with the bold text in the example below: The Skychi Travel Guide : June 2013

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The BME Freedom Park

Bronze Bust of Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Bronze Bust of Mary Ann Shadd Cary


Mary Ann Shadd Cary was the first Canadian-American female newspaper publisher in North American. She was an abolitionist, lawyer, and teacher. This bust was sculpted by Artis Lane whose works of art have been commissioned by Oprah Winfrey.

BME (British Methodist Episcopal)  Park
BME (British Methodist Episcopal)  Park


Walkway to Freedom
Walkway to Freedom


Three individual stones represent the hundreds of thousands of families torn apart by slavery. These stones lead to a large rock representing the freedom path many slaves undertook in their escape from slavery in the United States to liberty in Canada.

BME Freedom Park
BME Freedom Park


Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society presents The BME Freedom Park. This park is located on the site of the former first BME Church in Canada. This church holds great historical significance because it was owned and governed by former slaves who escaped to live in Canada. The church was also the meeting place for American Abolitionist
John Brown to recruit men for the Harper's Ferry Raid.  The BME Church was established in 1856 by Canadian members of the AME Church Conference. 

To visit please contact

Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society

177 King Street East

Chatham, ON, Canada N7M 3N1


Blair Newby

Executive Director

Black Mecca Museum


Did you know that Abolitionist John Brown gathered men for his slave revolt at the BME Church.?


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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Why is Chatham the Black Mecca?

 A Coloured Man's Paris


A Coloured Man's Paris
A Coloured Man's Paris

Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society invites you to visit Ontario's Black Mecca
the History of Chatham's Black Community.

"Chatham was not a Mecca only. In a broader and truer sense, it was the colored man's Paris." - Rev. Richard R. Disney, AME Church

H. Blair Newby, Executive Director of Chatham-Kent Black Mecca Museum, Holding a bell on a slave yoke.
H. Blair Newby, Executive Director of Chatham-Kent Black Mecca Museum holding a bell on a slave yoke.



Chatham Fugitive Slave Narratives: Found in Benjamin Drew's "The Narratives of Fugitive Slaves in Canada

Narrative of Mary Younger
(A Former Slave & Chatham Resident)

"I was reared a slave, and have seen a great deal of barbarity in the State I came from. Many a time I have looked out in the moonlight, and seen my little children, just able to walk to the fields, carrying buckets of water to the hands. They used to carry the buckets on their heads: they would wear off the hair, and I used to make pads to protect the sore places where they carried the buckets.

If those slaveholders were to come here, I would treat them well, just to shame them by showing that I had humanity. A woman who lived near us, used to beat her cook, and burn her with hot irons. I have seen the burns with these eyes. The same woman whipped at different times
three of her slave women to death. The last one I was sent for by her mother to see: I found her dying. She does while I was standing by. Her mother wanted me to shroud the corpse: but the mistress interfered, and made the dead woman's mother so it. The house where these cruelties occurred, was so near outs that we could talk over the palings.

If a white man passes by a house, and a person is whipping a servant, he goes straight by-- he don't see it. I did not know when I was slave, that any white person had any sympathy for me. I thought all white people were alike, and had no sympathy for colored people. I did not know the difference until I reached a free State, when I saw the white people use the colored people like folks. I did not hear such terms applied as 'wenches', 'heifers', etc. Where I was raised, my children were often whipped till the blood ran, and then they would call me to see if I looked rumpled about it, and unless I looked pleased, I knew they would whip me.

I often wish that people from the North could just go through the southern country at harvest time, and see and hear what is done there.

There was a man whipped there one day, and at night I took pity on him and greased his back,--he died on my floor.

The barbarity of slavery I never want to see again. I have children now who have got the yoke on them. It almost kills me to think they are there, and that I can do them no good. There they are--I know how it is--it brings distress on my mind--there they are, working till late at night; off before day; and where there is no humanity--where the lash is not spared."

Welcome to Downtown Chatham-Kent
Welcome to Downtown Chatham-Kent


Five Black families settled during the 1800's in "the Forks" along McGregor's Creek, which is known today as Chatham. The 1850 Fugitive Slave Law was the impetus for the Chatham Black Population to grow into the Black Mecca for both free and enslaved Blacks. During 1851, Chatham Census recorded a Black population of about 350 out of  a population of 2070. Then the Black population mushroomed to 1700 out of 4500 with ten years. 

