A year ago, we published a Preservation Partner Spotlight about the Poquessing Trail of History project, a neighborhood public history initiative sponsored by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. You can read that post here. A few weeks ago, we reached out to check on how their project is going now.
What was the biggest success for the project over the last year?
We managed to put on an ambitious schedule of ten public programs, with our small but mighty part-time staff and a lot of volunteer help. We hosted everything from lectures and walking tours to art workshops, a lantern parade, and a dramatic historical reenactment. We put a lot of resources into communications, and promoted the events on social media, with print materials, and in the neighborhood newspaper. It paid off: almost all our programs were well-attended, and neighbors now have more awareness of all the history at their doorsteps.
We also got to celebrate that one of our trail’s historic sites, the Byberry African American Burial Ground, was transferred to the state of PA and is now permanently protected as part of Benjamin Rush State Park, under management of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). That was a huge win – something our sponsor the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and one of our stakeholders, the Society to Preserve Philadelphia African American Assets, have been working on for years. We celebrated with a concert and dedication ceremony in the park.
The Brent White Ensemble plays at the celebration for the newly protected Byberry Township African American Burial Ground. Photo by Jaime Alvarez.
What was the biggest challenge for the project since our last blog post?
We were planning to break ground on a restoration of the Burial Ground this year, and that has not happened for a multitude of reasons, mostly beyond our control. There was staff turnover at the state park that caused delays, and then it became clear that any changes to the Burial Ground should be planned after conducting a full archaeological survey. We’re currently working to pivot our efforts into having archeological studies done and creating an interpretive plan for the entrance and path to the Burial Ground. It has been a good reminder that preservation projects often have many twists and turns, and great projects can be years in the making.
Another disappointment was that we did not receive approval of our proposal to build a representation of the original birthplace house of the great founding father and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush, using stones from the house that were salvaged when it demolished in 1969. The house was built nearby circa 1690 and Rush was born there in 1745. We had hoped to build a structural representation of it in the park that is named for Rush, but DCNR believes that people will think the house was originally located in the park, and not understand that it originally stood elsewhere. We’re now exploring options for building the representation somewhere else.
What role has partnership played in the project?
Partners have been key in so many ways – the Poquessing Trail of History would not exist without our active and engaged stakeholders. They have arranged some of our most exciting programs, including a storytelling event with a cultural educator from the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and an original play based on an event that occurred in one of our trail sites that was written by a local production company.
Our stakeholders have also been the biggest tool in our communications toolbox. After we create flyers and invitations, they do the heavy lifting to get the word out. They represent many different demographics and interest groups in the city, so through them we’ve been able to reach diverse audiences that are interested in our project for a range of reasons.
Audience members at a Poquessing Trail of History event. Photo by Aislinn Pentecost-Farren.
What advice would you give our readers about preservation?
Progress doesn’t happen overnight, but if you stick with it, it can pay off. It helps to strike a balance between pushing for what you want and knowing when to be flexible and change direction to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you. And there is power in numbers. It is helpful to create a project that many people can see themselves in and find a reason to support.
What’s next for the Poquessing Trail of History?
We are wrapping up two grants later this year, that have sustained our programs and preservation planning since 2024. Next, we hope to work with DCNR to design and install permanent interpretive signage in Benjamin Rush State Park about the Byberry African American Burial Ground and the original inhabitants of the park land, the Lenape. DCNR has an internal process for designing interpretive signage. We want to help the contemporary communities who represent these historic sites – the Society to Preserve Philadelphia African American Assets and the Delaware Tribe of Indians – connect to that internal process so their voices and perspectives on their history will be represented in the signs. We’ve had some great conversations with DCNR about this, and it’s going to be exciting to see new history represented in the park on a permanent basis.
Cultural educators from the Delaware Tribe of Indians pose with Poquessing Trail of History staff and stakeholders. Photo by Natasha Cohen-Carroll.
Featured Image Caption: After a lantern parade and workshop led by walking artist Ken Johnston honoring Byberry’s underground railroad history, attendees gather for cider and doughnuts. Photo by Jaime Alvarez.
Guest Authors:
Poquessing Trail of History Project Director Jack McCarthy is a longtime Philadelphia historian and archivist who has held leadership positions at several area historical organizations and directed a number of major archives and public history projects.
Poquessing Trail of History Programs and Communications Manager Aislinn Pentecost-Farren is a public historian and artist. She conducts research, writes for public and academic audiences, and leads interdisciplinary projects for museums, parks, and heritage groups.
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