Update By, Carol McDavid, Ph.D., and David Bruner, Ph.D. Co-Directors, YCAP
Bridges to both past and present continue to be built through historical archaeological research on RBHY properties. Under the direction of the Yates Community Archaeology Program (YCAP), a collaborative, diverse, community centered project, anthropology students from UH and HCC, community residents, and others are continuing to work together to learn about the past in the National Historic District of Freedmen’s Town.
Early findings have made it clear that archaeological remains do still exist on RBHY properties. YCAP activities include all phases of historical archaeological research (archival research, excavation, artifact analysis, and public education/outreach). Student and participants attend lectures and films, interview members of the community (both leaders and elders), learn from local church historians, and do archival research at local libraries.
They also participate in community-wide activities, including the recent Juneteenth Celebration, which featured hands-on activities in which college students helped youngsters to become “Junior Archaeology Stewards”. YCAP is grateful to many generous donors who continue to make the archaeology field schools and student internships a valuable educational experience.
You may have seen the changes in Freedmen’s Town, i.e. destruction of National Register Structures and archaeology. The problems: the construction of very high density housing with no provision for Storm Water Detention, increase pollution due to triple the amount of cars, displacement of African American descendant families, and no green space for children. HouTEx, CDC, and other Contractor’s activities, on properties immediately adjacent to the RBHYates Museum lots, may have permanently damaged important archaeological sites, and have created long term, acute flooding and erosion of RBHY properties. The contractors trespasses, removed our No Trespass signs and a mature tree from the RBHY property. Without our permission they stored vehicles, building materials and debris, and have encroached upon our land. It will be very costly to salvage damaged surface artifacts, reroute storm water, repair the foundation of the Yates house, and stop soil erosion. The land is now extremely expensive to maintain and difficult to use for Archaeology Field Schools and research. These activities have deprived RBHY of the use of its properties for one year. The City of Houston has been no help, to date.
The encroachment problem, cause, extent of damages, and cost of mitigation are being evaluated through the expert services of the International Center for the Solution of Environmental Problems (ICSEP), Ray & Hollington Architects, and the Engineering, Science, and Technology Council of Houston (ECH) members. The firm of Thompson & Knight continues to generously provide legal services to address this situation.
If you would like to help, please e-mail: infoATyatesmuseum.org (when using this address replace AT with @)
Demonstrating printing techniques to YCAP students, Summer 2003
Speaking to YCAP Field School students, Summer 2003 about Freedmen's Town History
By Carol McDavid, Ph. D. and David Brunner, Ph.D. Co-Directors, YCAP
RBHY recognizes that the historic brick streets are a ‘defining element of the historic character’ of National Historic District Freedmen’s Town. City of Houston’s Public Works Dept. and private contractors are destroying the streets daily. The City of Houston’s current inappropriate plan places the streets in imminent danger. RBHY strongly supports the community’s need to have street and street/sewer repairs done, but believes that this is possible without tearing up the historically important streets. [A copy of the RBHY review of the Carter & Burgess plan and our recommendations for proper restoration is available.]
The streets are significant not only because the ancestors built them, but also because the patterns of the laid bricks, especially in the intersections, are very unusual. Initial research by RBHY archaeologists (who have consulted several nationally known scholars, including noted folklorist Gladys Marie Fry and archaeology professors Kenneth L. Brown and Christopher Fennell) have provided strong support for the idea that these Freedmen’s Town “crossroads” are worthy of serious documentation and study. Studies in folklore, religion, art history, archaeology, and anthropology have revealed similar patterns in other African and African American material culture contexts. As one scholar put it to us recently, “We’ve studied African connections to African American art, music, and many other things – but we haven’t studied streets. This could be very important.” The research continues, in the hope that it will provide the information to the streets before it is too late. Your help is needed to convince the new city administration that saving this historical treasure is vitally important.
