Event
Two Lights for Tomorrow: Community Day of Service
Fee:
Free.Location:
This event is split between two sites. After registering for the event, you will receive an email with logistical information.Dates & Times
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Type of Event
Description
As part of Delaware’s Two Lights for Tomorrow activities, Delaware 250 and First State National Historical Park are partnering with Delaware Historical Society and New Castle Historical Society on two community service projects in the City of New Castle on Saturday, April 19. Volunteers can pitch in with light maintenance and yardwork at the Mt. Salem Church Site in Old New Castle and the Buttonwood School and Museum.
The Mt. Salem Church, located on East 4th Street, was built in 1878 by congregation members who hand-carried bricks, lumber, and other materials to the churchyard. Within the heart of Old New Castle, the small church building served as a gathering space for many African Americans living nearby. The church has played an active role in the community for over 150 years, hosting concerts and community events.
The Buttonwood School and Museum is a non-profit organization that preserves the historic Buttonwood School building, erected in 1919, with support from P.S. DuPont. The school served local African American students for decades, and its teachers, such as Matthew Coulbourne and Sylvester H. Woolford, significantly impacted the lives of many students who passed through its doors. The Museum shares stories of DuPont’s philanthropy that advanced education within Delaware’s African American community.
Volunteers are invited to join cultural heritage professionals and community leaders in tidying up these important local historic sites while discussing American history and making new friends. Volunteer work at both locations will include gardening, pruning and picking up trash. All supplies and materials will be provided. To register, please email the information below for each person that you are registering for to firststate@nps.gov:
- Name
- Emergency contact
- Age
- Preferred site (Mt. Salam Church, Buttonwood School & Museum, or either)
Cleanup will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue until approximately 1:00 p.m.
Reservation or Registration: Yes
Image Gallery
Delaware Historical Society