On this date in 1819 a twenty-six year old woman was buried at the Bethel Burying Ground. She was Amelia Brown. Her grave stone read: “He that believeth in Me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live.”
Ms. Brown's tombstone was discovered on July 25, 2013 during an archaeological investigation of the Bethel Burying Ground. This stone is currently on display at the Mother Bethel AME Church at 6th and Lombard Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
We all know that this headstone belongs to the City of Philadelphia. Why was it allowed to be displayed by the same church that sold the burial ground to the City of Philadelphia. It is public property. Is it on loan? Who in the City of Philadelphia authorized the removal? Under what authority? In the past anyone removing public property without authorization has been prosecuted. Is this being contemplated? I thought this site and the contents were protected by the Historical Commission of Philadelphia. What does the Historical Commission have to say about the removal of this historical artifact?
ReplyDelete