill has slept in more than a dozen slave dwellings in the Southeast. His work in this area has been featured by NPR and several local publications.

This program is sponsored by The Humanities CouncilSC, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for our students and the community at-large to hear about an innovative historical research project,” said Dr. Millicent Brown, associate professor of history and sociology. “Through his work over years, Joseph McGill has gained a unique perspective on the lives of slaves before, during and after the Civil War. I am thrilled he will soon share that perspective at Claflin University.”

With the National Trust for Historic Preservation, McGill is responsible for administering restoration projects in Alabama, Louisiana and South Carolina. Previously, he served as executive director of the African-American Historical Museum and the Cultural Center of Iowa where he secured funding and developing historical programs. He was also director of history and culture at the Penn Center in St. Helena Island, S.C.

McGill is the founder of Company “I” 54th Massachusetts Reenactment Regiment, a Civil War reenactment group based in Charleston. The 54th Massachusetts was the regiment portrayed in the Academy Award winning film “Glory”. McGill has been a park ranger at Fort Sumter National Monument responsible for organizing events and conducting living history presentations.

In addition, he is a commissioner for the S.C. African-American Heritage Commission, a board member for the proposed International African-American Museum, a founding member of the S.C. African-American History Alliance and on the S.C. Humanities Council Speakers Bureau.

Joseph McGill is a native of Kingstree, S.C. and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He is married to the former Vilarin Mozee and the couple has a daughter, Jocelyn.

To Learn More

For more information on the event, contact Dr. Millicent Brown by phone at (803) 535-5688 or by e-mail at milbrown@claflin.edu.

November 3, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog

The National Day of Listening: Learn and Preserve Family Stories

Take Part in StoryCorps' 2011 National Day of Listening!

Lowcountry Africana is pleased to be an official national partner of the acclaimed oral history project StoryCorps in celebrating the fourth annual National Day of Listening on Friday, November 25, 2011.

On the day after Thanksgiving every year, Lowcountry Africana and StoryCorps are asking all Americans to start a new holiday tradition: set aside an hour to interview a friend, a loved one, or someone in their community about his or her life.

Lowcountry Africana will be taking part in the 2011 National Day of Listening by recording interviews with Lowcountry residents.

While the family is gathered for the holidays, why not interview a family elder to learn more about your family's history? Or, interview a friend or community member who inspires you.

Your heritage or preservation organization can take part in the National Day of Listening as well, by interviewing community elders and preserving their stories. Who will YOU interview?

The National Day of Listening: How You Can Participate!

To record your own National Day of Listening Interview:

Find someone you would like to interview

Create your question list

Sit down to record your conversation

StoryCorps has created a free Do-It-Yourself (DIY) interview guide with step-by-step interview instructions, equipment recommendations, and sample questions that is available online at www.nationaldayoflistening.org.

You can record your interview using equipment that is readily available in most homes—from cell phones to tape recorders to computers or even pen and paper.

Create a New Holiday Tradition

By participating in this year’s National Day of Listening, we hope you’ll find that taking the time out to interview someone about his or her life is the least expensive but most meaningful gift that you can give. And you will create wonderful memories to make the holiday season all the more special.

Ready to learn more? Check out the video overview of the National Day of Listening. You can share the video with the person you will interview, to help them prepare.

Ways to Share and Preserve Your Interview

There are many ways to share and preserve your National Day of Listening interview:

Be sure to share a copy with the person you interviewed, so they can preserve their story for future generations of family members.

You can enter your name and the name of the person you interviewed on the Wall of Listening on the National Day of Listening website. When you fill in the Wall of Listening form, you can request a Certificate of Participation. If you would like to encourage others to participate in the National Day of Listening, you can select to share your Wall of Listening entry on Facebook and Twitter.

You can share and preserve your interview on our Family Stories page, where you can share text, sound and video recordings.

Will you be blogging about your National Day of Listening interview? Send us the link to your blog entry and we'll share it on our Family Stories page!

Video: Robin Foster Discusses the Importance of Family Oral History

Robin Foster took some time out to discuss StoryCorps' National Day of Listening, and the importance of family oral history. Please click on the video below to view:

Ready to Take Part? Get Your Do-It-Yourself Kit from StoryCorps!

You'll find everything you need to get started in the step-by-step guide here. There you will find instructions, advice on recording your interview, and suggested questions.

You can listen to interviews on the National Day of Listening website to find inspiration and ideas for your interview.

We hope interviewing a loved one for the National Day of Listening makes your holiday season even more special!

October 18, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog

Seashore Farmers Lodge in Charleston, S.C. to Receive Preservation Honor Award

October 17, 2011 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141

Washington, D.C.—The National Trust for Historic Preservation will present its Preservation Honor Award for the restoration of the Seashore Farmers Lodge in Charleston, S.C. The project is one of 23 award winners to be honored by the National Trust during its 2011 National Preservation Conference next week in Buffalo, NY.

In the years after the Civil War, the Seashore Farmers' Lodge served as the community center of the South Carolina Low Country community of Sol Legare. The wooden, two-story structure served as school, church, meeting place and emotional center for this thriving African American community. By the mid 2000s, it had a gaping hole in the center of the roof.

