To celebrate Black History Month, The Wallingford Public Library will be holding a program on Tuesday evening, February 6 at 7pm.

In 2020, Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust (WHPT) embarked on research into the Black enslaved population in Wallingford from 1790 to 1840. Trust President Jerry Farrell, Jr. and Trust VP Chris Menapace will give updates on the project, including a walking tour of eight Wallingford properties with ties to enslavement.

Bobbie Borne, a WHPT volunteer and former head of WPL’s Teen Services, will share her research on Jack John, who earned his freedom and became a landholder of 15 acres of farmland. Borne’s research led to the location of John’s gravesite at Center Street Cemetery where a marker is now placed.

Guest speaker John Mills, a Genealogist and President/ Founder of the Alex Breanne Corporation, will share his research into unknown stories of the enslaved, his work to inject their stories into the landscape of our communities, and his own family’s history in enslavement.

WHPT President Jerry Farrell, Jr. notes, "Black Americans have done much to lift up our country - all these contributions need to be celebrated and made visible during Black History Month." 

A registration link has not yet been established. We will share it here once it is available.

Hope to see you there!