Author Sana Butler looks at Civil war veteran Samuel E. Bell's headstone

Westchester County is home to a significant historic and cultural site, the African Cemetery, a 1 acre parcel which was set aside in 1860 by a white antislavery couple as a resting place "for the colored inhabitants of the said Town of Rye and its vicinity" in New York.

Underhill and Elizabeth Halstead recognized that barriers of prejudice extended beyond life into death as many white cemeteries, specifically prohibited the burial of blacks on their properties. The Halsteads' gift of land, made just before the Civil War, created a special gathering place for area families to mourn, to remember and establish their own memorial traditions.

In recognition of the importance of this place of interment for free blacks, which includes resting places for at least 35 veterans of the Civil War through World War II, the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003; it was added to the African American Heritage Trail of Westchester County in 2004. The resting place of Samuel E. Bell who was with the Massachusetts 54th regiment is pictured here.

Recent collaborative efforts are expanding awareness and access to the site. Building Community Bridges, The African American Men of Westchester, The NAACP of Port Chester and the Jay Heritage Center are just some of the groups collaborating to preserve this cultural treasure and its history.

Jay Heritage Center
210 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
(914) 698-9275
Email: jayheritagecenter@gmail.com

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www.jaycenter.org

Taken in: United States / New York / Rye (show map)

Taken on: March 16, 2012

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Path Through History

Hudson River Valley « less

Sets appears in: • Harold Holzer Lecture October 2012 • African Cemetery, Rye

Groups appears in: • Black History • Across the African Diaspora

Camera: Canon PowerShot G12, f/4.0, 1/100 sec, 6.1mm, ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon PowerShot G12
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	6.1mm
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
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Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
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