LEWES AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION

Lewes African American Heritage Commission Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 6:00pm City Hall Council Chambers AGENDA Page A. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL B. ANNOUNCEMENTS C. PRESENTATION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 2026 06 18 LAAHC Meeting Minutes 2-5 D. COMMISSIONER UPDATES Updates on various completed events and upcoming events E. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Discussion and possible action regarding February 2027 Black History Month Program Work Group - Volunteers Requested F. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Discussion and possible action regarding Social & Economic Work 6-7 Group preliminary recommendations on the Middle Passage Marker. Lewes Middle Passage Evidence Summary and Recommendation v2 2. Discussion and possible action regarding grant solicitation and fundraising timeline. G. PUBLIC COMMENT: H. ADJOURNMENT https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84977485844?pwd=ObnQOkeXK1Sj95QCsVslQUJpFeLTxa.1 Join via audio: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) Webinar ID: 849 7748 5844 Passcode: 109605 Pursuant to 29 Del. C. § 10004(e)(3) this Agenda is subject to change; including addition or deletion of items or Executive Sessions. Agenda items may not be considered in sequence and therefore, should not be relied upon by any member of the public. To request special accommodations for persons with disabilities please contact the City Hall office at (302) 645-7777, at least 72 hours in advance of a meeting. The City of Lewes strives to make our public meetings widely available through Zoom and YouTube broadcasts. While the City is committed to continuing this access, pursuant to 29 Del. Code, §10006A, technological failure does not affect the validity of these meetings, nor the validity of any action taken in these meetings. City Hall is located at 114 E. Third Street Lewes DE Agenda Posted: 07/09/2026 Posted By: ASA  Page 2 of 7 City of Lewes LEWES AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION Thursday, June 18, 2026 MINUTES The Lewes African American Heritage Commission met on Thursday, June 18, 2026 in Council Chambers at Lewes City Hall, in accordance with proper notification, with the following members present: Chairperson Darryl Daisey, Secretary Falan Hylton (attending virtually), as well as Commissioners Bill Collick, Calvin Jackson, and Janet Maull (attending virtually). Commissioners Cynthia Anderson-Clay and Mickeya Linzie both joined remotely later in the meeting. Also in attendance were: Ex-Officio Member City Councilman Kahlil Saliba, and Parks & Marina Supervisor Giulia Kirsch. A. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL & ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Darryl Daisey called the June meeting of the Lewes African American Heritage Commission to order at 5:01 PM on Thursday, June 18, 2026 in Council Chambers in City Hall, Lewes, DE. Announcements Commissioner Falan Hylton provided a comprehensive overview of upcoming Juneteenth celebrations across the region, including events in Milford, Dover, West Rehoboth, Georgetown, and Lewes. Highlights included a mural reveal in West Rehoboth attributing work to Mr. Diaz Bonville, attended by Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester; the City of Lewes' 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 27th from 1:00 to 6:00 PM; and a town hall titled "The Untold Story of Black Delaware," hosted by the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice on June 30th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Cinema Art Theater, free and open to the public. Parks & Marina Supervisor Giulia Kirsch noted that City Hall would be closed on June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. Chair Daisey read a Proclamation in Recognition of Juneteenth issued by Mayor Amy Marasco on behalf of City Council, proclaiming June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth in the City of Lewes and calling upon all residents to honor the heritage and contributions of Black Americans and recommit to building a community guided by justice, unity, equality, and inclusion. Chair Daisey also announced that Delaware Senate Bill 330, establishing a Delaware African American Heritage and Cultural Commission at the state level, had passed the Senate unanimously and was pending a House vote. Notably, of the 16 seats on the proposed commission, two are designated by position rather than gubernatorial appointment—one for the Black Chamber of Commerce and one for the Lewes African American Heritage Commission. Chair Daisey noted that the commission had voted to delegate the representative role to the Vice Chair. Commissioner Collick observed that the commission's prior work and accomplishments were the reason it was included by default. B. PRESENTATION & POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Daisey initially noted that a remote attendee appeared to have been omitted from the prior minutes, but upon review confirmed she was listed as having "joined late remote." No other corrections were proposed. Motion: A motion to approve the May 21, 2026 meeting minutes was made by Commissioner Jackson and seconded by Commissioner Collick. The motion carried unanimously. Page 1 of 4  Page 3 of 7 C. COMMISSIONERS UPDATES: Updates on various completed events and upcoming events Seventh-Grade Field Trip — Commissioner Collick reported that the principal of Fort Thomas Middle School organized a field trip to the Lewes Historical Society