Exciting News! SOAL Wins PA Preservation Grant for Harrisburg’s Lincoln Cemetery
🎉 Exciting News! SOAL Wins PA Preservation Grant for Harrisburg’s Lincoln Cemetery 🌳🏛️
I am thrilled to announce that SOAL: SavingOurAncestorsLegacy has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Pennsylvania African American Cemetery Project, generously funded by the African American Cultural Heritage Action fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and The 1772 Foundation to support our work in preserving south central PA Black History, through the preservation of Harrisburg’s Lincoln Cemetery. This remarkable achievement is a testament to our commitment to preserving and honoring the rich African American heritage within our community.
As part of this grant, we are pleased to inform you that SOAL will be receiving the services of Richard Grubb & Associates, a consultant specializing in conservation and preservation. Their goal is to assist us in developing a comprehensive plan to ensure the long-term preservation and maintenance of Harrisburg’s Lincoln Cemetery.
PA African American Cemetery Stewardship Program Grantees
Through the collaboration with Preservation Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds, this initiative will provide direct assistance to following 13 historic African American cemeteries throughout Pennsylvania, fostering continued preservation and conservation efforts for these significant sites.
- African Union Church of South Coventry (Chester County)
- Byberry Township African American Burial Ground (Philadelphia County)
- Eastern Light Cemetery (Blair County)
- Green Lawn Cemetery (Delaware County)
- Lincoln Cemetery (Adams County)
- Lincoln Cemetery (Dauphin County)
- Lindley Hill Cemetery (Chester County)
- Mount Vernon Cemetery (Franklin County)
- Payne Chapel AME Church Cemetery (Washington County)
- Thornbury AME Cemetery (Delaware County Black Cemeteries)
- Union Cemetery (Centre County)
- Zion Hill Cemetery (Lancaster County)
- Zion Union Cemetery (Franklin County)
We are honored to have been selected as one of the recipients of the Pennsylvania African American Cemetery Project grants, and we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead!
Preservation Plan for Lincoln Cemetery–Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County
Under the guidance of our dedicated consultant, we will work together to identify and evaluate the specific preservation needs of our cemetery. Our shared goal is to develop a comprehensive maintenance, interpretation, and preservation plan that addresses crucial aspects such as property control, access, maintenance requirements, and volunteer capacity. This plan will serve as a roadmap for our ongoing stewardship of Lincoln Cemetery, ensuring its long-lasting vitality.
Furthermore, this grant offers direct assistance for one plan-identified project with costs ranging from $3,000 to $7,000. These funds can be utilized for various purposes, including monument conservation, landscaping plans, tree assessment by an arborist, resolution of ownership issues with the help of title companies, boundary clarification with surveyors, legal advice, or other pressing needs. This project presents a unique opportunity for us to tackle key challenges and make tangible improvements to Lincoln Cemetery that will extend far into the future.
Contributing Our Radical History Reclamation Style to the Preservation Body-of-Knowledge
By participating in this project, we become [Legit/On The Books] radical history reclamation role models for future preservation endeavors across the country. Together, we have the power to inspire and create a lasting impact on the preservation of our cultural heritage.
However, it is clear that the scale of the grant is insufficient to tackle the extensive challenges we face. The limited funds provided cannot fully address the pressing maintenance, interpretation, and preservation requirements of our sacred burial ground.
It is essential that we not stop history here…
Black cemeteries in Pennsylvania, and African American burial grounds across the nation require urgent intervention to ensure their long-term survival. We must engage in a collective effort to get this done.
We need you!
Get started now!
To accomplish this, we need your help.
- Share the news about the challenges we face
- Engage in conversations with your local representatives and policymakers.
- Advocate for increased support and funding for cemetery preservation efforts.
- Volunteer your time to an event.
Pull Your Family Together
We need to raise awareness about the ongoing need for community support, build our volunteer community and demand a more substantial commitment from the US government. Our heritage deserves greater attention, resources, and sustainable solutions.
Together, we can make a significant impact and ensure that our cultural heritage is protected for generations to come.
In PA you can find more information about African American cemeteries near you at PA Hallowed Grounds. Nationwide there is a growing list at The Black Cemetery Network. (if you’re aware of a cemetery that’s not on this list of 107 cemeteries–add the cemetery that you know of! Please feel free to contact me about working with SavingOurAncestorsLegacy
Please make an ongoing financial commitment to sustain the reclamation of our cultural heritage
And Join Us Onsite at Lincoln Cemetery for a Restoration Event
