On Monday, June 19 — also known as Juneteenth — the A Sense of Place campaign will officially launch, helping to shine a light on + gather information about Lexington’s historic Black hamlets.
The event will take place at Cadentown Missionary Baptist Church, 2950 Cadentown Rd. beginning at 11 a.m. Here, the community is invited to come learn about this special place firsthand from area residents and historians. And if you or someone you know grew up in the area, you can offer oral histories and bring heirlooms that can be used for the project.
One guest speaker will be Dr. Alvin Seals, a former resident of the area who attended Cadentown Rosenwald School in the 1940s. The schoolhouse is still standing today off Old Todds Road + is celebrating 100 years this year. In fact, it’s the only Rosenwald School still standing in Fayette County today.
“Come learn about the history, the people, the community, and this space that was saved by residents of the neighborhood,” campaign leader Tiffany Brown said. “See how much these places matter to people that grew up in the area.”
So, what is a hamlet?
Hamlets are communities known as places of religious, educational, and civic life that provide resources for residents — think churches, schools, grocery stores, and lodge halls.
The steering committee behind A Sense of Place has identified more than 20 historic hamlets in Fayette County and already hosted input sessions in Jimtown and Cadentown.
More input sessions will take place at other hamlets throughout the coming months. Tiffany + fellow organizer Mandy Higgins emphasized the community aspect of this project and invite you to share information, stories, or even donations to support its restoration efforts, including Cadentown Rosenwald School.
You can receive more information by signing up for updates on the project.