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Greenville Public Library
“Longtown: The
History” at Library
Connor Keiser returns with an encore presentation on Longtown, Ohio,
Saturday February 20th at 1:00 p.m. in the Greenville Public Library’s
upstairs meeting room. We are honored to host Connor again and to
celebrate Black History Month by learning more about this important
community and our rich local history.
The original “Greenville Negro Settlement,” later renamed Longtown, was
founded by Connor’s fifth great-grandparents James & Sophia Clemens
in 1822. Situated in Liberty Township it was established as a
strongly abolitionist farming settlement. Many people have heard
of Longtown but most are unaware of its significance as the first free
black settlement and one of only two tri-racial communities in the
state of Ohio.
The Clemens Family arrived in Ohio from Virginia with slave-owner Adam
Sellers who freed his people and provided them with land. Other
free blacks joined them and as the town grew, a school and several
churches and cemeteries were established. It was an important
station on the Underground Railroad.
The height of its population was around 900 people in the 1940’s.
Many descendants live in the Muncie, Richmond, Indianapolis, and Dayton
areas. A well-known tavern was opened in 1956 where Connor’s
grandparents first met. Its baseball teams from the 1930’s
onward, the Longtown Tigers and Longtown Giants, were legendary!
Today the Union Literary Institute Preservation Society is raising
money and awareness for the above named school which was founded by
Connor’s grandfather in 1914. It was a manual labor school for
all races and provided room & board. One church from 1856 is
still very active, the Bethel Long Wesleyan Church, holding services
every Sunday. The Community Center also hosts an annual
“homecoming.“
Connor is proud to continue the research his grandfather Maze Clemens
started and in the past year has uncovered even more interesting facts
and pictures which he will share on the big screen TV. Please
join us to learn more about our fascinating heritage. Light
refreshments will be served.
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