Photos: Observance of East End Burying Grounds Sheds Light on Rich African American History

Patch photos by Richard Lewin Professional Photography, soniboy@aol.com. (See photo gallery below).

SOUTHAMPTON, NY-The rich history of the East End’s gravestones was explored Sunday as a way of shedding light on a rich African American legacy.

“How is the Story Told: An Observance of East End African American Burying Grounds,” was held on Sunday at the Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor.

An exhibition was followed by a panel discussion and a reception.

Presented by Sylvester Manor Educational Farm in partnership with the Eastville Community Historical Society, the celebration of Black History Month aimed to afford East End organizations and communities “the opportunity to illuminate the survival and presence of local African American stories that have been hidden, forgotten, untold, fragmented and/or fabricated,” a release said.

The exhibition, panel discussion and reception will “recognize generations of African Americans who struggled to achieve citizenship rights in life, by honoring their varied stories in death.”

The exhibition was curated by Eastville Community Historical Society’s Donnamarie Barnes and hosted by ECHS Executive Director Georgette Grier-Key.

Panelists included Dr. Stephen Mrozowski of Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, Sandra Arnold, founder of the Periwinkle Initiative, Zachary Cohen, chair of East Hampton Town’s nature preserve committee, and Dr. Georgette Grier-Key; journalist Karl Grossman moderated.

Guests included Lora Lomuscio and her father Richard, Kim Maier and Maggie Weber, Michelle Wilks and Vivian Wallace, Mildred and Lonnie Hughes, Jackie Vaughan, former President of ECHS, Rosa Hanna Scott, Michael Butler, Maggie Higby and Kurt Erickson. NAACP Eastern Long Island President Lucius Ware took a front row seat.

Sag Harbor wood carver David Cosgrove displayed his “Death Heads”, accurate replicas of historic gravestone details, made out of Honduran Mahogan. Kim Folks, programs and community outreach director at Sylvester, was also in attendance.

Additional reporting by Richard Lewin.