Camp William Penn Museum Featured on CBS3

Announcements

Pennsylvania museum ensuring thousands of Black Civil War soldiers’ legacies not forgotten

As the nation prepares to celebrate Juneteenth, the legacy of thousands of Black Civil War soldiers who once trained in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, will never be forgotten, thanks to the Camp William Penn Museum.

Nestled away inside a small, unassuming garage in Cheltenham are powerful mementos and artifacts from a little-known piece of history from the Civil War. 

“Eight feet tall, this is an original recruiting broadside asking for Black people to come forward,” Jim Paradis, a board member at the Camp William Penn Museum, said. “We’re just a block away from the site of Camp William Penn, which was the first and largest federal training camp for Black soldiers in the Civil War.”

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CBS News Philadelphia

Referred to as the U.S. Colored Troops, as many as 200,000 were sent to fight in the Civil War. After the Emancipation Proclamation, 10,000 soldiers trained a stone’s throw away from the museum that honors their legacy.

“The number of Black soldiers who fought for the Union Army. They turned the tide of the war,” Paradis said. “So, would that have an impact on the outcome of the war? Yeah. Why that’s not a central point for what turned the tide of the war, I don’t understand how that gets missed.”

Corporal Robert Fuller Houston is one of a dozen Black reenactors who have been shedding light on the story of Camp William Penn and the history of Black soldiers in the Civil War for 35 years. For him, it’s personal.

“I’m the first cousin, three generations removed to William Carney,” Houston said. “He was the first Black Medal of Honor winner.”

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CBS News Philadelphia

One thousand Black Civil War soldiers are laid to rest at the Philadelphia National Cemetery in Elkins Park, just a few miles from Camp William Penn.

Edward McLaughlin is an author who has been chronicling their stories for years.

“This is a memorial that had to be,” McLaughlin said. “No one recognizes this, no one brought this. I had to bring this to public awareness. It was this and another piece of history that several hundred soldiers died in that camp. Unrealized history. No monument, no Memorial Day services.”

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CBS News Philadelphia

This Juneteenth, the little-known history of Camp William Penn looms large. The legacy of Black Civil War soldiers should never be forgotten.

“Four regiments that were trained here at Camp William Penn were sent to Texas when the war came to an end,” Paradis said. “So, they were actually there at the time General Granger read the famous proclamation.”

“People should remember in terms of Juneteenth, it is an African American holiday, not an African holiday, but an African American holiday,” Houston said. “It has to do with what people of African descent have done in this country, the accomplishments they’ve achieved since emancipation.”

Natasha Brown

Natasha Brown is the co-anchor of CBS News Philadelphia at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Prior to August 2018, the Emmy-Award winner was the weekend evening anchor of CBS News Philadelphia on CBS and Philly57.

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Camp William Penn Museum 2025 Schedule

Announcements, Events

Where: Camp William Penn Museum, 1618 Willow Avenue, La Mott, PA. 19027
Who: You and History
Website: https://www.usct.org/

The CWP Museum will be available to visitors from June through October by reservation and as per schedule below.

June 21, 12 – 4 pm

Artifacts that have been recently restored or had conservation work will be highlighted.

July 19, 12 – 4 pm

Learn about Camp William Penn and our community, Historic La Mott

August 16, 1 – 4 pm

Be sure to visit in conjunction with the La Mott Citizens United Back to School event on the grounds of the La Mott Community Ctr.

September 20, 10 – 3 pm

Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day This event honors the soldiers who trained at CWP as well as the founding fathers of this Historic Community.  Visit USCT encampment, medical show and tell, ammunition making demo, CWP Museum, visit displays by local history preserving organizations and more.

Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott and Camp William Penn Museum announce schedule for summer 2025. (Camp William Penn was the first and largest federal training camp for colored soldiers in the Civil War.)

Special Concert using the Words of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Octavius Catto

Announcements
  • When: March 1, 2025 3:00pm
  • Where: Calvary Church, 7910 Washington Lane, Wyncote, PA 19095

You are invited to a special concert by Ruth Naomi Floyd, mezzo-soprano, and the Frederick Douglass Jazz Works ensemble performing music using the words of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Octavius Catto.

