In Manchester, N.H., a new historic marker in the form of a bronze plaque has been unveiled at the Museum in the midst of the historic Amoskeag Millyard.
This marker is produced to honor and remember the enslaved people who worked desperately for the production and shipment of cotton from the city. This recent project was created through a collaboration between the Black Heritage Trail and the Manchester Historical Association.
The significance of the location in Manchester plays a large part in the marker’s unveiling, as the south side of the Millyard used to be a picker house according to New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). Cotton would be made pure and clean of debris by those enslaved there before being packed for shipping. Additionally, the Museum explores the history of Manchester, including its industrial side, of which enslaved people played a vital role in its success.
In an article by NHPR, Jeff Barraclough, the executive director of the Manchester Historical Association, spoke of the importance of the history of Manchester’s textile industry. He stated, “It was founded really with that purpose. At its height, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester was the largest textile manufacturer in the world and employed approximately 18,000 workers, many of whom were immigrants from around the world.”
It is easy to forget the millions of enslaved people whose backs our country was built upon, especially in the historic Eastern regions, where the beauty of these coastal areas can sometimes outshine the darker parts of its history. There is a good chance that many do not think much about how entire enslaved populations worked their lives away on the same ground they walk upon in today’s day and age. However, the deeply impactful contributions of these unnamed millions deserve to be remembered and rejoiced, even in places close to home.
This new historical marker is one such way to ensure the people of Manchester are aware of the significant impacts the enslaved had on the success of the city. In the same article, Barraclough states “We know that there was a lot of textile production here and in Manchester, as well as other New England and Northeast industrial cities, but we don’t think about how those textiles [came] to be here. And of course, that is with the cotton. And where did the cotton come from? It was grown in the South with the labor of enslaved peoples.”
The plaque was officially unveiled on Sept. 24, made available to museum-goers and anyone willing to learn more about Manchester’s history alike. Hopefully, with unveilings such as this, more light will be shone on accomplishments made by the people enslaved along the East Coast. After all, if we can erect memorials that allow us to remember the names and histories of the various traders and warmongers of this country, we can certainly do the same for those enslaved by them. Impacts and accomplishments such as these should never be forgotten.
Kara Montagano can be contacted at
Kara.Montagano@keene.edu
