Downtown Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Ground Breakers
⎯⎯⎯
Footsteps on the Bethel Trail

Ground Breakers side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 4, 2024

1. Ground Breakers side of the marker

Inscription.

Ground Breakers, also, Footsteps on the Bethel Trail. . Ground Breakers 1834 - 1839 Meadow Lane. The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) was the social center of African American life in Harrisburg. It was near this site in 1834, formerly Meadow Lane, where the first Bethel AME Church, a log structure, was built., Always a warm and friendly place, the church provided spiritual guidance, and, just as important, authority over the African American community., In early 19^th century Harrisburg, where a Black-owned newspaper did not exist, the pulpit of the Bethel AME Church informed and educated the city's African American citizens. Pastors were economically independent, answering only to their congregation, not bound to White employers., As the heart of the African American community, it was here that African Americans debated and formed political positions on national issues of the era, including colonization, abolition, and the crisis surrounding freedom seekers. A school for African American youth operated within the church. Women's societies met here, and entertainment, including lectures and musical performances, formed the basis of community life., [Captions:] Above: Location of Bethel AME Church, Chestnut Street at Meadow Lane, Harrisburg map, 1880. Right: Same location, current map, 1794 Ricahrd Allen founded the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia., Jan Marie Mars Chester, a slave born in Baltimore, escaped at age 17 to York, PA with the help of the Underground Railroad. On a trip to Harrisburg, she met George Chester, a free man from Barbados. They fell in love and were married., George and Jane operated a restaurant on Market Street (where the Whittaker Center is now). It served as the headquarters for the Underground Railroad in that section of Harrisburg., Jane and George Chester had several professionally successful children, including Charlotte who was Harrisburg's first Black school teacher; David who was one of the first Councilmen in the 7th Ward of Harrisburg in 1888; and Thomas Morris Chester, the first Black Civil War correspondent and an attorney., Jane Chester died March 19, 1894 at the age of 90., Footsteps on the Bethel Trail. Whether you are dashing to the Capitol Complex or navigating your way home, as you travel along Commonwealth Avenue, you're heading down the Bethel Trail., Take a look around you! You're standing near historic Meadow Lane (1.) where the spiritual, social, and service-oriented Bethel Village began in 1834. From here, Harrisburg helped to anchor an east-west system of more than 40 Bethel communities across the commonwealth, all linked by the Pennsylvania Railroad., Starting here, you can advance via Aberdeen Street to Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street (at the end of your view), where you can follow 150 years of Harrisburg's African American heritage. Harrisburg's old 8^th ward and the church buildings that the Bethel village built along the avenue are long gone now. They yielded to the progress and the development of the modern government complex., At the foot of Commonwealth Avenue stands the Forum building, once the site of Bethel's Short Street Church. (2.) There, an historic gathering of free men of color was convened to respond to the Emancipation Proclamation on January 15, 1863. The Short Street site was an anchor for the Harrisburg Freedmen's Bureau following the Civil War., Farther along the Avenue stands the amazing Capitol fountain on the site of the early 19^th century Bethel State Street Church. There, great orators like Thomas Morris Chester, William Nesbitt and William Howard Day helped establish voter registration after the passage of the 14^th and 15^th amendments., Traveling north you'll reach the impressive Judicial Center on the site of late 19^th century Bethel Church on Briggs Street. (3.) From its sanctuary and meeting halls, the men and women of the Bethel Village resisted Jim Crow laws as they set off to serve their nation during two world wars., At the top of the rise, beyond Forster and Sixth Street, was the site of historic Fox Ridge and the home of Bethel's 6^th and Herr Street Church. (4.) Leaders who convened there navigated their constituents through desegregation., Participants from across the city and state convened there to rejoice at the passage of the 1964 Voter Registration and 1965 Civil Rights Acts. Mothers, daughters, sisters and wives stood in its pews offering prayers for soldiers as they went to or returned home from the Vietnam War., We invite you to visit Meadow, Forum, Fountain, Justice Plaza and Fox Ridge to discover how the history of this resilient congregation and community created the tapestry which strengthens Harrisburg's legacy and Pennsylvania's diversity., [Captions:] Richard Allen founded Mother Bethel AME Church in 1794 in Philadelphia., Jane Marie Chester and her husband operated an oyster house on Market Street in Harrisburg., Harper's Weekly published this illustration by Thomas Nast about the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863., William Howard Day was the first African American school superintendent in the United States., Unknown Civil War-era African American woman and child., Highlighted portion shows Bethel AME Church at Short Street from 1850 - 1873. The building was sold to PA Power and Light, which added other buildings., Illustration of 6^th and Herr Street site as it appeared before the fire. Drawing by Nancy Mendes., Bethel A.M.E. Church at 6^th and Herr Streets from 1953 - 1995.

Ground Breakers
1834 - 1839
Meadow Lane The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) was the social center of African American life in Harrisburg. It was near this site in 1834, formerly Meadow Lane, where the first Bethel AME Church—a log structure—was built.

Always a warm and friendly place, the church provided spiritual guidance—and, just as important—authority over the African American community.