campus following attendance at the Johnnie Walker Beach presentation. Commissioner Collick and Commissioner Daisy prepared a one-page handout for the students. The session was held in the coffee house with approximately 12 students per class. Students engaged in substantive dialogue about the history of the beach, Jim Crow laws, and the concept of "separate but equal." Commissioner Collick expressed satisfaction with the outcome and noted it represented meaningful progress toward integrating Lewes Historical Society content into the school curriculum. Ms. Kirsch indicated the handout would be scanned and posted to the commission's website. Social and Economic Work Group Update — Commissioner Jackson reported that the work group held a full-attendance meeting on June 1st. The group's near-term objective is to deliver recommendations to the commission on how to elevate Lewes as a recognized African American heritage and cultural destination. Three story pillars were identified as focal points: Men of the Sea (maritime excellence, pilot boat captains, shipbuilders, and integrated fishing industries); Freedom (the Middle Passage Gateway, Maritime Underground Railroad, and early free Black communities); and Resilience (segregated spaces, churches, and cultural hubs). Priority regional markets identified for outreach include Washington, DC; Baltimore; Wilmington; Philadelphia; and Pittsburgh. Flag priorities for the group include the Johnnie Walker Pavilion, a Middle Passage story and marker, the Underground Railroad story, the Nassau School opportunity, and a heritage walking tour. Commissioner Collick identified two individuals, both of whom attended the Nassau School and are from the Belltown area, who would be valuable contacts and offered to share their information with Commissioner Jackson. Councilmember Saliba added that the Nassau School is a project of the Greater Lewes Foundation, with Mark Carter leading the effort, and offered to obtain a status update. Councilmember Saliba also referenced a study indicating that cultural tourists spend 38% more than other visitors and are 27% more likely to extend their stay, underscoring the economic case for heritage tourism development. Chair Daisey noted the high enthusiasm within the subgroup but reminded commissioners that the work group's charge is to return with a formal recommendation, though several members had already volunteered to assist with implementation. "Once in a Blue Moon" and Juneteenth Update — Councilmember Trina Brown-Hicks provided a recap of the Johnnie Walker Beach Day sign unveiling, describing it as a wonderful event despite windy conditions, and thanked city staff and Commissioner Daisey for the t- shirts, which have generated considerable interest. She also recapped the "Once in a Blue Moon" event honoring the Happy Day Club, held that same evening at American Legion Post No. 17, which was a full house. She expressed gratitude to Lewes 250 and all sponsors, noting that attendees have already asked whether the Happy Day Club could be honored again in a future event. Regarding the upcoming Juneteenth celebration on June 27th, Councilmember Brown-Hicks reported that approximately 20 Cape Henlopen High School National Honor Society volunteers are confirmed, along with three additional volunteers from Commissioner Collick. Weather conditions are favorable. Six golf carts will be available to transport attendees. Tent and chair delivery from 227 Rent is scheduled for Friday morning between 8:30 and 9:00 AM, and volunteers were encouraged to assist. Setup will also include placement of port-a-potties, road closures, and security coordination with the Lewes Police Department. Vendors were reminded that tents must be weighted rather than staked into the ground, and that the parking lot will be closed to general parking to allow for vendor unloading. Ms. Kirsch noted a brief Page 2 of 4  Page 4 of 7 follow-up meeting with the farmers' market would be needed. On fundraising for Juneteenth, Ms. Kirsch reported approximately $2,500 has been received to date, with at least one additional donation pending. D. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Continued discussion and possible action regarding other programming ideas 2027 Black History Month Program Chair Daisey proposed forming a smaller work group to plan the 2027 Black History Month program, rather than managing it through monthly commission meetings. Commissioner Collick suggested that Stephanie Collick and Dee Lott, both of whom were central to last year's successful event at Lewes School, be asked to chair the effort. Chair Daisey agreed to reach out to both individuals. Chair Daisey emphasized the importance of acting promptly, as the holiday season tends to obscure deadlines and securing event space after school starts requires early action. Other Programming Ideas Chair Daisey expressed difficulty identifying an appropriate date on the calendar for an additional program, noting that the remainder of the year is occupied by Juneteenth (June), Johnnie Walker Beach Day (September), the Girl Scout program (October), and Black History Month planning (February). Chair Daisey had envisioned a program focused on a younger generational era—the 1970s and 1980s—but suggested it might best be incorporated into Black History Month. No commissioners expressed opposition to deferring the additional program, and no date was set. E. