A group of residents who want to establish Allentown’s historic sense of place is in the midst of a restoration effort at a local cemetery that predates the Revolutionary War.
Members of the Allentown Village Initiative (AVI) have spent every Saturday for the past month working on the Colonial cemetery project, which aims to rejuvenate a cemetery that is behind Main Street at the entrance to Lakeview Drive.
According to the group, the cemetery dates back to 1734.
“Part of what the AVI is about is showcasing how pivotal the town was in the history of the country,” project leader Karen Dahms said.
Although the project focuses mostly on the cemetery, the location has a more significant historical value.
During the Revolutionary War, a church used for Episcopalian and Presbyterian services that at one time was next to the cemetery was used by British Gen. Sir Henry Clinton as a horse stable following his defeat at Philadelphia.
According to the group, British forces seized the church because Episcopalian Christianity was not recognized as a religion by the crown. At the time, thousands of British troops were stationed in and around Allentown.
As a result of Clinton and his men’s misuse of the church, the structure had to be demolished. The cemetery was also never used again.
When Clinton and his men left Allentown, they marched east and eventually engaged Gen. George Washington and American forces at the Battle of Monmouth in Manalapan and Freehold on June 28, 1778.
In addition to the church’s connection to the war, the group’s members believe Allentown resident and Constitution signatory David Brearley worshipped there. Over the last few cleanup events, which started on May 10, dozens of local residents have contributed their time and effort.
According to Dahms, many children have participated in the project and have learned about the historic relevance of the location from borough historian Alice Wikoff.
“The kids sit around [Wikoff] and she is such a great storyteller and has so much information about the history of the town that it has been a really neat experience to see these little kids under her leadership cleaning up the cemetery,” Dahms said.
Although AVI is still seeking to become a nonprofit organization, Dahms said the cemetery project is being conducted as a completely volunteer effort with no need for fundraising support.
When the initial work has been completed, organizations such as the Allentown Garden Club and the Allentown Historic Society will contribute aspects to the project, she said.
“The Allentown Garden Club said they will be willing to donate plants and the time to plant them in the cemetery, while the historic society has expressed interest in donating and installing a fence around the perimeter,” Dahms said.
The AVI meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Allentown Library and on the third Wednesday at the Cornell House of the Allentown Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. For more information about the group, contact Martha Ploshay at ploshay@juno.com. Contact Andrew Martins at amartins@gmnews.com.