Commemorating the Lives of the Enslaved: Witness Stones Old Lyme to Install 12 New Plaques in 2025
- caffryfrankel
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
As it enters the final year of a five-year project, Witness Stones Old Lyme will install twelve new Witness Stones this May, honoring the lives of enslaved African Americans whose stories have often been overlooked. These small, brass markers will be placed at the Sill Lane green and the Florence Griswold Museum, bringing the total number of install to 60 Lyme since 2021.
This year’s stones will commemorate Prince Freeman, Sabina Freeman, Jordan Freeman, Caesar, Prince, Cesar, Zacheus Still, Philis, Negro Woman (name unknown), Dorcas, Lewis, and Robin Freeman. Each marker serves as a testament to humanity, and contributions of these individuals, whose lives were deeply intertwined with the region’s history.
Witness Stones Old Lyme 2025 Events
To celebrate this significant milestone, the Old Lyme Witness Stones Partnership is hosting a series of free public events in May and June. All are welcome, rain or shine.
Witness Stones Installation Ceremony
Friday, May 30, 2025
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, 2 Library Lane, Old Lyme, CT
Join the community on the library lawn to commemorate this powerful moment in local history. The program will include music, poetry, and reflections from community leaders, featuring keynote speaker Kate Rushin, Professor of English and Poet in Residence at Connecticut College. Other voices will include Dennis Culliton, Co-Founder of the Witness Stones Project, Michelle Dean, Director of Curriculum at Lyme-Old Lyme Public Schools, Martha Shoemaker, Old Lyme First Selectwoman, as well as talented poets and musicians from Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.
Juneteenth Celebration with Jazz & Poetry
Saturday, June 22, 2025
2 - 4PM
Florence Griswold Museum, North Lawn, 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
Join the community in commemorating Juneteenth—a federal holiday that honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans—with an afternoon of live jazz and poetry on the beautiful north lawn of the Florence Griswold Museum.
The celebration will feature the Avery Sharpe Quartet, led by acclaimed bassist and composer Avery Sharpe, with Zaccai Curtis on piano, Haneef Nelson on trumpet, and Yoron Israel on drums, Along with readings by distinguished Connecticut poets Marilyn Nelson, Kate Rushin, Rhonda Ward, and Antoinette Brim-Bell.
Seating will be available under a tent, but guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for added comfort.
Following this event, the Florence Griswold Museum will offer free admission from 3 to 5 pm for visitors to view the closing day of Their Kindred Earth: Photographs by William Earle Williams, an exhibition that seeks to deepen understanding of sites of enslavement. The artist will be on hand to sign copies of the newly released exhibition catalogue, available for purchase at the event.
Rain Location
In case of inclement weather, the Juneteenth celebration will be held at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Road.