The Frederick Douglass Jazz Works is a groundbreaking body of music that honors the legacy of Frederick Douglass, an enslaved African in America who escaped to freedom and became an abolitionist, leading orator, statesman, political activist, writer, banker, ambassador, theologian, and statesman. Led by acclaimed composer, vocalist, and jazz artist Ruth Naomi Floyd, this body of work is comprised of her original compositions paired with Douglass’ words from the speeches and writings illustrated with the rich, powerful, and vibrant sounds of jazz music.

This Church is located on Washington Lane across from the first site of Camp William Penn.

(CWP first and largest federal training camp for black soldiers in the Civil War. It was later relocated to Sycamore Ave in La Mott.)

This is a free concert presented by: Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott
Donations may be made at the door. Registration is required. Send name to: werkmanj@verizon.net
Depending on need, transportation from La Mott Community Center may be available.
Register by Feb 25 @ werkmanj@verizon.net You will be advised.

February 2025 Black History Lecture

1 CommentAnnouncements, Events

James Paradis teaches at Arcadia University and recently retired from Doane Academy where he served as Dean of the Upper School and taught for 35 years.  He has authored two books, and contributed to another. He was historical consultant and narrator for documentary film, Black Soldiers in Blue: The Story of Camp William Penn. This lecture is based on a book in progress with the working title, Jeremiah Asher’s War of Rebellion.

Speaking about the remarkable life of “Jeremiah Asher: Preacher and Warrior”

Jeremiah Asher’s grandfather, Gad, taken into slavery as a young child, seized his freedom by fighting in the American Revolution.  A child of a free Black father and a Native American mother, Jeremiah led a group of Black congregants in breaking away from their segregated Hartford church, and founding a new congregation.  In his lifetime he would take a hand in founding four new churches and saving one other.  Coming to Philadelphia as Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, he took an active part in the movement to abolish slavery.  When the Civil War came, he actively recruited Black volunteers for the Union Army.  Asher, himself, enlisted as a chaplain, traveling through campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina with the 6th Regiments of United States Infantry.

Also speaking:

James G. Mundy, historian emeritus, Union League Philadelphia and CROHL Board member, will highlight an artifact from the Camp William Penn Museum.

This is a free Zoom event. Click here at 3:00 to join:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82185499138?pwd=6oxoTgwK2qiR1sIYSMhebmXZ4lSmuO.1

  • Meeting ID: 821 8549 9138
  • Passcode: 421079

This program is presented by CROHL and funded in part by the JenkinsTown Lyceum.

Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day 2024

Announcements, Events

Opening Ceremony: 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 21, 2024
Michael Coard, attorney, radio host, activist will be speaker

Where: La Mott Community Center, 7420 Sycamore Ave., La Mott, 19027

Event will acknowledge the 161st anniversary of establishment of the United States Colored Troops and Camp William Penn.

  • Visit USCT encampments: 3rd and 6th USCT and PA. 53rd Infantry Re-enactors
  • Visit Camp William Penn Museum.
  • Living History demonstrations including ammunition making.
  • Hear archivist talk and demonstrate paper and book conservation.
  • See demonstrations of mid 1800’s building and carpentry techniques.
  • Civil War Medical and Surgical instrument ‘show and tell’.
  • Book signings, Lectures, Period Music, Films.
  • La Mott History display.
  • Civil War games and activities.
  • Visit graves of CWP soldiers at Philadelphia National Cemetery.
  • Local history organizations with tabletop displays and information.

Closing ceremony: 3:45 at Flagpole (corner Sycamore and Willow)

Camp William Penn, located in what is now modern day La Mott, was the first and largest Federal training site for colored soldiers during the Civil War.

Note: Volunteers needed for help in all aspects of this event; some starting now and some the day of the event. Ideas and suggestions are also welcome. If you are able to help or participate, please use contact information below.

Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott
1618 Willow Avenue, La Mott, PA 19027
Email: pt@usct.org
Phone: (215) 885-2258