The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Honoring legacy of Charles L. Blockson
From the time I was a young boy from the Cherry Street neighborhood in Norristown, I knew of Charles “Charlie” Blockson’s athletic prowess in football and track and field. I only found out in the past few years from one of his best friends, Robert “Bob” Butera, what kicked off Blockson’s storied career.
Bob said that “Charlie’s” fourth grade teacher at Gotwals Elementary School told him “Negroes don’t have any history.” Henceforth he went on to become a distinguished author, collector of books, artifacts, art, and other notable materials related to the history and culture of African-Americans, which led him to a distinguished career in preserving history of the United States.
The renowned Charles L. Blockson Temple University Collection, with locations at Temple and Penn State universities, showcase his celebrated career … now his beloved hometown’s Charles L. Blockson Exhibit is “continuing” his story just blocks from his childhood first home.
The exhibit was developed locally by the Elmwood Park Zoo, under the leadership of Executive Director and CEO Mr. Albert Zone Jr., a Norristown native son and civic leader.
Mr. Blockson introduced me to Norristown
African-American history when we were preparing to honor him at a NAACP Black History Month celebration and luncheon several years back. He made me aware of Frederick Douglass, Henry “Box” Brown, Lucretia Mott, and William Still’s (aka Peter Freedman, the conductor of the Underground Railroad movement in the Philadelphia area) visits to Norristown. All were part of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society founded in 1850. Meetings were hosted by the First Baptist Church of Norristown, then located at Airy at Swede streets, and now on Burnside Avenue in West Norriton Township.
Norristown, aside from the historic George Washington Carver Community Center, has never had a street or building named after an African-American. The Norristown Area School District, in collaboration with Zone and
Mr. Blockson’s family, will be officially renaming Thomas J. Stewart Middle School to the Charles Blockson Middle School later this year.
Additionally, Joseph K. Gotwals Elementary School will be renamed the Alice L. Davenport Elementary School. Mrs. Davenport was an extraordinary African-American educator and community leader.
If we want to see the exhibit prosper, and continue to tell “unknown” local, regional, and national African-American history, we must show our generosity to this huge leap forward in Norristown, the county seat of Montgomery County.
Please take a few minutes to peruse the information at elmwoodparkzoo.doubleknot.com and learn ways in which you can extend your generosity to the Norristown’s Charles L. Blockson Exhibit!