Lebanon Cemetery is the largest and one of the oldest African-American cemeteries in York County, Pennsylvania. Having a dignified place for African-Americans to bury their families with respect and dignity was a challenge due to segregation and prejudicial policies embedded in the charters of other local cemeteries. The black churches of the city were located on relatively small lots that didn't afford them the required space to bury their members. Aside from the Catholic cemetery, the only other option was the Potter's Field on the Commons.
Lebanon Cemetery was a collaborative effort by the Black citizens of York to address those problems by establishing a new cemetery company. On August 26, 1872, the Court of Common Pleas of York County, Pennsylvania granted a charter to the nine managers of the Lebanon Cemetery Company - Professor James Smallwood, Richard S. Wilson, Alexander McKinney, Isaac Gooden, Anthony Drowery, James Spanger, Alfred Butler, Thomas H. Cyrus, and George Washington, Sr. They wasted no time in purchasing almost two acres that were part of the Charles Yost farm in North York Borough, less than a mile north of the City of York along what was the York Haven Turnpike.
Lebanon Cemetery quickly became a beacon of community pride and a representation of York's African-American heritage. It is the chosen final resting place for over 300 Black veterans who served in battles dating back to the War of 1812.
As the 20th Century unfolded, Lebanon expanded little-by-little to it's present size of just under five acres. It sits nestled in surrounding residential and industrial development.
In 1876, trustees of the Lower Chanceford A.M.E. Zion Church - Thomas Johnson, Jupiter Dorsey, Richard Lee, Elisha Berry and Harry Lee -purchased just over a half-acre of land from Matthew Cameron "for a burial ground and erecting thereon a house for public worship." They built a simple log church located off Fulton Road in Lower Chanceford Township. Also known as Stevenson's Chapel, the church appeared on tax rolls in the 1890s. The Young, Wilson, Berry, Dorsey, Lee, Jefferson, Fells, Wallace, Harris, Gibbons, Stevenson, Barton, Hopkins, Saulsbury, and John Wheeler families were members of the church. These families later moved to York City, but would return to their home church for services.
In 1908, the church trustees purchased an adjoining 2 acres of land from A.J. Raffensberger. Camp meetings were held here the last two Sundays in July. An old cookstove was set up under the trees with boards on trestles to feed the people. In the fall, a Thanksgiving dinner would be held, taking the seats out of the log church and setting up trestles and tables to serve the people. The church is long gone, but the cemetery remains.
In 2015, The A.M.E. Zion Church Mid Atlantic District sold the property to a local family who had been made trustees of the property. A small white fence marks the foundation of where the old log church once stood with new headstones of the family members of the new owners. An old water pump surrounded by flowers stands alone in the grassy lot, along with a long hitching rail where horses would be secured during church services. A large wooden cross still stands among the small graveyard.
In 1849, Edward Harris, Abraham Barton and George Boyd, trustees of Fawn A.M.E.Z. Church, paid $5.00 to James Wiley for the purchase of 70 perches of land in rural Fawn Township, York County, PA to use as a "site for building a house for public worship by a body of professing Christians known to each other by the name African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America." The congregation came together and built a log structure that lasted for 100 years.
A cemetery was created on the grounds and 18 Civil War veterans lay to rest in its folds, including John Aquilla Wilson, who passed away in 1942 at the age of 101. "Quil" as he was known, was the last surviving Black Civil War veteran, and according to Scott Mingus, he was of the youngest men to fight the confederates in the Gettysburg Campaign.
The congregation outgrew the church and in 1954, the original structure was torn down and built a larger structure at the end of the property. Still standing and functioning, the church was rededicated in 2017, and is one of two Black congregations worshiping in southeastern York County today.
In 1853, Robert W. Smith and his wife sold a plot of land located on Second Street in Wrightsville Borough, York County, PA to the trustees of the "Colored Wesleyan Zion Church of Wrightsville", Gabriel Rice, Elias Veney (Deney), Pharoah Fairfax, Edward Williams, and James Pelton.
Dr. James L. Jamison and Mr. Charles Johnson designed a beautiful white limestone structure with handsome stained glass windows that could seat 250 members. The cornerstone was laid on March 9, 1891. Built by church members, the building was dedicated on September 6 1891. On October 12, 1896 a charter was approved for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Wrightsville to chartering members Dr. James L. Jamison, Charles B. Johnson, Paris W. Johnson, John J. Baer and Joseph Murray.
Long before the church was built, however, the cemetery behind it was utilized for the Black residents of Wrightsville and Columbia. There are several United States Colored Troops veterans interred in the cemetery. On the Mulberry Street side, a memorial stone dedicated by the York Social Friendship Lodge No. 42 Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons reads, "In memory of the Black militia man who died June 28, 1863 defending Wrightsville against Confederates during a Civil War siege aiming to take control of the Susquehanna River bridge and all Black veterans that honorably served in the Armed Forces."
The church was abandoned by 1920. In 1932, a group had maintained the property and in 1945 they incorporated as Pentecostal Church, Assemblies of God, Wrightsville. They amended their charter in 1951 to Assembly of God.
Today, the cemetery is looked after by volunteers but was turned over to the Wrightsville Borough in 2019. The section located directly behind the church building is listed as being owned by the Pentecostal Church Wrightsville PA. The church is listed as being owned by Grace Evangelical United Brethern Church of Wrightsville. The rest of the cemetery grounds are listed as being owned by Mt. Pisgah Burial Grounds.
Located on a bend in a road in Lower Chanceford Township, York County, Pennsylvania, this cemetery has many names. The York County Veterans Affairs office refers to it as "Mt. Holly." The cemetery is said to be still active, although the owner is unknown. It was believed to have been started as a family burial ground, which expanded over the years.
There are also Civil War veterans resting here, including John L. Guy (1855-1929), of the famed Buffalo Soldiers (25th Infantry).
Also known as Delta A.M.E. Zion Cemetery, the original church that was beside the cemetery was destroyed by fire. The cemetery dates back to the 1850s, and is still active. The church is now located in Delta, York County, PA. Surnames of families include Craigs and Dorseys. Several veterans that served in the Civil War conflict are interred here.
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