Thanks to a true community effort, the Lodge has been restored and is once again central to the community, serving as a cultural center and museum, telling the story of African American soldiers who fought in the nearby Civil War and the vibrant black community that sprung up in their wake.

“While each is unique, this year’s outstanding award winners all reflect the importance of protecting what is special and irreplaceable,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Whether it’s the restoration of a brewery in Baltimore or the redevelopment of a classic roadside motor court in Tucson, this year’s award winners demonstrate how preservation is bolstering local economies and creating jobs in communities across the country.”

The award will be presented to the Seashore Farmers’ Lodge 767 at the National Preservation Awards ceremony in Buffalo, New York, on Thursday, October 20, at 5:30 PM EST. Co-recipients are: Backman's Seafood; The Coastal Community Foundation of Charleston; Community of Sol Legare, South Carolina; Concerned Citizens of Sol Legare Foundation; Construction Consultants LLC; The Corinne Company; J&G Tours; Moutz Architects; Rosen and Associates, Engineers; Town of James Island, South Carolina, Office of the Mayor, and Trademark Properties.

The National Preservation Awards are bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage. These efforts include citizen attempts to save and maintain important landmarks; companies and craftsmen whose work restores the richness of the past; the vision of public officials who support preservation projects and legislation in their communities; and educators and journalists who help Americans understand the value of preservation. The winners of the National Preservation Awards will appear online at www.PreservationNation.org/awards.

To download high resolution images of this year’s National Preservation Award winners, visit www.PreservationNation.org/press.

For more information on the Seashore Farmers' Lodge, please contact:

Corie Hipp

m. (843) 327 - 2213

o. (843) 853 - 7470

corie@hippinvestmentsllc.com

sollegare.shutterfly.com

The Slave Dwelling Project: Several Firsts in Maryland

Several Firsts in Maryland

Slave Dwelling at Sotterly Plantation, Hollywood, Maryland

Slave Dwelling at Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood, Maryland

Saturday, July 9, 2011 found me at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood, Maryland. Southwest Airlines deserves credit for allowing this stay and lecture to fit perfectly into a weekend. Prior to my arrival at Sotterly, I knew that I would be dealing with several firsts; the first stay in Maryland and the first stay at a former tobacco plantation. Sotterley was one of the stays that came about as a result of the popularity of the Slave Dwelling Project. I can recall getting a call from Eileen Miller, Marketing Manager for Sotterley, and scheduling the stay.

Sotterley Plantation is located on the banks of the Patuxent River and is the only remaining Tidewater Plantation in Maryland open to the public. It is designated a National Historic Landmark and the site includes the early 18th century mansion, a rare slave cabin, and a full array of outbuildings on nearly 100 acres of rolling fields, gardens, and riverfront. The authentic 18th and 19th century architecture reveals Chesapeake Bay plantation life in the form of a customs warehouse, smokehouse, corn crib, brick privy, and plantation schoolhouse. Visitors can also walk along Sotterley's shoreline, woodland trails, meadows, an antebellum orchard, and colonial revival gardens.

When I arrived at the entrance to Sotterley, I had to stop and marvel at the trees that lined both sides of the road because this was reminiscent of several plantations I had encountered in the past. Even more impressive were all the historic buildings still on the site.

Tree-Lined Drive Leading to Sotterley Plantation

The first face to face meeting with Executive Director Nancy Easterling was intense. Her passion for the site was obvious and her questions came in rapid succession. Our tour of the site verified that all of the buildings were indeed authentic. The highlight for me of course was the tour of the slave dwelling. It was then, I discovered another first; the first dwelling with a dirt floor. That revelation factored into my decision to sleep in the loft of the dwelling, another first. While in the cabin, I was interviewed by two people who represented two different local newspapers.

At dinner that evening, I was informed by Meredith Taylor, a Trustee of Sotterley and a professor at St. Mary’s College, that a student would like to come and film the experience. I informed her that filming would be fine but also issued an invitation for the student to spend the night in the dwelling with me. The student Ryan Gugerty accepted the invitation. When I got back to the dwelling and inspected the loft more thoroughly with a flash light, I discovered an active wasp nest. I knew then where not to go.

Stairway to Loft in Slave Dwelling at Sotterley

When Ryan made it to the site around 10:00 pm he gave me a call on my cell phone and I went out to meet him in the parking lot. The questions by both of us indicated that I was as curious about him as he was about me. I do recall warning him that I snored like a champ, a tidbit that if revealed prior to his arrival may have yielded a different outcome. I do not know if it was my snoring or the call of nature that caused Ryan to get up and leave the cabin at least twice during the night. I also recall it being very hot before the temperature moderated to a level comfortable enough to sleep.

The next morning the questions from Ryan continued only this time everything was being recorded and filmed. We could not resist the temptation to walk to the river. Along the way, we came up on a demonstration garden. Planted there was tobacco. Not only did I think about the slave labor necessary to harvest the crop but I thought about my own personal experience growing up in Kingstree, SC and working in tobacco fields during the summer. When we reached the river it was not hard to imagine the historic landscape without trees and how the plantation house sat prominently on a hill that could be seen from the river.

