On the Map

At the Cross Street Archaeology Lab, our class spent few hours washing the artifacts that we found during the first week of the excavation. We have largely found metal composites, pieces of glassware, bricks, and some pieces of ceramic. All of the artifacts were excavated from the trash pits behind 19 and 21 Vine Street, … Read more

5 Questions With Sarah Croucher on Middletown’s Beman Triangle Lauren Rubenstein April 17th, 2012 In this issue of The Wesleyan Connection, we ask 5 Questions of Sarah Croucher, assistant professor of anthropology, assistant professor of archaeology, assistant professor of feminist, gender, and sexuality studies. Croucher will lead an archaeological dig on the site of the Beman … Read more

Beman Triangle Archaeological Dig Brad Horrigan, Hartford Courant April 14, 2012 Wesleyan archeology Prof. Sarah Croucher, center, at an archeological excavation site at the 5-acre Beman Triangle in Middletown on Saturday. The Beman Triangle was an influential African American community from 1847 to the 1920’s whose residents included abolitionists and Civil War veterans. For full … Read more

Along with the abolitionist movement and fight for immediate emancipation, the Beman family members were also very keen on fighting for the right of suffrage for the African Americans. As a delegate to Colored Conventions, a democratic platform for the disenfranchised African American community to discuss issues related to people’s well-being, livelihood, politics and other … Read more

As a response to slavery, racial prejudice, and the colonization movement, the black abolitionist movement commenced in the early 19th century. Being race-conscious and politically active, Jehiel Beman was deeply involved in the anti-slavery movement from 1831. Jehiel very much believed in the power of writing. Both as an agent and a writer, he heavily … Read more

A 19th century vernacular cottage with gabled roof, 10 Knowles Avenue was built circa 1865. The lot for this house was first purchased by Orrice Smith from Amster Dingle, who lived in 170 Cross Street at the time. According to … Continue reading →

Built around 1850, the house was owned by Mennominee L. Miami from 1862, whose occupation was listed as a “quack doctor.” Along with 19 Vine, 21 Vine is one of the excavation sites for the Beman Triangle Project. During the … Continue reading →

The Bartholomew J. Murphy House (constructed c. 1870) is a one-story gabled cottage with a brick foundation. According to the 1874 rental map, Murphy was the owner of this rental property. Abigail Stanton, who owned other real estate, was a … Continue reading →

This 19th century vernacular cottage with a brick foundation was first built around 1840, and, for a long time, was owned by the Cambridge family. The house was first purchased by John Cambridge in 1855, who lived with his family … Continue reading →