New Philadelphia
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The annual Marvin J. and Thomas Leo Likes Lecture Series will take place each Tuesday in June at 7 p.m., beginning June 6. With several years of online success, this year’s series will be held on Zoom. The Likes Lecture Series began in 2004 as part of the archaeology NSF-REU field school…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Deep in the history of Pike County near Barry, Ill. is a site that was once a township named New Philadelphia. Founded in 1836, the town was the first platted and independently registered by a free African American before the Civil War. His name was Frank McWorter and he came from Kentucky…
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The story of the first free Black man to found an American town has moved a step closer to history books now that New Philadelphia in Pike County has become the 424th national park. “The designation of New Philadelphia National Historic Site ensures that Frank McWorter’s struggle, sacrifices and legacy will never be forgotten,” National…
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BARRY, Ill. — The New Philadelphia Association will celebrate the freedom of Free Frank McWorter, the first African American to plat and register a town in the United States in 1836, on Sept. 13. McWorter purchased his freedom and became Free Frank 202 years ago on Sept. 13, 1819. This event is part of the…
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