After one more news paper interview in the cabin, Nancy delivered me to the home of Jan Briscoe and Sam Baldwin. Jan is the current President of the Board of Trustees for Sotterley. Sam had a beautiful breakfast prepared. Jan is a descendant of the last owner of Sotterley to own slaves. Initially, it was hard to keep my attention because I was admiring ospreys that were nesting right near their dock. Jan and Sam had instructions to deliver me to Sotterley in time for the scheduled Slave Dwelling Project lecture that I was scheduled to give. They carried out their assignment well but not before we bonded with great conversation about Sotterley Plantation and about the Slave Dwelling Project.

Joseph McGill at Entrance to Sotterley Slave Dwelling

I am always a little nervous when I start thinking about how many people might show up at these lectures. I’ve given the lecture to as little as two and many as one hundred plus and all points in between. I was impressed and encouraged by the number of people that showed. A fellow Civil War reenactor, Lou Carter, from Company B, 54th Massachusetts Reenactment Regiment out of Washington, DC attended as he promised. I was even more impressed that my friend Beth Lingg showed. I met Beth in 2005 on a cruise down the Mississippi River on the riverboat Delta Queen from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans, Louisiana. Beth is the only person from that cruise with whom I have kept in contact. When I informed her that I was coming to Sotterley she immediately put it on her calendar.

The lecture was a success. I put Ryan on notice that I would call on him to talk about his experience in sleeping in the cabin. He verified that it was my snoring that kept him up during the night. After the lecture, the question and answer period could have gone longer but I had to let the audience know that I had a plane to catch. When the session concluded another first happened, Eileen Miller Marketing Manager and Artist, presented me with an oil painting of the cabin that I slept in. This along with all of the other activities at Sotterley puts it on the short list of best places stayed to date. More importantly, Sotterley must be commended for the work and resources that it has put forth to ensure the slave dwelling on its property was restored and is being properly interpreted.

About the Slave Dwelling Project

For more information, please contact Joseph McGill:

Joseph McGill, Jr. | Program Officer, Southern Office

National Trust for Historic Preservation | William Aiken House, 456 King Street, 3rd Floor, Charleston, SC 29403 |

Phone: 843.722.8552 | Fax: 843.722.8652 | Email: joseph_mcgill@nthp.org | www.preservationnation.org

July 12, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog

Slavery in the North: Cliveden Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA

Slavery in the North

Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the City of Brotherly Love, these are all things we associate with the city of Philadelphia. I find it ironic that the purpose of my last stay in Philadelphia was to highlight that peculiar institution that was the opposite of all of those things. I commend Cliveden’s staff for taking the high road in this matter by engaging the public and seeking their input in how they should move forward in telling the stories of all the people who were involved. The Cliveden experience has given me a better understanding of how slavery existed in northern states.

Cliveden, Home of the Chew Family, Philadelphia, PA

Thursday, June 23, 2011 found me at Cliveden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This stay came about as a direct result of a lecture that I gave about the Slave Dwelling Project at the National Preservation Conference that was held in Austin, Texas in October 2010. Immediately after the lecture, I was approached by Rick Fink, the Education Director at Cliveden, he extended the invitation to me at that time. The very next day, I unknowingly sat beside David Young, Executive Director of Cliveden, on the bus ride he confirmed the invitation.

Cliveden is an historic site owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and located in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia. Built as a country house by attorney Benjamin Chew, Cliveden was completed in 1767 and was home to seven generations of Chew family members. Long famous as the site of the Battle of Germantown in 1777, as well as for its elegant architecture and furnishings, new research is revealing a troubled past marked by slavery and another kind of struggle for freedom.

In addition for an opportunity for me to expand the Slave Dwelling Project to the north, staff at Cliveden saw this as an opportunity to expand a program called “Cliveden Conversations”. "Cliveden Conversations" sprouted from a recent discovery of documents detailing slave ownership by the affluent family of Chief Justice Benjamin Chew. The Chew Family Papers have opened the door to new discussions about how slavery has affected modern race relations and community in Germantown.

As followers of the Slave Dwelling Project became aware that Cliveden was one of the places that I would stay, some would always be surprised for various reasons. Cliveden did not fit the mold of any of the previous stays. It did not have a cabin; it was not a plantation; most of all, it was not in a southern state.

My arrival into Philadelphia was uneventful and I was picked up from the airport and transported to Cliveden by David Young. I often use the term “house on the hill” to describe the architecture that we as Americans are most interested in preserving. Cliveden is the epitome of that phrase. It is not hard to visualize that when Cliveden was completed in 1767 it stood prominently on a hill in isolation. Any one approaching would have been awed by its significance. The two story slave dwelling, the two story carriage house and any other out building would have accented the wealth of the Chew family. I got a tour of the slave dwelling and the Cliveden Mansion from Rick Fink. It is amazing how the architecture of the big house allowed slaves to labor within it walls and gave the home owner the ability to isolate that labor from visitors when necessary. I only needed to see the first floor of the slave dwelling to know that was where I would sleep. This room had less amenities than others in the house although an electrical light, electrical outlets and a radiator made it immediately evident that the building evolved and was a resident far beyond the abolition of slavery in the state of Pennsylvania.

The rest of the evening included two media interviews, a Germantown Coalition reception and dinner at McMenamin’s Tavern.

