Town created for ex-slaves

[Henry Moon]

The Associated Press  Dateline Sept 23, 2007, Perryville, Kentucky
 
One of 30 communities built for former slaves after the Civil War is now part of a historic battlefield site.

The state purchased the site of what was Sleettown earlier this year for $324,000. The money came from a Transportation Enhancement grant. The Civil War Preservation Trust donated another $107,000 to match the grant.

The town existed from 1865 until 1931 and was set up by Kentucky natives Henry, Preston and George Sleet.

The property bought by the state ties two sections of the 570-acre park where the Battle of Perryville was fought in October 1862.

State Parks historian Ron Bryant says Sleettown and other former freed slave encampments made their mark on Kentucky.

[ole]

This is new! I had no idea that a community had been created for ex-slaves, let alone 30 of them. Am somewhat familiar with the Perryville park. (An excellently maintained park, I might add, and it is Kentucky's, not NPS.) How would I go about finding what property was purchased and added?

ole

[Henry Moon]

Ole, you might try this link. They could probably give you some info on that.

http://parks.ky.gov/findparks/histparks/pb/



Terry

[Gay Mathis]

Hey Terry, very interesting read, and here is a bit more..

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Sleettown & Sleet Family


http://www.perryville.net/sleettown.html

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Gay

[Henry Moon]

Excellent link Gay, thanks.


Terry