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

Announcements, Events

Opening Ceremony: 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 23, 2023
Michael Coard, attorney, radio host, activist will be speaker

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

Event will acknowledge the 160th anniversary of establishment of the United States Colored Troops and Camp William Penn

  • Visit USCT encampment.
  • Listen to the USS Lehigh CW Navy Living History Crew.
  • 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

Postponed: Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day

Announcements

This week the CROHL Board and the Committee for the Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day held a meeting specifically to decide whether or not to go ahead with our plans for Sept 18.

It was an unanimous decision to reluctantly reschedule for 2022 in light of some of the experiences participants have had relative to the COVID virus in the last week.

February Event, 2021

Announcements

We Fight for Our Rights, Liberty, Justice and Union: The Battle of New Market Heights

On September 29, 1864, the soldiers of United States Colored Troops 3rd Division, XVIII Corps, Army of the James, stepped off to do battle and stepped into history. During this engagement 14 African American soldiers and two white officers performed heroic acts that earned the Medal of Honor. This presentation will provide both an overview of the battle and share stories of some of the soldiers who fought there.

Presented by Tim Talbott. Tim is the Director of Education, Interpretation, Visitor Services and Collections at Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier in Petersburg, Virginia. He is President of the Battle of New Market Heights Memorial and Education Association. He maintains the Random Thoughts on History blog and has published articles in both book and scholarly journal formats.

Dr. James Paradis will discuss a recent memorial gift given to the Camp William Penn Museum which relates to one of the 6th regiment USCT soldiers.

  • When: Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 3:00 PM

This is a free Zoom event.

To reserve a virtual seat for this event, send an email to pt@usct.org and you will be sent a link with a password within 24 hours of the presentation, giving you access. We look forward to having you join us. For information call 215-885-2258.

This program is funded in part by the Jenkinstown Lyceum.