Interior, Cliveden Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA

The sleep in the dwelling was peaceful. I expected to hear sirens and other noises that a city would have to offer, but I heard none of those things. The next morning, through the window that I left open, I heard the sound of soothing rain falling on the trees. When I attempted to go to the bath room, I set off the house alarm, I immediately called David Young for instructions which did not work. David assured me that he would call the alarm company and that he was on his way to the site. As thoughts of Rodney King ran through my mind, I parked myself in one spot and waited for staff or the police to arrive. Luckily, staff showed up and the police did not.

After all of that drama, I then mustered the courage to explore the upstairs of the dwelling. The upstairs rooms contained further evidence that the dwelling had evolved over time. A bathroom with indoor plumbing and closets were all indications that the dwelling was lived in far beyond the ending of slavery in Philadelphia. Not having a flashlight, I was incapable of exploring the attic.

That day, I got several bonuses. I got to visit Walter Gallus, Director of the Philadelphia Field Office for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and have lunch with him. His office is located directly across the street from Cliveden. A few days prior to coming to Philadelphia, I made contact with a first cousin who I had not seen in decades. Once we worked out the details of the matter, he and two of my aunts who I had also not seen in decades showed up at Cliveden. Hanging out with them in the slave dwelling was a great time for us to reminisce about family members who are no longer with us on this earth.

Cliveden Slave Quarters, Philadelphia, PA

My participation in “Cliveden Conversations” was interesting. I altered my presentation to include those former slave dwellings I stayed whose owners still interact with the descendants of the people who were enslaved at the site. The presentation proved appropriate for Cliveden’s goal of telling more of the story of the people who were once enslaved there. I was told by Cliveden staff that the crowd was the largest ever for “Clivden Conversations.” The question and answer period would have gone longer had we let it. After the group dispersed, a few of the participants joined me in the slave dwelling for a bonus question and answer period.

Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the City of Brotherly Love, these are all things we associate with the city of Philadelphia. I find it ironic that the purpose of my last stay in Philadelphia was to highlight that peculiar institution that was the opposite of all of those things. I commend Cliveden’s staff for taking the high road in this matter by engaging the public and seeking their input in how they should move forward in telling the stories of all the people who were involved. The Cliveden experience has given me a better understanding of how slavery existed in northern states.

About the Slave Dwelling Project

For more information, please contact Joseph McGill:

Joseph McGill, Jr. | Program Officer, Southern Office

National Trust for Historic Preservation | William Aiken House, 456 King Street, 3rd Floor, Charleston, SC 29403 |

Phone: 843.722.8552 | Fax: 843.722.8652 | Email: joseph_mcgill@nthp.org | www.preservationnation.org

July 4, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog

Slave Dwelling Project: Sleeping in a Relocated Slave Dwelling

Sleeping in a Relocated Slave Dwelling

Visitors at Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville, SC

Saturday, June 11, 2011 found me in Greenville, SC to stay at Roper Mountain Science Center in a former slave dwelling that was disassembled from its original location and reassembled there.

This would be my second venture into the upstate of South Carolina to stay in a former slave dwelling. The first was Morris Street in Anderson early in the project. I first learned about the building at Roper Mountain years ago when an application for funding the move came across my desk. At that time the Slave Dwelling Project was only an idea but I did make a request to spend a night in the dwelling at some point in the future.

On this trip, I travelled with my daughter Jocelyn and my wife Vilarin. Although Jocelyn shared the experience of spending a night in a slave dwelling with me in the past, she and Vilarin had conveniently booked a room in a Greenville Hampton Inn. After my stay in the slave dwelling on Saturday night, our intent was to deliver Jocelyn to Tuskegee University in Alabama on Sunday to spend a week in their VET STEP program.

Thomas and Ben Riddle Outside of Slave Cabin

I arrived at Roper Mountain around 10:00 am as planned. I was surprised and impressed that there was a young African American female in period dress interpreting the dwelling. I only regret that time did not allow me to interact with her. I only know that she is a volunteer and a high school senior. Knowing that we have so much in common, I wanted to compare notes and know what inspired her to take on such a controversial task.

The 23-by 16-foot structure was built before the Civil War by people enslaved by Dr. Thomas Blackburn Williams, a prominent Greenville physician. After slavery the dwelling became a home for families who worked on a nearby farm. The last occupants moved out in the early 1930’s. Unfortunately, only 50% of the original materials were able to be used in the reassembled building.

I was scheduled to interact with the Roper Mountain visiting public from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. It turned out that the initial group occupied the entire time span. The question and answer period proved to be most interesting. We covered everything from slave dwellings to current day race relations.

I discovered that I was not going to spend the night alone in the dwelling. Thomas Riddle a local history teacher and his son Ben would spend the night with me.

When the park closed, Vilarin, Jocelyn and I left with the intent to come back at 7:00 pm. On the return trip, we experienced a severe thunder storm complete with rain and hail. My first thought was that a tornado was approaching, fortunately I was wrong. The storm was a testament that the dwelling was properly sealed because no water entered the structure. When the storm passed, Jocelyn and Vilarin left for their hotel room leaving me with Thomas.

