The restoration of Trenton’s largest surviving African American cemetery, Locust Hill, continues on Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 9 a.m. to noon with the first “Spring Clean-Up” of the season, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Trenton. All are welcome to participate. The rain date for the project is Saturday, March 19, 2022.
Established in 1861, Locust Hill is Trenton’s largest existing African-American cemetery. It holds the remains of residents re-interred there from the East Hanover Street Burial Ground, dating back to 1779, as well as a number of Civil War veterans. After years of neglect, a group of interested Trentonians, known as The Locust Hill Project Development Team, led by Project Manager Algernon S. Ward Jr. and the 6th Regiment United States Colored Troops Re-enactors, are working with the City of Trenton to preserve the cemetery as a sacred space, highlight the lives of African Americans buried there and illustrate the history of racial injustice and progress in Trenton. The Kiwanis Club is honored to support this effort.
In addition to seasonal maintenance, volunteers are needed to clear areas believed to contain gravesites so that ground penetrating radar can be utilized. We will continue to transform the area into a greenway first designed for the City by the Olmstead firm in the early 1900’s, now to be implemented as part of the Locust Hill Cemetery revitalization. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. For more information, please call Mike McCormick at (609) 208-9991 or mccormicknj@aol.com.
