Hebron Celebrates Juneteenth with Day of Events at Burnt Hill Park, Hebron

St. Peter’s Joins Juneteenth Celebration: Saturday, June 18 11-2pm

Peters House/Burnt Hill Park, 140 East Street, Hebron, CT

Join the Hebron Coalition on Diversity and Equity (CoDE) to commemorate this national holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, that ended June 19, 1865.

Learn about Hebron’s proud story of helping to free an enslaved couple (Cesar and Lowis Peters), about the path to freedom for all African Americans, and the ongoing work necessary to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the benefits of living and working in equitable, vibrant and diverse communities.

Cesar and Lowis Peters were enslaved by the Reverend Samuel Peters, the first Rector of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Hebron. Following their rescue they were fully integrated into the community and ushered in an era in which Hebron had the largest formerly enslaved African American community in Tolland county. The Peters were so successful that they purchased the home of the man who sought to sell them to a slave owner in South Carolina. That homestead is an archeological site and the future location of a witness stone in Hebron.
Some 50 descendants of Ceasar and Lowis Peter’s are expected to attend the Juneteenth event in Hebron, the re-dedication of the African American Cemetery in Hebron and a visit to the original site of the Peters home that is now an archeological site being explored by the CT state archeologist.

A variety of educational, interactive and fun activities will be offered for children, youth and adults, to be held in and around the historic Peters House in Hebron. These include:

EvaE Peart and Nia Arts – drumming and dancing (audience invited to participate!)

Nekita Waller – singer, songwriter, CT State Troubadour

Story Walk – Juneteenth for Mazie, written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Tours of the Peters House

St. Peter’s Confirmation Class hosting a table with Jewelry and cake pops that will benefit Camp Hi-Hoti in Hebron. The camp hosts inner city Hartford youth for a summer camping experience. Supporters of the CoDE booth or teen’s booth will get a discount for food at the St. Peter’s booth as part of Hebron Day also being held in the park.

Kids’ activities – quilt square making, scavenger hunt, and much more

Additional activities:

· 9:30 am – Dedication of African American section of Wall Street Cemetery, with descendants of Cesar Peters and town officials

· 3:00 pm – Archeological dig activity hosted by Sarah Sportman, State Archeologist, at Witness Stones Project site, Wall Street

This event is made possible through generous funding from the CT Humanities Council, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Berkshire Bank and the NE Family Credit Union.