Thomas Riddle and Joe McGill Inside Slave Dwelling

The company of Thomas was much welcomed. He gave me a thorough history of the dwelling with accompanying video on his laptop computer. The disassembling and reassembling were all well documented. We left Roper Mountain and visited the original site of the cabin. The dwelling was moved because of a proposed housing development. Unfortunately the current economic conditions have forced the developer to alter his plans. Along with saving the cabin, preservationists were able to save one barn. One barn was lost. The big house was moved to another location on the site and is now being restored.

After the tour of the original site, we proceeded to the city of Greenville. I had no idea Greenville was so vibrant with night life. Hundreds, I would even venture to say thousands of people of all hues, were taking in all the city had to offer. Pedestrian traffic galore, live music, sidewalk dining, it was all happening there. In the city is where we met Ben, Thomas’s son. His mission was to pick up a few items that Tom forgot before meeting back at the cabin.

Joe McGill at Roper Mountain Science Center, Greenville, SC

At the cabin, we all decided to occupy one of the two rooms. Ben chose the bed, Thomas chose the spot by the door and I chose the spot by the back window. Before going to sleep, we first recorded a video that will be used for some type of promotion in the future. We all slept well.

The next morning we all discovered that we shared the cabin with a nesting Carolina Wren. The nest was located in a basket about one foot above my head as I slept.

This experience taught me that relocating a slave dwelling can work if there is a plan and resources in place to sustain the structure. The leadership at Roper Mountain should be commended for overcoming all of the challenges of dissembling, moving, reassembling, interpreting and maintaining a former slave dwelling on their property.

About the Slave Dwelling Project

For more information, please contact Joseph McGill:

Joseph McGill, Jr. | Program Officer, Southern Office

National Trust for Historic Preservation | William Aiken House, 456 King Street, 3rd Floor, Charleston, SC 29403 |

Phone: 843.722.8552 | Fax: 843.722.8652 | Email: joseph_mcgill@nthp.org | www.preservationnation.org

June 18, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog

Slave Dwelling Project Visits Bellamy Mansion

Bellamy Mansion, Wilmington, NC

Sunday, May 15 found me spending the night at Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, NC. I arrived there around 4:45 pm which was good because the young lady working there did not have prior knowledge of my arrival. This was very important because she was now aware that she should not turn on the alarm in the slave dwelling. The context of the house reminded me a lot of the Aiken Rhett House in Charleston, SC. One could easily be enamored by the architectural significance of the house and totally ignore the slavery that was associated with the structure if the former slave dwelling was not still located in back and interpreted. The dwelling was two stories, made of brick, two bed rooms up top; downstairs contained a bedroom, kitchen and privy.

Joe McGill Stands Outside of Slave Quarters, Bellamy Mansion

When I got settled in to the slave dwelling, I took a leisurely stroll to the Wilmington waterfront. I was amazed by its beauty and the vibrancy of the city. There was a wealth of activities happening. I had an abundance of restaurants from which to choose. I finally decided on one that would allow me to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather and people watch as I ate my meal.

When I returned to the dwelling, I turned on my computer and was amazed to discover that I had wifi capability. This capability gave me the opportunity to get caught up on blogging about some of the past stays that I had done.

I was later joined by Terry James, this would be his fifth stay. Terry and I were later joined by Braxton Williams the Bellamy Mansion employee who helped to arrange my stay. Braxton gave us an overview of the history of the mansion. He then mentioned that there was an African American Civil War reenactor in the area named Fred (Sweet Corn) Johnson.

Joe McGill Stands Outside of Slave Quarters, Bellamy Mansion

Of course Terry and I both knew Sweet Corn so Terry gave him a call. He came to the dwelling in less than 20 minutes. When Braxton left, Fred, Terry and I walked back to the restaurant where I had eaten earlier for a late night snack. No matter how hard Terry and I tried, we could not convince Sweet Corn to spend the night in the slave dwelling with us. He did agree to treat us to breakfast the following morning.

Terry and I got back to the dwelling around 11:30 pm. Our conversation did not last very long before both of us went to sleep. Terry slept in the slave shackles again for the third consecutive time. Because of the urban setting, I was awakened throughout the night by the fire, police and emergency sirens.

Fred "Sweet Corn" Johnson and Joe McGill, Bellamy Mansion

The next morning Sweet Corn treated us to breakfast as he promised. Terry and I then did a live interview for a local radio station. Terry then had to go back to his hometown of Florence. I was obligated to stay to give a lecture on the Slave Dwelling Project later that day. The lecture was given in the parlor of the Bellamy Mansion to a standing room only crowd.

I went away from that experience knowing that I have to extend the Slave Dwelling Project deep into the heart of the state of North Carolina. The network established at Bellamy will help me achieve that goal. Stay tuned for more North Carolina slave dwelling stays in the year 2012 and beyond.

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June 6, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog
Exploring Urban Slavery at the Aiken Rhett House
Exploring Urban Slavery at the Aiken Rhett House

Aiken Rhett House, Charleston, SC

Saturday, April 30, 2011 found me at the Aiken Rhett House in Charleston, SC to spend the night in a former slave dwelling located there. I went there the day before with my daughter Jocelyn who had spent the night with me earlier this year in Eliza’s House, the Freedman’s Cottage at Middleton Plantation, also in Charleston, SC. Our purpose for being there on Friday was to receive a tutorial on the alarm system for the big house and tour the slave dwellings. In the end, it was decided that access to the big house was not necessary.

