The public is invited to attend a series of free online classes this March and April offered by Witness Stones West Hartford. In both series of four, one-hour classes, you will work with project directors Dr. Tracey Wilson and Liz Devine to remember the lives of enslaved people who lived in the what was then known as the West Division of Hartford.
Under the tutelage of Wilson and Devine, participants in the first series of classes will analyze historical documents to learn more about Frank, enslaved by the Wells family. In the second series, participants will study Ismael, enslaved by the Keyes family.
Witness Stones West Hartford offered its first series of online classes in 2020 to rave reviews. Participants commented that the classes “give credibility and connection to our history,” “help us to look at a fuller more true picture of the truth,” and “publicly validate enslaved people’s lives and experiences here in West Hartford.”
Since 2018, Witness Stones West Hartford has taught over 1,600 students and 50 adults providing research and resources to learn about West Hartford and write the public history of the town. The project seeks to restore the history and honor the humanity and contributions of enslaved individuals who helped build our communities. Twenty-one Witness Stones have been installed in the Old Center Cemetery thus far.
There are two sessions of community classes. Session One takes place on Wednesdays in March (3, 10, 17, 24) from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Session Two takes place on Wednesdays in April (7, 14, 21, 28) from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Classes are appropriate for adults and students in grades 5 and up.
This community project is FREE and open to the public! For more information and to register visit https://bit.ly/39e3vhe , or email the Town Historian traceymwilson@gmail.com.
These classes are free through the support of funders including the Winter-Lehman Family Foundation, the Roosa Foundation, the Sandra and Arnold Chase Family Foundation, West Hartford Public Schools, the Foundation for West Hartford Public Schools, and other generous donors.
