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In the ongoing debate that has unfolded after the discovery of the Mother Bethel Burial Ground underneath the Weccacoe Playground between Catharine and Queen streets and Lawrence and Leithgow streets, a full meeting room at the African American Museum saw residents, advocates and City officials engaging in the fate of the site Monday night. Spirited debate occurred as public dialogue was opened to the audience after a brief presentation with remarks from Everett Gillison, the Office of the Mayor’s Chief of Staff.
In April of 1810, Reverend Richard Allen and the Trustees of Mother Bethel purchased land for use as a burial ground in what was land outside of City limits because African Americans were not lawfully allowed to bury ancestors within the city. Approximately 80 years later, the Trustees sold the land to the City of Philadelphia for $10,000 with the purposes of the disrepaired and long-unused burial ground being turned into a park. In 2008, historian Terry Buckalew conducted an informal research study that rediscovered the burial ground. Last July, a formal archaeological dig confirmed the space’s configuration, and plans for renovating and improving the playground were put indefinitely on hold.
The archaeological dig yielded design changes to the plans that Parks & Recreation had drawn up for updating the site. No human remains were found, but recommendations report that excavations go no deeper than one foot below the surface, which will mean: no light fixtures, no shrubbery or garden and no gazebo or columns.
Some community members believe the site should be treated as a historically and spiritually significant space and that children playing above the dead is disrespectful, and others believe removing valuable play space for children is a detriment to the community as a whole. The night’s theme became the nature of the compromises that will be necessary as future discussions proceed.
“I just wanted to say briefly that I think there’s a lot less controversy than has been reported in the media,” Jeff Hornstein, the president of the Queen Village Neighbors Association, said. “We all want to protect this site, I think we all agree on that point.”
A member of the Christ Church in Old City suggested an analogous notion of the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin at Fifth and Arch streets.
“Would we put a rec center around or over Ben Franklin’s burial place?” he asked.
Similarly, a Native American in the audience replied “My people have been buried all over this country for tens of thousands of years, and don’t take it out on these kids.”
Andrew Michaels, a longtime Queen Village resident and frequent Weccacoe visitor with a second grade child at William Meredith School, 725 S. Fifth St., believes there’s a healthy debate happening over the respectful use of the space.
“I wanted to agree with you that it is the intention of every person that I’ve spoken to and it’s a daily conversation at 3:10 in the afternoon about how we can have a vibrant park and an appropriate memorial or historical lesson about what America is now and what it was.”
One attendee concerned with the due respect the deceased deserve, commented that “it seems to me that it’s rather bizarre that the rec center seems to be the focus of this set of differences. People flushing toilets above human remains is absolutely inappropriate, and I would like the City to think about what other options exist.”
Of course, this is not the only example of a burial ground being discovered in a dense and developed city and Buckalew, in attendance, pointed to similar situations in Germantown but also in Boston and Falls Church, Va.
Dr. Christopher Barton, a Temple archaeology alum, offered some additional concerns.
“What I would say is that this is a site of national significance, and I don’t think that this is being heavily emphasized here and I think it should be,” he said. “When we have the opportunity to correct wrong, that’s when you need to take that step forward and you need to progress.”
Many more meetings based on available spaces will occur, and Gillison wanted to make sure that attendees knew their voices were being heard.
“You have to feel that not only did I hear you but I hear the fear in your voice and I don’t want you to walk away feeling that you haven’t been heard,” he said.
Staff Writer Bill Chenevert at bchenevert@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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