22nd annual Venture Smith Day festivities Sept. 8

EAST HADDAM—The 22ND annual Venture Smith Day Festivities will be held on Saturday, September 8th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the First Church Cemetery, 499 Town Street (RT. 151), East Haddam, Connecticut, where Venture Smith is buried (1729-1805). Son of an African king, Venture Smith became the first black man to document his capture from Africa and life as an American slave and successful black freeman in Connecticut. Well known and respected, Venture Smith spent the majority of his freedom years in East Haddam and Haddam Neck, Connecticut. His grave is one of the original sites on the Connecticut Freedom Trail.

The keynote speaker will be Jesse Nasta, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of African American Studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown. His presentation is called “Inheriting Freedom, Venture Smith’s Descendants and Connecticut Emancipation 1784-1848.”

Dr. Karl P. Stofko, East Haddam’s Municipal Historian and Venture Smith family genealogist since the 1970s, will talk about “Slavery in East Haddam during the 1800s according to records of the First Church of Christ.” In his second presentation, Dr. Stofko’s will talk about how Venture Smith was helped by his East Haddam and Haddam Neck friends.

In addition, Elizabeth J. Normen, publisher of Connecticut Explored, a journal about Connecticut’s history, will talk about her upcoming book “Venture Smith’s Colonial Connecticut.” This book will include several illustrations of Venture Smith’s life created by Connecticut illustrator, Michael Borders. Borders will be on hand to answer questions about his illustrations that will be on display in the parish hall.

Venture Smith’s family genealogy and artifacts and crafts from Ghana and other regions of Africa will be on display. A town proclamation will be presented and wreath-laying ceremony by the descendants of Venture Smith and the annual Venture family reunion photograph will take place in the cemetery by Venture’s grave. In addition, the ladies of “Sisters In Stitches Joined by the Cloth” of eastern Massachusetts will return this year with their magnificent African American quilts.

Adults and children who are interested in learning more about Connecticut history in the 1700 and 1800s are encouraged to attend. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. In case of inclement weather the celebration will move into the First Church. For information, call 860873-9375. To review the original Venture Smith autobiography go to www.docsouth.unc.edu/neh/ venture2/menu.html