A Celebration of Juneteenth that encompasses the 2nd installation of historical signage on the premises of Simpson Park which is the namesake for James Elias Simpson (1870 - 1959). Mr. Simpson was a noted member of the Porters-Esmont Community as a storeowner, significant landowner, and church trustee of New Green Mountain Baptist Church. He is buried in the New Green Mountain Cemetery not far from the park. The park is one of most varied parks with multiple amenities unique within the Albemarle County park system. It is the only park with a spray pad for youngsters under age 12 along with recreational fields, trials and public shelters. This is the 2nd event duplicating the first in 2024 that attracted a couple hundred people. This year in 2026, there will be another signage board installation along with welcoming the Shades of Gray Band from Richmond Virginia.
The goal is to continue the effort to create an African-American visitors trail in southern Albemarle connecting Yancey Community Center School to Simpson Park adjacent to the former Benjamin Franklin Elementary School and the rich African-American history in the Town of Scottsville that includes the Scottsville Museum, the historical sign of Manerva Lewis, the history of the James River Batteau professionally presented in the Canal Basin exhibit and lastly the Scottsville Rosenwald School located behind the historic Union Baptist Church on Hardware Street Extended originally named the Colored Peoples Baptist Church.
This year, we are expecting approximately 400 people to share in the program as a day of historical celebration and a continued move towards a southern Albemarle recreational experience that will eventually include a day of visitation for those that are interested in knowing how a Freetown flourished post Recontruction era.
