Mitchelville: A fight to preserve ‘da spirit of freedom’
A forgotten history is emerging from the shade of oak trees on a sleepy corner of Hilton Head Island
VIDEO: Preserving Mitchelville | islandpacket.comVIDEO: Preserving Mitchelville Published Sunday, May 13, 2012
Mitchelville supporters fight to preserve 'an American story' | islandpacket.comIn grade school we're taught that Lincoln freed the slaves. What the textbooks don't say is that on Hilton Head Island, many slaves freed...- Local scholars, historians and native islanders have banded together to preserve a little-known site where thousands of slaves witnessed the “dawn of freedom.”Risking their lives in fleeing to Hilton Head, thousands led an experiment in self-governance that would usher new rights for the formerly enslaved and forever change the fabric of American society.Liberated from bondage by federal troops, “contraband” slaves left behind Union lines were allowed to govern and educate themselves before being granted citizenship. Founded in 1862, before the Emancipation Proclamation, a village sprung off present day Beach City Road, where the contraband elected their own officials, passed their own laws — including the first compulsory education law in the state — farmed for wages and bought land.
- HOW THE PROJECT DEVELOPED
The Town of Hilton Head Island agreed in fall 2010 to lease 15 acres at Fish Haul Creek Park to develop the Mitchelville Preservation Project, contingent on a plan showing the preservation group's financial ability to build and maintain it.
- Mitchelville group asks Hilton Head for 15 acres to mark freedmen's village | Story Archive | islandpacket.com | beaufortgazette.comThe leading source of news, information and advertising for Beaufort, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina.
historical travel destinations, Mitchelville Preservation Project Park ...The Mitchelville Preservation Project encompasses preserving the historic site, interpreting and exhibiting the rich history and promoti...- Mitchelville Preservation Project | FacebookMitchelville Preservation Project is on Facebook. To connect with Mitchelville Preservation Project, sign up for Facebook today. Sign U...
- The town and Beaufort County would later jointly purchase additional land surrounding the site for the same purpose. Both also awarded the preservation thousands in accommodations-tax money to help defray startup costs. Though, there was a hiccup with Hilton Head Town Council this year.
- Town, county to buy more land for Mitchelville | Story Archive | islandpacket.com | beaufortgazette.comThe leading source of news, information and advertising for Beaufort, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina.
- Hilton Head council awards bed-tax grants; none for airport or Mitchelville | Story Archive | islandpacket.com | beaufortgazette.comThe leading source of news, information and advertising for Beaufort, Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, South Carolina.
- The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry jumped on board as well to help the preservation group facilitate fundraising needed to move ahead with a rough, multi-million dollar outline for developing the park. Word of the group's efforts eventually spread to the 2012 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership program, who chose to develop informational kiosks at the site as its class project.
Leadership class hopes to preserve Mitchelville legacy | islandpacket.comThe Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Leadership Class of 2012 hopes to make the story of Mitchelville a lifelong legacy on Hilton Head. The le...
PHOTO: Mitchelville Preservation Project kicks off on Hilton Head | islandpacket.comDebbi Thompson of WSAV talks with Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership program participant Robin Chamberlain while ...- yfrog.com/kiasnphgj @Mitchelville survived past Civil War. In 1865 Congress established Freedmen's Bureau. #HHI
- yfrog.com/eshwnqej @Mitchelville Freedom Park kiosk unveiling commemorating "dawn of freedom" for former African slaves.
HHI unveils new Mitchelville displaysMitchellville opens displays on site of first, self-governed Freedman's Society on Hilton Head Island