That Friday I realized how people can be easily lulled into a false sense of history. The magnificence of the Aiken Rhett does not disappoint. As the house is approached from any angle, one cannot help but marvel at its architectural significance. As stated in its brochure: “Built in 1820 and greatly expanded by Governor and Mrs. William Aiken Jr. in the 1830s, the Aiken-Rhett House and its outbuildings have survived as a time capsule virtually unaltered since 1858. The house speaks powerfully about the interconnections among all members of the household. Original outbuildings include the kitchen, slaves’ quarters, stable, coach house and privies.”

It is the purpose of places like the Aiken-Rhett House to appeal to tourists but it is the purpose of the Slave Dwelling Project to bring much needed attention to extant slave dwellings. More recently, this project is allowing me to explore how urban slavery factored into that peculiar institution. The former home of a slave holding governor of the state of South Carolina would be a great place for me to continue my exploration.

The Stay

Left to Right: Ernest Parks and Terry James

I got there at 4:50 pm on Saturday ten minutes before closing time. Although I had a key to the back gate that I had obtained the day before, the purpose was to get there while staff was still on duty in case there were last minute instructions. Staff was wrapping up an unscheduled group tour. This was a night that I was not scheduled to sleep in the slave dwelling alone. Ernest Parks, James Brown and Terry James all fellow Civil War reenactors were all scheduled to stay. This would be the second stay for Ernest and James and the fourth stay for Terry. All the gentlemen showed up but James Brown was not able to stay because of an impending job that did materialize.

The remaining three of us slept in the building that contained the kitchen and slave quarters across from the stable and coach house. We all slept in the same room on the upper level farthest away from the big house.

Slave Dwelling, Aiken Rhett House, Charleston, SC

Before falling asleep, Ernest and I were engaged in conversation until 2:00 am while it was obvious by Terry’s snoring that he slept well. Terry decided to sleep in the period slave shackles for a second time. Both Ernest and I passed on the opportunity to sleep in the second pair that he brought.

The morning after the sleepover afforded us the opportunity to explore the site without having to compete with tourists. To that end, lots of pictures were taken.

One more thank you is in order for the Historic Charleston Foundation. This is the second property under its stewardship of which it has allowed me to stay. The Aiken Rhett House like McLeod Plantation both preserve and interpret all aspects of its history.

If the Slave Dwelling Project had a rating system for stewards of former slave dwellings, Historic Charleston Foundation would rate highly.

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June 1, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog
Slave Dwelling Project Receives Warm Welcome in Missouri
Slave Dwelling Project Receives Warm Welcome in Missouri

"Before Joseph McGill’s visit during the 3^rd week of April, very little recognition of Missouri’s Little Dixie slave cabins could be found beyond my own efforts with my program “Little Cabins.” I can now say that we have people talking about Missouri’s slave cabins from Kansas City to St. Louis, something that did not exist before. I know the spotlight will not last long, but it is our organization’s desire, as well as my own, to keep the light shining bright for as long as possible with the help of Joseph McGill and his unique and important project." ---Gary Fuenfhausen, President, Missouri's Little Dixie Heritage Foundation

Left to Right: Gary Fuenfhausen, David Lerch and Vicki-McCarrell

Monday, April 18, 2011 found me in Pleasant Green, Missouri to stay at Burwood Plantation. I came upon this opportunity through Gary Feunfhausen who contacted me back in December 2010. He is a researcher and architectural and cultural historian living in Missouri with an interest in slave history. He had been researching slave dwellings in the state of Missouri. We both agreed that the Slave Dwelling Project would go over well in Missouri. To that end, Gary proceeded to make plans for the trip, he stepped out on faith and sealed the dates in anticipation that the Missouri Humanities Council would fund the project. Two weeks prior to my trip, Gary received word that his proposal would be funded by the Council.

Burwood would be one of four stays scheduled for the trip to Missouri. My day did not start well. My flight out of Charleston, SC was cancelled. My rescheduled flight would get me to Missouri 5 hours after the time that I was originally scheduled to arrive in Kansas City. When David Lerch, another major player in organizing the trip, became aware of the situation, he immediately took charge and got me on a flight that would shave 2 hours off of the rescheduled arrival time. This was vital in order to stick to the mutually agreed upon schedule.

When I got to Burwood Plantion, I was greeted by the home owner Vicki McCarrell. She had assembled a group that was anxious to hear about the Slave Dwelling Project. The media was represented well within the dynamics of the group. Everyone representing the media got their interview. But there was one gentleman Clayton Slater, a graduate student in Photo Journalism at the University of Missouri who was determined to go above and beyond. We came to an agreement that he could spend the night with me in the dwelling. I am anxious to see the finished product of his work.

Tuesday, April 19 would be the first time I co-presented about the slave dwelling project. The lecture was given at Pickard Hall on the Campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia. I opened the presentation speaking on the need to preserve slave dwellings nationally and Gary followed with the need to preserve slave dwellings on a local and statewide level.

