“The theme of the park is inclusive history” said Allison Arnone, Chairwoman of the Allentown Open Space and Parks Committee and Secretary of the Historic Preservation Review Commission.
In the westernmost reach of Monmouth County is the charming historic Borough of Allentown. The municipality is brimming with history, including the story of many African American residents from the period preceding the Civil War when Allentown was once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
In celebration of African American History Month, MCF wishes to acknowledge one particular member of the Allentown community, Sgt. George Ashby, who became New Jersey’s last surviving Civil War veteran, and the namesake of the newest park in Allentown. In 2016, MCF dedicated funding towards the purchase of the land that is now being transformed into a beautiful neighborhood park, in the borough’s downtown, that honors Sgt. George Ashby and his contributions.
Sgt. George Ashby was born in 1844 and died in 1946 at ripe old age of 102. He was a Black farmer that tilled the fields in the area around Allentown that is known even today for having some of the most fertile agricultural soils in New Jersey. It is hard to imagine the incredible risks he must have taken when at age 19, he joined the Union Army in 1864, to fight for his country and face the possibility of slavery if captured in the South at that time.
After serving with the 45th U.S. Colored Infantry and managing to survive the battles that ultimately led to the Union Army winning the Civil War, he was promoted to sergeant and returned to Allentown where he lived out the remainder of his life.
It is no wonder that the citizens of Allentown voted in 2016 to name the new park, located adjacent to the cemetery where Ashby and many other members of the black community from that time, are buried.
Photo of Sgt. George Asbhy on his porch with a rifle. Photo provided by John Fabiano from the Monmouth County Archives.
The three-acre park is currently undergoing several phases of construction before it is completed and will feature reflective walkways through the center of the park that will lead to a monument overlooking the African American cemetery. Upon completion, the park will include numerous contemplative park design features for the public to recognize the contribution of Sgt. George Ashby and the presence of the African American cemetery adjacent to the park, while offering a place for passive enjoyment within the downtown.
After donating funds towards the initial purchase of the land to become a park in 2016, MCF is proud to be a part of this important project and applauds the work of borough residents to relate stories of the American Revolutionary period and the contributions of the local African American community. The park has received grants in 2019 and 2020 through the Municipal Open Space Grant Program to fund the park development work necessary to transform the park from an empty lot into a beautiful place for the community to enjoy.
Photo from app.com Jerry Carino