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Presentation, discussion and possible action to add language to City Code to memorialize the establishment of the African American Heritage Commission. Ms. Kirsch explained that during a broader administrative cleanup of city ordinances, it was discovered that the Lewes African American Heritage Commission—despite operating for over six years—had never been formally codified in city code. City Solicitor Alex Burns prepared draft ordinance language, along with the commission's existing Mission, Vision, and Goals Statement (Exhibit A) and Bylaws (Exhibit B), to rectify this oversight. Commissioner Saliba identified a typographical error in the Mission, Vision, and Goals Statement, where the word "accessible" was misspelled as "assessable." Ms. Kirsch indicated that grammatical correction could be made administratively without requiring a separate vote. The commission affirmed that only the ordinance itself required a formal recommendation to Mayor and City Council. Motion: Motion to recommend that Mayor and City Council add language to city code to memorialize the establishment of the African American Heritage Commission was made by Commissioner Collick and seconded by Commissioner Jackson. The motion carried unanimously. 2. Discussion and possible action regarding grants and fundraising efforts Chair Daisey noted that one donation check was received at the Johnnie Walker Beach sign unveiling. He also raised the matter of a $2,500 pledge made by Groome Church at the previous Johnnie Walker Beach Day event, which had not yet been followed up on. Commissioner Saliba offered to contact the church directly, noting he has an existing relationship with the organization and identified the point of contact as Mike Darling. Commissioner Jackson reported that a personal contact who serves as the governor of the regional Rotary Club—covering Lewes, Milton, and Rehoboth—indicated the club is actively seeking projects to fund, having recently contributed approximately $40,000 for Page 3 of 4  Page 5 of 7 a Route 9 playground. Commissioner Jackson raised the Johnnie Walker Beach Pavilion as a potential project and received an encouraging preliminary response. Discussion followed regarding the process and timing required before a formal funding request could be submitted. Ms. Kirsch clarified that the pavilion project is still in the construction planning phase, with the city's engineering firm GMB preparing design plans. Before submission to DNREC, formal design plans must be completed. The full approval process includes review by the city's floodplain manager and building inspector, DNREC approval, Parks and Recreation approval, and final approval by Mayor and City Council. A public comment period or public hearing may also be required given the pavilion's proposed location near beachfront condominiums. There was general consensus that the process could take on the order of six months or more, with construction realistically targeted for no earlier than the summer of 2027 or 2028. Commissioner Collick noted that the owner of the adjacent condominium had previously expressed no objection to the project. The commission acknowledged a preference to locate the pavilion near the site of the original structure, with the dune area near the bathrooms as a fallback if DNREC does not approve the primary location. Chair Daisey expressed concern about losing fundraising momentum during a lengthy approval timeline, but Ms. Kirsch noted that organizations such as the Rotary Club typically require a confirmed bid and project documentation before releasing funds. The commission agreed to continue monitoring the GMB design progress and anticipated receiving a status update at the July meeting. 3. Discussion and possible action regarding LAAHC Community Appreciation and Recognition Awards Chair Daisey announced the 2026 LAAHC Community Appreciation and Recognition Award recipients: Charlotte King, Leonia Robinson, and Reverend George Edwards, Sr. Chair Daisey noted that for 2026, the awards were again selected by the Juneteenth Committee due to timing, but that beginning in 2027, nominations and selections will be managed by the full commission, potentially through a dedicated work group. Chair Daisey also emphasized the importance of increasing the visibility of the awards through separate press releases, so that recipients receive recognition independent of Juneteenth activities. F. PUBLIC COMMENT: Trina Brown-Hicks, 504 Dupont Avenue, noted that the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center had taken place that day and was live-streamed online, encouraging interested residents to view the recording. G. ADJOURNMENT Motion: A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Collick and seconded by Commissioner Jackson. The motion carried unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 6:02 PM. Minutes submitted by: Jeffery Coover, Administration Support Specialist Minutes generated by HeyGov.ai Transcripts available upon request Page 4 of 4  Page 6 of 7 LAAHC Social & Economic Workgroup | Confidential Working Document LEWES AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMISSION Social & Economic Workgroup Lewes, Delaware and the Middle Passage: Ceremonies & Port Marker Project Recommendation Prepared for LAAHC Commissioners - July 2026 WORKING DOCUMENT 1. Executive Summary Lewes, Delaware is proposing to join the national Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project (MPCPMP) as the newest coastal town to be acknowledged as a port of significance to the transatlantic slave trade. New evidence proves that Lewes served as a secondary, smaller slave port to major hubs including Philadelphia. 