Joseph McGill and Gary Fuenfhausen at Pleasant Green Plantation, Missouri

Wednesday, April 20 found me at Pleasant Green Plantation in Pilot Grove, Missouri. I had already become acquainted with the owner Florence (Winky) Chesnutt - Friedrichs for she was a part of the group that gathered at Burwood the previous Monday night. A group of approximately 20 had gathered for a presentation on the Slave Dwelling Project. During the question and answer period, our host Winky did something quite profound, she read the list of all the slaves that were present on the plantation in 1863. As was common, each slave had only a first name, an age and was assigned a value which ranged from $0.00 to $200.00. Noticeably absent from the list were the names of men. As a Civil War reenactor, I immediately speculated that the men had seized the opportunity to join the Union Army. It is a known fact that the State of Missouri supplied 600 men to serve in the 1^st Iowa Colored Infantry which was also known as the 60^th United States Colored Troops. Of course my assumption led to a spirited discussion during the question and answer period. After the question and answer period we all proceeded outside for photographs and a tour of the slave dwelling.

After the group left, Gary and I did a live radio interview about the project. We then had a nice dinner provided by Winky. The modest dwelling where I slept was the only one left of five that was once on the property, the other four being removed or burned by the new owners in the early 1900s. This one was lived in until the 1940s.

Russell/Reinhard House, Lexington, Missouri

My third stay occurred in Lexington, Missouri at the home owned by Elizabeth S. Sellers. Unfortunately, Mrs. Sellers was out of the state and could not meet me at the site but her son William W. Sellers was a gracious host, he connected me to Mrs. Sellers via a telephone call. The Russell/Reinhard house, located within the city limits has a semidetached two-story summer kitchen and slave quarters. The original owner William Russell was a successful merchant and financer and also a partner with Waddell and Major in the overland trade and Pony Express. Here I was given a choice of sleeping in the modernized upstairs complete with beds or sleeping in the more authentic downstairs. For the sake of the Slave Dwelling Project, I chose the ladder.

It was business as usual, despite the rain, a group had gathered at the site to hear my thoughts. I noticed that the project had established a following, some of the same people were showing up at these sites. After the group left, Gary and I sat down to have conversation with William. Included in the conversation was how some Union troops robbed the local bank during the Civil War and how one of the local bank was robbed by Jessie James.

Joe McGill, Sandi Stephens and Gary Fuenfhausen

My fourth and last stay in Missouri occurred at Winsor/Aull Greek Revival Mansion. The house and quarters was built in 1851, by Thomas Winsor, on the Missouri River bluff. Winsor, who was a successful merchant and banker, owned 3 slaves in 1850.

The current owner of the Winsor/Aull Greek Revival mansion is Sandi Stephens. The following are her comments.

"Old houses are in my blood, always have been. That is why I moved from the West Coast to Lexington, Missouri. It was incidental that my home has slave quarters on the property, but that particular area has become one of our favorite hide-a-ways on our property. It represents part of our history, one that many choose to ignore, or more importantly, make the conscious decision to remove such structures because they are deemed insignificant in comparison to the principal dwelling on the property. Not all of our history may be pleasant, but it is history none-the-less and should not be ignored. It should not be deliberately demolished, as if the lives of those who lived there and worked that land or in that house were inconsequential. I was so thrilled to be a part of Mr. McGill’s Slave Quarters Project and thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and hearing of his endeavor to preserve these integral parts of our past. As he states in his lectures and on his slides, 'these places matter'."

The last scheduled event was a lecture on Saturday, April 23 which was given by me and Gary at the Battle of Lexington State Historic Site.

Missouri was the fourth state to which the Slave Dwelling Project was expanded. This trip was a lesson in how slavery factored into the westward expansion of the United States. It was also a lesson in how slavery factored into the hemp industry. Additionally, it expanded my knowledge of how and why the state of Missouri remained a border state during the Civil War and never officially committed to either side. The four private owners who allowed me to spend a night in their well preserved and maintained former slave dwellings deserve a big thank you. We need more like you. I must especially thank Gary Fuenfhausen for all of the work that he has done to date to replicate on a statewide level what I am trying to accomplish on a national level. It was only fate that our paths crossed, we both have a lot of additional work to do.
Tags: preservation

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May 30, 2011 Posted by admin in LCA Main Blog, LCA Main Blog
Remembering Isaac Seabrook, Company C 21st USCT
Remembering Isaac Seabrook, Company C 21st USCT

Isaac Seabrook, born on Edisto Island about 1840, enlisted in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) in Hilton Head, SC on May 11, 1863 [1]. Isaac was one of six young men born on Edisto who enlisted that day. The others were Prince Seabrook, Peter Seabrook, James Seabrook, Ishmael Seabrook and Edward Seabrook, all born on Edisto. Whether the young men escaped to Hilton Head or fell in with Union troops on Edisto Island remains a question for further research [2].

Isaac Seabrook was 16 years old when he enlisted to serve a three-year term in the military. He was placed in Company C, 21st USCT. He was mustered out in Charleston, SC on April 25, 1866.

History of the 21st USCT

The 21st USCT was organized from 3rd and 4th Regiments, South Carolina Colored Infantry, March 14, 1864. The 3rd Regiment was organized at Hilton Head, SC in June of 1863. The 4th Regiment was organized at Fernandina, FL in July of 1863. Both units were re-designated 21st Regiment USCT March 14, 1864.

