BLACK COMMUNITY
- Program
- Subject
- Location
- Lat/Long
- Grant Recipient
-
NYS Historic
-
People, Site
- Arnold Park, Andrews Rd, Vestal, NY 13850, USA
- 42.08333, -76.02357
-
Town of Vestal
BLACK COMMUNITY
Inscription
BLACK COMMUNITYBARTON, SMITH, LEWIS & LATER
OTHER FAMILIES FARMED HERE
AS EARLY AS CA. 1855. SMITH &
BARTON SONS SERVED IN CO. B
26TH NY INF, DURING CIVIL WAR.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2021
The first Black families arrived in the town of Vestal in Broome County, NY as early as 1855. The families included the Barton, Smith, Lewis, and other families. They settled and farmed along a rough track that came to be known as African Road.
During the American Civil War, James and Oscar Barton, along with Christopher Smith, served in Company B of the 26th NY Infantry. After the war, they returned to this area where their families still lived.
Into the 1920s, this remained a Black community, with descendants of the original families joined by new families.