Nina Postupack, Ulster County Clerk Welcomes Harambee to the Matthewis Persen House Museum
Kingston, NY - Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack is pleased to announce that on Saturday, September 30, 2023, Harambee will host the Matthewis Persen House located at 74 John Street in uptown Kingston, at the corner of John and Crown Streets.
From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 30, Harambee showcase some of the archaeological findings from the Pine Street African Burial Ground. This burial ground, which had been lost to history after its discovery in Kingston, NY, back in 1888, was later rediscovered during a basement repair project by the property's owner. In 2021, the deed was transferred to the ownership of Harambee, Inc. after years of fundraising and building community support and partnerships with Kingston Land Trust and Scenic Hudson. Since then, the land has been surveyed and archived by Professor Joe Diamond and students of the department of Archaeology at SUNY New Paltz, NY. The findings have substantiated the presence of human remains, revealing clusters of enslaved Africans interred in the burial ground.
Admission to this event is entirely free, and everyone is encouraged to attend. County Clerk Nina Postupack expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “We are proud to support Harambee's dedication to preserving and sharing this vital piece of our history. The Matthewis Persen House event offers a unique opportunity for our community to learn about the lives and experiences of enslaved Africans in our region, honoring their legacy and contributing to a more inclusive understanding of our past.”
To learn more about Harambee and the Pine Street African Burial Ground, please visit their website at www.harambeekingstonny.org. For further information about the Matthewis Persen House Museum and other outreach programs of the Ulster County Clerk’s Office, please contact County Clerk Nina Postupack at (845) 340-3040 or countyclerk[at]co.ulster.ny[dot]us. You can also visit us on Facebook for updates and details about upcoming events.
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