Presentation of story of New Philadelphia settlement set for Saturday at Lorenzo Bull House

QUINCY — The Quincy chapter of the NAACP, in collaboration with the Friends of the Lorenzo Bull House, will be offering a presentation entitled “A Tale of Two Cities: New Philadelphia to Quincy’s Lorenzo Bull House — Bridges from the Past, Gateway to the Future” at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, at Lorenzo Bull House, 1550 Maine. 

This gathering will feature a recounting of the story of the New Philadelphia settlement, famous for being the first town platted by an African American. Prof. Gerald McWorter from the University of Illinois, a direct descendant of Free Frank McWorter, the founder of New Philadelphia, will attend the presentation.  

The site of New Philadelphia recently was added to the National Park Service as a historic site. For more information about New Philadelphia, view the NPS website. Attendees can learn about Quincy philanthropist Lorenzo Bull and the accomplishments and contributions he and his family made to the Quincy area — including the creation of the Quincy Park District and Quincy Public Library.

The event is free, but free-will donations to the Bull House will be accepted. Information will be available on memberships to both the Quincy NAACP and Friends of Lorenzo Bull House. Light refreshments will be served. Tours of the Bull House will be available. 

For more information, contact Mark Philpot at 217-462-9337 or Anne Forbes at 217-257-3856.  Email responses may be directed to mark.philpot@quincyparkdistrict.com.