The 3rd Regiment, organized in Hilton Head, saw duty at Jacksonville, Fla., till April, 1864. They were moved to Hilton Head, SC, thence to Folly Island, SC, April 18. They served on Folly Island, Morris Island and Coles Island operating against Charleston, S. C., till February, 1865.

From June 30 to July 10, they served in an expedition to James Island, SC. They saw combat action on James Island July 2. The Regiment served garrison duty at Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, S. C., till August, 1865, and at various points in SC and GA till October, 1866. They were mustered out October 7, 1866 [3].

Freedmen's Bank Record, Isaac Seabrook

Sometime in 1868, Isaac Seabrook opened an account at the Freedmen's Savings and Trust (Freedmen's Bank). The account register contains many biographical details as well as the names of Isaac's family members [4].

The information Isaac supplied for the account register was:

No. 2756 Isaac Seabrook, "C," 21

Where Brought Up: Same Place

Where Born: Edisto Island

Residence: Seabrook Landing, SC

Age: 20

Complexion: Dark

Occupation: Farming

Works For: Himself

Wife: Lizzie Williams

Children: Richard Ford

Father: Alfred

Mother: Katie

Brothers: Simon & George Ford

Sisters: Margaret & Nanny Ford and Nanny Jones

Signature: Isaac Seabrook X His Mark

Life After the USCT

Isaac may have changed his name to Ford (the surname of his immediate family members) sometime between 1868 and 1870. In his Freedmen's Bank application, Isaac Seabrook listed his parents as Alfred and Katie, his wife as Lizzie, his son Richard Ford and brothers Simon Ford and George Ford.

The 1870 Census finds the following household in Beaufort, SC in 1870 [5]:

Ford, Isaac, Age 24, Male, Black, Farmer, Born SC

Ford, Jane, Age 21, Female, Black, Keeping House, Born SC

Ford, Richard, Age [illegible, very faint], Male, Black, Born SC

Ford, Rose, Age 2, Female, Black, Born SC

Ford, Albert, Age 50, Male, Black, Farmer, Born SC

Ford, Katie, Age 50, Female, Black, Keeping House, Born SC

Ford, Simon, Age 22, Male, Black, Farm Labor, Born SC

Ford, George, Age [illegible, very faint], Male, Black, Farm Labor, Born SC

1880 Federal Census, Hilton Head, Beaufort, SC

In the 1880 Census, Beaufort, SC, we see [6]:

Ford, Isaac, Black, Male, Age 37, Farm Laborer

Ford, Lizzie, Black, Female, 28, Farm Laborer

Ford, Richard, Black, Male, 13, Son, Farm Laborer

Ford, Rose, Black, Female, 11, Daughter, Keeping House

Ford, Romeo, Black, Male, 8, Son

Ford, James, Black, Male, 5, Son

Ford, Mary, Black, Female, 1, Daughter

Also in Beaufort in 1880 we find:

Ford, Alfred, Black, Male, 70, Farm Laborer

Ford, Katie, Black, Female, 69, Keeping House

Military Pension Index

That Isaac may have changed his name to Ford is further supported by a pension index record in the name of Isaac Seabrook alias Isaac Ford, for service in Company C, 21st USCT [7]:

Death Certificate, Hilton Head, Beaufort, SC

A death certificate for Isaac Ford may also support the hypothesis the Isaac changed his name to Ford. The certificate, below, states that Isaac Ford, Black, Male, Farmer died May 4, 1920. His parents are listed as Alfred Ford and Katie Ford, both born in SC [8].

We recall that Isaac Seabrook who served in C Company, 21st USCT, listed Alfred and Katie as his parents. His siblings were listed with the surname Ford, as was his son. If this is your family, the possibility of a name change is certainly worth looking into further.
We remember Isaac Seabrook and honor his service in the 21st USCT.

References Cited

[1] and [2] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served With the United States Colored Troops: Infantry Organizations, 20th through 25th; Microfilm Serial: M1823; Microfilm Roll: 32

[3] U.S. Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System; database online, http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/index.html, accessed 31 May, 2011.

[4] Ancestry.com. Freedman's Bank Records, 1865-1871 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data: Registers of Signatures of Depositors in Branches of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, 1865-1874. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. Micropublication M816, 27 rolls.

[5] Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1870; Census Place: Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, South Carolina; Roll: M593_1485; Page: 171A; Image: 345

[6] Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1880; Census Place: Hilton Head, Beaufort, South Carolina; Roll: 1221; Family History Film: 1255221; Page: 142A; Enumeration District: 46

[7] National Archives and Records Administration. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls.

[8] Ancestry.com. South Carolina Death Records, 1821-1955 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: South Carolina. South Carolina death records. Columbia, SC, USA: South Carolina Department of Archives and History.

Tags: 21st USCT, edisto island, hilton head, USCT

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The Stay

Slave Dwelling Project Receives Warm Welcome in Missouri

Remembering Isaac Seabrook, Company C 21st USCT

History of the 21st USCT

Freedmen's Bank Record, Isaac Seabrook

Life After the USCT

1880 Federal Census, Hilton Head, Beaufort, SC

Military Pension Index

Death Certificate, Hilton Head, Beaufort, SC

We remember Isaac Seabrook and honor his service in the 21st USCT.

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