More than 100 people gathered Sunday to rededicate the Old Durham Road Black Pioneer Cemetery in the Flesherton area.
The cemetery contained 18th century settlers of African heritage, many escaped slaves from the U.S or their descendants. Sometime during the last century the cemetery was desecrated. Twenty-five-years ago four grave stones were found.
A committee was formed of local people, the headstones were preserved, and the graveyard refurbished.
The gathering also marked the unveiling of a new pavilion to house the four headstones. Ontario's Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell was on hand for the ceremony.
Carolynn Wilson is a descendant of those original pioneers.
"The people in the community care about the past, they worked hard throughout the years to preserve the cemetery to highlight the dignity and the sacredness of the area. It's been great," said Wilson who was the keynote speaker at the event.
The pavilion was financed with a $38,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help preserve the historic site, and the last remaining headstones.
The project, in partnership with the South Grey Museum, is also an effort to raise awareness of early Black settlers in the area.
