by Emmanuel Young
South Jersey Information Equity Project
Historical Educational Lodge-Hall Preservatory (H.E.L.P) held its annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 8, 2024, to commemorate the history of the black community since its emancipation in 1865.
H.E.L.P. INC is a non-profit organization that works to preserve black landmarks in the Swedesboro-Woolwich community. There are two: the Richard Avenue School and the Mount A.M.E Zion Church. They also work to educate people on the history and significance of the landmarks and their importance to the African American Community and History.
“It is important that the continued success and efforts of the African-American community of Swedesboro be preserved for review of the past, present, and future contributions. It is noteworthy to remember that the era (in which they made an influence) was dangerous and difficult for the African-American community of Swedesboro,” from the H.E.L.P. overview.
The Richard Avenue School was the last separate but equal school in New Jersey before it was closed and interracial schooling passed. The school was closed in 1942 and declared a historical site in 1998.
Mount A.M.E. Zion Church was a sanctuary for escaped enslaved people from the South who fled to the North. Using a trap door that led to the basement, members of the Church hid them from those who hunted them.
The Church was part of a system that was a stop on the railroad that moved from Swedesboro to neighboring towns and counties, leading to New York and later Canada. Harriet Tubman ran this system for ten years and led many people through it, with two families still living there.
It also has a cemetery in the fields where 13 black Civil War soldiers are laid to rest among the 200 unmarked graves located on the ground.
The event occurred in Lot F of Kingsway Regional High School across from the Church. It provided food, informational stands about the site’s history, and a black-owned business where visitors could buy clothing, jewelry, and books made by African American authors.
Despite the warm weather, people enjoyed the festivities with their families while learning about the community’s history. It featured the Camden Sophisticated dancers and drill teams, puppet shows from the Ebony Sunshine Puppets, and actors portraying Black Civil War soldiers buried in the Church’s cemetery.
One prominent part of the event was a church tour by a family descendant who used the railroad to escape the South and flee to the North. He has worked with the group for years, giving tours to local students, visitors, and people interested in his story.
Willam Corsey III’s ancestors used the railroad to flee from Maryland to Southern New Jersey, where they settled. He is an avid member of the organization who works to teach the history of the sites and how his family is connected to them.
“He’s been a valuable asset towards H.E.L.P.” Sherry Hall, Director of Community Programs, said about William. “It’s one thing to listen to someone talk about history, but it’s another to have a descendant of someone talk about their family’s connection to the site.”
As June continues, more Juneteenth celebrations will continue in the Gloucester and Camden Counties to celebrate the history of African American culture and the celebration of emancipation.
This story was produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University’s South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation.
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