click on photos to enlarge
212 Court Street . Bedford . VA
Old AME Church . 1904
Back in November I was driving around Bedford and noticed this...so interesting and I am anxious to learn more about it!
Here's some of what I found from their press release:
BACKGROUND
The foundation’s investigation into slave-era Bedford County was triggered by the recent
discovery of a 19th –century gravesite on Rt. 460 in the Town of Bedford. The site contains the
remains of more than 20 individuals who were presumably enslaved on Lowry plantations.
Enslaved African-Americans (about 11,000) made up 44% percent of the Bedford County
population in the mid 1860’s. Genealogical and advanced DNA research has already been
initiated on dozens of families whose names are associated with slave records from 1850 -
1870 . The Foundation intends to document each identified family’s history in the county .
The Foundation will be housed at a former AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church that was
donated by the Lynchburg District United Methodist Church. The church, located next to the
County Court House at 212 Court St. Bedford VA. was founded around 1887. The current
structure was erected circa 1904. The structure will be renovated and will house a state-of-theart
computer system as well as , archival materials including family stories in high-definition
images, videos, family trees and related documents. Educational classes will be made available
to the County School system.
CLICK HERE for their website and HERE for their Facebook Page
Linking with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures
Old AME Church . 1904
Back in November I was driving around Bedford and noticed this...so interesting and I am anxious to learn more about it!
Here's some of what I found from their press release:
BACKGROUND
The foundation’s investigation into slave-era Bedford County was triggered by the recent
discovery of a 19th –century gravesite on Rt. 460 in the Town of Bedford. The site contains the
remains of more than 20 individuals who were presumably enslaved on Lowry plantations.
Enslaved African-Americans (about 11,000) made up 44% percent of the Bedford County
population in the mid 1860’s. Genealogical and advanced DNA research has already been
initiated on dozens of families whose names are associated with slave records from 1850 -
1870 . The Foundation intends to document each identified family’s history in the county .
The Foundation will be housed at a former AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church that was
donated by the Lynchburg District United Methodist Church. The church, located next to the
County Court House at 212 Court St. Bedford VA. was founded around 1887. The current
structure was erected circa 1904. The structure will be renovated and will house a state-of-theart
computer system as well as , archival materials including family stories in high-definition
images, videos, family trees and related documents. Educational classes will be made available
to the County School system.
CLICK HERE for their website and HERE for their Facebook Page
Linking with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures
Hello there, Tanya. Remember me? That's a interesting Post about the Slavery in Bedford. Didn't know that. I knew that Slavery existed in Virginia years ago, but didn't know how much & where.
ReplyDeleteHi Tanya, what a wonderful treasure Bedford County will have! It's hard to know where we are going if we don't know where we've been. I appreciate you sharing this bit of local history, I hope to see you again.
ReplyDeleteHow fine that this historic building is going to become the home of a slave museum. Like the light in your photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. From my experience, there's a lot of misinformation spread about slavery and places like this will help straighten the historical record. Love that old church which looks very well kept!
ReplyDeleteHow sad! I wonder what they will do with the graves? That is a LOT of slaves.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good use for the building.
ReplyDeleteA great use for this building.
ReplyDeleteLooks like it will be an interesting addition to the area. I love the building.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Pretty building.
ReplyDeleteDon't you love uncovering history like this. I love the simplicity of this building. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
What a wonderful project. It is so awesome that all the history and ancestry are being preserved and shared. blessings ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteit's such a historical place indeed..
ReplyDelete