Free Blacks also came to Chatham.
Free Blacks also came to Chatham.


 After Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, allowing former slaves to be recaptured, after years of living in freedom. Chatham numbers increased dramatically.

First Baptist Church site of the American Abolitionist John Brown's Convention.
First Baptist Church site of the American Abolitionist John Brown's Convention.


John Brown chose to come to Chatham on April 30, 1858 because of the large affluent Black population. Chatham is also situated near two other Black Settlements of Buxton and Dawn. The goal of the John Brown Convention was to create a settlement for slaves in the United States similar to the Indian Reservations today. 

BME Church in Chatham, site of the first John Brown Convention
BME Church in Chatham, site of the first John Brown Convention


Rev. Toyer of the British Methodist Episcopal Church in Chatham refused John Brown access to the church when he learned of Brown's plans.

Harper's Ferry Virginia
Harper's Ferry Virginia


During John Brown's second meeting which was held at the First Baptist Church in Chatham, he planned the Harper's Ferry Raid. In order to create the independent slave community, John Brown and his followers planned to raid an arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia to arm slaves and create a slave revolt.
On October 16, 1859, Brown and his followers attacked the arsenal but they were quickly defeated. Several men died including two of John Brown's own sons.
John Brown was captured and put to death for treason against the United States government. Osborne Perry Anderson who survived the Harper's Ferry Raid returned to Chatham and wrote a book about it.

John Brown Festival



Every year the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society hosts the John Brown Festival during the first weekend in May.

For More info Contact:

Chatham-Kent Black Mecca Museum

 Executive Director Blair Newby 

177 King St. East

Chatham, ON Canada N7M 3N1



Follow the North Star Tour  was a Fam hosted by TBEX, Toronto Tourism, and Chatham-Kent Tourism.

Have you ever heard about Chatham - The Black Mecca?

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Monday, June 10, 2013

Underground Railroad Chatham-Kent

TBEX Toronto 2013 Follow The North Star Trail Fam Trip

The Road That Led To Freedom

The Southwestern Ontario 

Underground Railroad Tour


"TBEX Travel Bloggers Follow The North Star Trail FAM"
Travel Bloggers: 
Alouise Dittrick of Traveler Ahoy
Chelle Roberts of Brown Girls Fly
Janice Temple of The Skychi Travel Guide
Jennifer A. Huber of Solo Travel Girl
Melissa Hogan of Suitcase and Heels
Michaela Hall of Awe Inclusive
Patricia Patton of Boomer Wizdom
Roxanne Scott of Who's World
Steph Spencer of A Nerd At Large




"Bryan and Shannon Prince of Buxton National Historic Site & Museum"
Bryan and Shannon Prince of Buxton National Historic Site & Museum


"Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Uncle Tom's Cabin



"War of 1812 Chatham-Kent Dave, Beth, Mark"
War of 1812 Chatham-Kent
Dave, Beth, Mark



"Blair Newby, Executive Director of Black Mecca Museum Chatham-Kent was known as Black Man's Paris"
Blair Newby, Executive Director of Black Mecca Museum
Chatham-Kent was known as Black Man's Paris



"Steph ringing the Liberty Bell  which signaled a new slave is free"
Steph ringing the Liberty Bell  which signaled a new slave is free



"Steven Cooper leading a tour of Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site"
Steven Cooper leading a tour of Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site



"BME Freedom Park with a bust of Abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd by Artis Lane"
BME Freedom Park with a bust of Abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd by Artis Lane



"Retro Suites Hotel View"
Retro Suites Hotel View





"Ontario Canada FAM TBEX TOUR #11 FOLLOW THE NORTH STAR"
Ontario Canada FAM TBEX TOUR #11 FOLLOW THE NORTH STAR


Much Gratitude to Charlene Houle and Joy Sim of Chatham-Kent Tourism: TBEX Director Mary Jo Manzares; Toronto Tourism Michelles and team; Retro Suites and Holiday Inn & Suites. Thank you for hosting us on this incredible journey into Canadian Black Heritage.

Follow upcoming posts for more about our journey on the Underground Railroad.


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