By Stenton Museum
On Saturday, February 7, at 1:00 p.m., Historic Stenton will host a talk by Douglas B. Mooney, Senior Archaeologist with the URS Corporation, on James Oronoco Dexter and the Reverend Stephen Gloucester, two key leaders in Philadelphia’s early free Black community. Tours emphasizing the African-American presence at Stenton will follow. Admission is free. RSVP by calling 215-329-7312, or email [email protected].
James Oronoco Dexter and Stephen H. Gloucester played influential roles in helping to shape and secure the independence of Philadelphia’s seminal antebellum free black community. Despite the importance of their contributions, these men had until recently, disappeared almost entirely from the public’s collective historical memory. In honor of African American History Month, this presentation by Douglas B. Mooney will explore the inspirational lives and achievements of these important early black leaders, as well as the archaeological investigations that helped renew appreciation of their place in our shared Philadelphia heritage.
Stenton, which has been described as “the most authentic of all Philadelphia’s historic houses,” was built by James Logan, William Penn’s secretary, between 1723 and 1730. Stenton is located in the Historic Logan section of Philadelphia at 4601 North 18th Street (the corner of 18th and Windrim Streets), just 4 blocks east of Wayne Junction. The house is open for tours by appointment throughout the week. For more information or directions, phone 215-329-7312 or visit www.stenton.org. Stenton is a member of Historic Germantown, a partnership of 14 outstanding attractions located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, just minutes from downtown. Partners are joined by a common mission and each played a role in the fight for freedom and are collectively "Freedom’s Backyard." For more information about Historic Germantown, call 215-844-1683 or visit www.freedomsbackyard.com.
This program is made possible through the stewardship of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who have administered Stenton as a historic house museum since 1899.