In early 19^th century Harrisburg, where a Black-owned newspaper did not exist, the pulpit of the Bethel AME Church informed and educated the city's African American citizens. Pastors were economically independent, answering only to their congregation—not bound to White employers.

As the heart of the African American community, it was here that African Americans debated and formed political positions on national issues of the era, including colonization, abolition, and the crisis surrounding freedom seekers. A school for African American youth operated within the church. Women's societies met here, and entertainment—including lectures and musical performances—formed the basis of community life.

[Captions:]
Above: Location of Bethel AME Church, Chestnut Street at Meadow Lane, Harrisburg map, 1880.
Right: Same

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location, current map

1794
Ricahrd Allen founded the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia.

Jan Marie Mars Chester, a slave born in Baltimore, escaped at age 17 to York, PA with the help of the Underground Railroad. On a trip to Harrisburg, she met George Chester, a free man from Barbados. They fell in love and were married.

George and Jane operated a restaurant on Market Street (where the Whittaker Center is now). It served as the headquarters for the Underground Railroad in that section of Harrisburg.

Jane and George Chester had several professionally successful children, including Charlotte who was Harrisburg's first Black school teacher; David who was one of the first Councilmen in the 7th Ward of Harrisburg in 1888; and Thomas Morris Chester, the first Black Civil War correspondent and an attorney.

Jane Chester died March 19, 1894 at the age of 90.

Footsteps on the Bethel Trail Whether you are dashing to the Capitol Complex or navigating your way home, as you travel along Commonwealth Avenue, you're heading down the Bethel Trail.

Take a look around you! You're standing near historic Meadow Lane (1.) where the spiritual, social, and service-oriented Bethel Village began in 1834. From here, Harrisburg helped to anchor an

Footsteps on the Bethel Trail side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 4, 2024

2. Footsteps on the Bethel Trail side of the marker

east-west system of more than 40 Bethel communities across the commonwealth, all linked by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Starting here, you can advance via Aberdeen Street to Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street (at the end of your view), where you can follow 150 years of Harrisburg's African American heritage. Harrisburg's old 8^th ward and the church buildings that the Bethel village built along the avenue are long gone now. They yielded to the progress and the development of the modern government complex.

At the foot of Commonwealth Avenue stands the Forum building, once the site of Bethel's Short Street Church. (2.) There, an historic gathering of free men of color was convened to respond to the Emancipation Proclamation on January 15, 1863. The Short Street site was an anchor for the Harrisburg Freedmen's Bureau following the Civil War.

Farther along the Avenue stands the amazing Capitol fountain on the site of the early 19^th century Bethel State Street Church. There, great orators like Thomas Morris Chester, William Nesbitt and William Howard Day helped establish voter registration after the passage of the 14^th and 15^th amendments.

Traveling north you'll reach the impressive Judicial Center on the site of late 19^th

Ground Breakers / Footsteps on the Bethel Trail Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 4, 2024

3. Ground Breakers / Footsteps on the Bethel Trail Marker

century Bethel Church on Briggs Street. (3.) From its sanctuary and meeting halls, the men and women of the Bethel Village resisted Jim Crow laws as they set off to serve their nation during two world wars.

At the top of the rise, beyond Forster and Sixth Street, was the site of historic Fox Ridge and the home of Bethel's 6^th and Herr Street Church. (4.) Leaders who convened there navigated their constituents through desegregation.

Participants from across the city and state convened there to rejoice at the passage of the 1964 Voter Registration and 1965 Civil Rights Acts. Mothers, daughters, sisters and wives stood in its pews offering prayers for soldiers as they went to or returned home from the Vietnam War.

We invite you to visit Meadow, Forum, Fountain, Justice Plaza and Fox Ridge to discover how the history of this resilient congregation and community created the tapestry which strengthens Harrisburg's legacy and Pennsylvania's diversity.

[Captions:]
Richard Allen founded Mother Bethel AME Church in 1794 in Philadelphia.

Jane Marie Chester and her husband operated an oyster house on Market Street in Harrisburg.

Harper's Weekly published this illustration by Thomas Nast about the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

William Howard

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Day was the first African American school superintendent in the United States.

Unknown Civil War-era African American woman and child.

Highlighted portion shows Bethel AME Church at Short Street from 1850 - 1873. The building was sold to PA Power and Light, which added other buildings.

Illustration of 6^th & Herr Street site as it appeared before the fire.
Drawing by Nancy Mendes.

Bethel A.M.E. Church at 6^th & Herr Streets from 1953 - 1995.

Erected by City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Bethel Village AME Church; Dauphin County Pennsylvania. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, and the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 19, 1894.

Location. 40° 15.732′ N, 76° 52.725′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Downtown Harrisburg. It is on Aberdeen Street just east of Market Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 423 Market St, Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Pennsylvania Railroad Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Harrisburg Station and Trainshed (within shouting distance of this marker); Presidential Convention (within shouting distance of this marker); Zion Lutheran Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Maurice K. Goddard (about 300 feet away); 333 Market Street (about 400 feet away); Mulberry Street Bridge (about 500 feet away); William Seel Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 350 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Ground Breakers⎯⎯⎯Footsteps on the Bethel Trail

Ground Breakers
⎯⎯⎯
Footsteps on the Bethel Trail