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Camden County: A Tour of African-American Heritage Historical Sites
A downloadable five-podcast audio tour has been created by Camden County and the South Jersey Tourism Corporation so that people can visit these sites and learn about an important part of South Jersey historyCamden County and South Jersey Tourism Corporation (SJTC), through a grant from New Jersey Historic Trust (NJHT), have produced a series of five free downloadable 5-10 minute podcasts to highlight and market historical sites tied to African American Heritage and the Underground Railroad. These podcasts will be available just in time for Black History Month in February and for the benefit of residents and tourists from now on.
They also make excellent downloadable curriculum for County schools and a letter has been sent to school superintendents making them aware of these podcasts that explain what happened along the route of the Underground Railroad here in Camden County so that teachers can include them in their history curriculum. Free downloads of the podcasts will be available on SJTC’s website. Click here:http://www.pathwaystofreedomtour.com/.
Or you can access them from a graphic link on Camden County’s website, www.camdencounty.com
“Within the shameful history of slavery, the Underground Railroad stands as a beacon of freedom and courage that helped enslaved African-Americans who escaped from the South to find freedom in the northern states,” said Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “Help was provided all along the way by a very human “railroad” that created an escape route. These podcasts celebrate five sites and institutions located throughout Camden County that were safe harbors for slaves seeking freedom, making them come to life through vivid portrayals of events.”
“We hope people from our area, throughout the state and throughout the Country will come visit these five sites and listen to the podcasts” said Jake Buganski, Executive Director for SJTC. “They are fascinating, historically important and reflect the diversity of people—from Quakers to members of the A. M.E Zion Church—who helped run the Underground Railroad. By downloading the free podcast, visitors can listen while they tour these sites.”
The podcasts provide listeners with both the history and present-day information about these five historic places. They include Macedonia A.M.E. Church in Camden, the Peter Mott House and Mount Peace Cemetery, both in Lawnside, Haddonfield’s Historic District and Croft Farm/Saddlertown.
Below are thumbnail descriptions of the sites featured on the podcasts and their historical significance:
Macedonia A.M.E. Church in Camden
This podcast takes visitors on a journey through the historic area of Camden called Fettersville and the history of the Macedonia A.M.E Church. From a profile of Fettersville’s founder, Richard Fetters, and the involvement of members of Macedonia A.M.E. church, who acted as conductors on the Underground Railroad.
Peter Mott House
This podcast takes visitors on a journey through one of Camden County’s “best kept secrets.”The Peter Mott House is the oldest known house in Lawnside. Built circa 1845, the house was residence to Peter Mott, an African-American preacher who was the first Sunday school superintendent at Mount Pisgah African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lawnside, and his wife, Eliza.
Mott was a free Black man and an agent of the Underground Railroad. The size of his house in what was then called Snow Hill or Free Haven and its method of construction — two stories — reflect Mott's status as a respected member of the community.
Listeners will hear the history of Mr. Mott and the role he and his house played in the Underground Railroad. It also highlights Lawnside’s relationship with the Quakers of Haddonfield. The narrative device used is a visit to the town by a child and an adult. The child asks questions, and those lead to a discussion of the history of the house and the town of Lawnside, which is the only African-American incorporated municipality in the state.
Mount Peace Cemetery in Lawnside
This podcast takes visitors through Mount Peace Cemetery, which was established by African-Americans in 1902 to provide a final resting place for their dead, when no other cemetery would take them. The narrative device used is a grandfather and grandson walking through the cemetery in search of a loved one. This becomes the frame for a discussion about the struggle and need to establish the cemetery, and the people who are buried there, including runaway slaves, Civil War veterans and members of the U.S. Navy. It also includes Congressional Medal of Honor winner, John Larson.
Haddonfield’s Historic District
This podcast take visitors on a tour through Haddonfield’s Historic District. It looks at the history of Haddonfield, founded by Quakers and frequented by such famous people as George Washington. But Haddonfield Quakers were also involved in the Underground Railroad, and the podcast explains Haddonfield’s historic connection to Lawnside and Peter Mott. The narrative device used in this podcast is conversations between Quakers and escaped African-American slaves.
Croft Farm/Saddlertown
This podcast takes visitors on a journey through Croft Farm and Saddlertown, explaining both places’ connections to the Underground Railroad, as well as the relationship between Haddonfield and Lawnside. It also provides information on the historic connection between Quaker Thomas Evans and Joshua Saddler. The narrative devices used inthis podcast are oral history accounts of the period and synopses of various historic events relating to Camden County’s involvement in the Underground Railroad. Croft Farm is located in Cherry Hill.
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