The Slave Wall

The Slave Wall. . , The Slave Wall was built in 1765 by Pomp, a slave owned by Thomas Brooks, as a decorative entrance to his house. This site was part of the estate of the Brooks family, which was first occupied in 1679 and once included some 400 acres of land. The park behind the Slave Wall was donated to the City of Medford in 1924 by the Brooks family. , The first African-Americans arrived in Medford as slaves in February 1638. By 1765 Medford's population included 49 slaves, many of whom were tied to the infamous Triangle Trade. Only Boston and Cambridge had larger slave populations. Nonetheless, Medford was an early center of anti-slavery activity. In 1783 Massachusetts became the first state to abolish slavery. Today the Slave Wall and the Slave Quarters at the Royall House are the only remaining physical reminders of slavery in the city. , When the slaves were freed, many settled in West Medford which is today considered among the oldest continuous African-American communities in the United States. , Dedicated May 27, 2006 by Jay B. Griffin, President , Medford Historical Society.