African-American Cemetery (Montgomery, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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African-American Cemetery
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Pipes indicate the gravesites in the cemetery
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| Location | NY 416, Town of Montgomery, NY |
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| Nearest city | Middletown |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1750 |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000862 |
| Added to NRHP | August 16, 1996 |
The African-American Cemetery, also known as the Colored Cemetery, is a special historical site in the Town of Montgomery, New York. It is a burial ground for about 100 people. Most of them are believed to have been African people who were brought to America as slaves. They arrived with the first settlers in this area around the mid-1700s.
This cemetery is located on NY 416. It's about 0.1 mile (160 meters) north of where Interstate 84 crosses, close to the Wallkill River.
The African-American Cemetery: A Special Place
This cemetery is a very important place. It helps us remember the lives of people who lived long ago. Many of these individuals were enslaved. They were brought to this region from a place in Europe called the Rhenish Palatinate. This happened in the middle of the 18th century.
Who is Buried Here?
Around 100 people are buried at the African-American Cemetery. Most of them were African slaves. They worked for the early settlers of the Montgomery area. Their lives were often very difficult. This cemetery is one of the few places that remembers them.
Many of the original grave markers were simple stones. Today, small pipes have been added to show where these graves are. Only two graves have clear writing on them. One of these inscriptions shows that a person passed away in 1756.
A Forgotten History, Then Remembered
For many years, the cemetery was not well cared for. It became overgrown and forgotten. But in the early 1990s, people decided to help. The town of Montgomery and some private donors worked together. They wanted to fix up the cemetery.
The site was fully restored and looked new again. In 1995, it was rededicated with a special ceremony. A new wooden fence was put up. There was also a new plaque that explained the cemetery's history. After all this work, the cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
