Three Centuries of African- American History in Trenton: a Preliminary Inventory of Historic Sites
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Three Centuries of African- American History in Trenton: A Preliminary Inventory of Historic Sites Prepared by Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc. for the Trenton Historical Society Jennifer B. Leynes Three Centuries of African-American History in Trenton: A Preliminary Inventory of Historic Sites Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc., Cultural Resource Consultants 30 North Main Street, Cranbury, New Jersey 08512 September 2011 Credits and Acknowledgements: The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Wendy Nardi and Matt Metcalf of the Trentoniana Collection of the Trenton Public Library, both of whom provided research assistance during the course of the project. The efforts of Ms. Nardi, Sally Lane, and Elizabeth Yull, members of the Trenton Historical Society (THS) committee that interviewed members of the African-American community, was invaluable in soliciting input into the project and developing a list of sites for inclusion in the report. Gary Nigh’s assistance in making the online survey accessible through the THS website was of great value, as was his analysis of census data for Trenton’s Black population that informed the historic background for the study. Helen Shannon and numerous members of the THS Board of Trustees offered insights and provided contacts to individuals and organizations within the African-American community, without which this project would not have been possible. Special thanks goes out to the following community members who took part in interviews, responded to press announcements, and participated in the survey: Cullen Banks, Robin Johnson Beard, Marge Berkeyheiser, Gloria Bethea, Charlotte Burke, Betty Campbell, James Downing, Windom Green, Lorraine Hall, Nathanial Hampton, Dr. Leslie Hayling, Sr., Wayne Hedgepeth, Ethel Jones, Elizabeth Lacy, Barbara Lee, Alice R. Lyons, Ida B. Malloy, Judith Miller, Barbara Morris, Gary Nigh, Rose Richardson, Mary Sailor, Mae Saunders, Bea Scala-Fischler, Taiwanda Terry-Wilson, Patsy Warlock, Mary Elaine Washington, and Barry Wilcox. Illustrations: Illustrations used in this work come from a variety of sources, are furnished for scholarly purposes only, and are not to be reproduced without permission. Credits accompany each image. Cover: Spring Street, 2011 (Photo by author) Three Centuries of African-American History in Trenton: A Preliminary Inventory of Historic Sites presents the results of a survey of Black historic sites in the City of Trenton. The project was completed by the Trenton Historical Society with assistance from Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc. Funding was generously provided through a project grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State. The goal of the project was to identify sites with historical significance to Trenton’s African-American community through historical research and community input. The 34 sites identified herein represent a preliminary inventory of the city’s Black historic sites, and the results suggest areas for further research and documentation. The report serves as an important step toward identifying and recognizing the significance of the African-American community’s contributions to Trenton’s history and heritage. ©2011 Trenton Historical Society CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 RESEARCH DESIGN 5 SURVEY RESULTS 9 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 11 SOURCES 16 APPENDIX A: Statistical Analysis of Trenton’s African-American Population, 1790-1970 APPENDIX B: Interview Participants APPENDIX C: Public Outreach APPENDIX D: Electronic Survey of African-American Historic Sites in Trenton APPENDIX E: Inventory Forms INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of a survey of organizations, as well as additional churches of African-American historic sites in the City of all denominations, appeared during the late Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to serve survey was conducted by Richard Grubb & the small but thriving Black community. Associates (RGA) of Cranbury, New Jersey, for the Trenton Historical Society (THS). The The Great Migration of the post-World War I project was funded by a project grant from the period resulted in significant gains to the city’s New Jersey Historical Commission, a division African-American population: While Black of the Department of State. The purpose of the residents numbered only 2,500 in 1910, by 1920, project was to create a preliminary inventory of there were more than 4,000, and by 1930, more historic sites in Trenton of significance to the than 8,000. Although this population was African-American community. spread across the city, the section of Spring Street between Calhoun and Willow Streets Project Background emerged during the 1930s as a center for African-American businesses and the city’s African-Americans have been integral to Black middle class residents. Population growth Trenton’s history since the colonial period, throughout Trenton continued through the when William Trent, Mahlon Stacy, and other mid-twentieth century, with the Black early residents brought slaves to work their land population numbering nearly 14,500 in 1950 and serve in their homes (Trenton Historical and more than 25,500 in 1960 (Nigh 2011; see Society 1929). During the early nineteenth Appendix A). century, Black residents comprised as much as 15 percent of the local population (Trenton Despite this long history, acknowledgement of Historical Society 1929). Institutions such as the contributions of African-Americans has Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal been slow to occur, as most published histories (A.M.E.) Church were formed during this early of Trenton have ignored or underrepresented period by African-American residents to serve the roles of Black Trentonians in the city’s the religious and social needs of the community. history. Historian Jack Washington’s books, In As the century progressed, the city built schools Search of a Community’s Past: The Black Community for its African-American children, including two in Trenton, New Jersey, 1860-1900 (1990) and The buildings that survive on Bellevue Avenue: the Quest for Equality: Trenton’s Black Community, Higbee Street (John T. Nixon) School, built in 1890-1965 (1993), have addressed some of these 1857, and the Bellevue Avenue (Old Lincoln) omissions, providing needed historic context School, built in 1883. Social clubs and service 1 Figure 1. Cast of the Lincoln School's 1941 production of The Mikado (Courtesy of Trentoniana Collection, Trenton Public Library). 2 for understanding the city’s African-American develop a preliminary inventory of African- history. American historic sites in Trenton. The purpose of the preliminary inventory was to identify The recognition and preservation of historic buildings and other sites and resources sites of significance to the African-American historically and culturally important to the community has likewise proceeded slowly in African-American community through Trenton. The New Jersey Historical secondary source research and community Commission’s Black Historic Sites in New Jersey input. The inventory was intended to enhance (1984) identified a small number of sites in the THS’s awareness and understanding of Trenton, as did Dennis Bertland Associates’ significant Black historic sites, identify sites and historic sites survey of the North Ward (1981), themes for intensive research, and assist in where the city’s African-American population future planning for interpretive and heritage was historically concentrated. During the 1990s, tourism programming focused around the city’s two Black historic sites were listed on the African-American history. A secondary goal of National Register of Historic Places: the the project was to build bridges between the Bellevue Avenue Colored School (81 Bellevue THS and the African-American community in Avenue) and the Higbee Street School (20 Trenton, which is underrepresented in the Bellevue Avenue). The Trenton Landmarks THS’s membership. Commission has also acknowledged the significance of the Higbee School (also known Scope of Work as John T. Nixon School) with a designation as a Trenton Historic Landmark; other Trenton The scope of work for the inventory of Black Historic Landmarks primarily associated with historic sites included background research and the city’s Black history include Mount Zion community outreach to solicit input into the A.M.E. Church (135-137 Perry Street) and the identification of sites. The latter task included Carver Center (40 Fowler Street). Although the development of a publicity plan and online National Register and Trenton Landmark survey, as well as coordination with THS designations suggest progress in the volunteers conducting interviews with members acknowledgement of Black historic sites, they of the Black community. The scope additionally nevertheless represent only a small proportion included the development of inventory forms to of identified historic sites in the City of document each site, and site visits to document Trenton. They also fail to reflect many aspects current conditions. Due to budgetary of the African-American experience in Trenton constraints, the scope of work did not include from the colonial period to the present. development of a historic context for the In an effort to address these deficiencies, the African-American experience in Trenton. THS applied for and received a project grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission to 3 Figure 2. Civil rights workers leaving the Carver Center (Courtesy of Trentoniana Collection,