2. Lewes Served as a Secondary Slave Port Lewes was not a major slave-trading hub on the scale of Philadelphia or the Chesapeake's larger ports. But several structural factors made it a plausible, low-visibility secondary stop for smaller sloops, schooners & shallop vessels engaged in the trade: ● Geographic position: Lewes sits directly at the mouth of Delaware Bay, the first anchorage a ship would reach after rounding Cape Henlopen — a natural stopping point before continuing to Philadelphia or the Chesapeake. ● Shallow-draft infrastructure: Lewes's harbor and creek (now part of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) were suited to the sloops and other small, shallow-draft vessels that dominated the coastal and inter-colonial slave trade — as opposed to the large, multi-decked ships used on direct Africa-to-major-port routes. ● Lower regulatory scrutiny: Larger ports such as Philadelphia maintained strict customs, tariff, and quarantine enforcement. A smaller, less-monitored port like Lewes offered a practical alternative when a ship's cargo could not be sold at a major port — and no import tax on slaves in Delaware provided a great incentive to traders. ● Existing shipbuilding and maritime trade networks: Lewes already had an active shipbuilding industry and merchant connections (including to Philadelphia financiers such as Robert Ellis), providing the commercial relationships needed to facilitate a sale. ● Proximity to a planter market: Sussex County's agricultural economy, oriented toward tobacco and grain production similar to the Chesapeake, created local demand for enslaved labor that a secondary landing at Lewes could directly supply. Factors such as those explain why a small number of documented voyages — rather than a sustained, large-scale trade — would plausibly have included Lewes as a landing point. Note that the Historic Society of Lewes had no evidence of a connection to slave ports in Lewes or Angola, but is in the process of building a database of the crew and ships that came through Lewes (Valerie is in touch with them on this). 3. Summary of the Evidence 3.1 The Kollock Shipment (1738) The Historical Society of Pennsylvania records & the book "Slavery and Freedom in Delaware" by William Williams document that Robert Ellis shipped 16 enslaved people from Philadelphia to his son-in-law, Jacob Kollock, in Lewes (“Lewis-town”), where they were sold. Jacob Kollock inspected the cargo and ordered 16 slaves to be taken ashore. The recorded phrasing — that Ellis sent people he “had on hand” — suggests these individuals may already have cleared the Philadelphia market before being sent onward, which would make this an intra-colonial resale. The Middle Passage Marker Project team has reviewed the Kollock evidence and approved this as the strongest argument to establish Lewes as a new marker site; their suggestion is that Lewes move forward with the Memo of Understanding. 3.2 The Lydia Clark Testimony (1855, describing c. 1760) In an 1855–56 Sussex County court case (confirmed by court records), 87-year-old Lydia Clark testified under oath that, around 1760, a slave ship became stuck in Lewes Creek (now part of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal) and that a local woman Page 1  Page 7 of 7 LAAHC Social & Economic Workgroup | Confidential Working Document purchased an enslaved person from it. Clark's account was second-hand — she was born around 1768 — but she was reportedly related to the family involved. The account is disputed by the Nanticoke community, whose documented objection centers on the circumstances of Clark's testimony: she was financially dependent on a white family at the time and may have been pressured to testify as she did. Regardless of the dispute over Clark's specific account, the underlying premise of the testimony — that enslaved people were sold from a ship in Lewes — was accepted by the court without requiring independent proof of that specific claim. That is a meaningful, if indirect, signal that such an event was not considered implausible in the community's collective memory at the time.. 3.3 The “Slave Market” Reference (Folklore) The same source that contains the Lydia Clark account separately references, on p. 30, a woman traveling to “the slave market in Lewes to purchase a new lot of blacks from a slave ship.” The source itself labels this reference as folklore rather than documented fact. Its timing loosely aligns with the Clark account but should not be presented as independent corroboration. 4. Recommendations & Next Steps The George and Charming Sally accounts, taken together, are sufficient to move Lewes's position in the Middle Passage conversation from “symbolic gateway” to a location with documented, direct involvement in the transatlantic slave trade — specifically, as a secondary landing point where captives from at least two identifiable transatlantic voyages were sold. The Kollock shipment adds further, if less certain, documentary weight. The Lydia Clark testimony and the folklore reference do not independently prove a landing, but they are consistent with, and lend circumstantial support to, the documentary record. This is a materially stronger evidentiary position than the workgroup's original framing, and it directly addresses the central objection raised by opponents of the marker proposal — that there is “little direct evidence of slave ships docking in Lewes.” That objection is no longer accurate as stated and should be revisited with MPCPMP and community stakeholders. 5. Recommendations & Next Steps 1. Proceed with the Middle Passage Marker proposal, on a strengthened evidentiary basis. LAAHC, with the support of the workgroup, can consider completing the Memo of Understanding with the Middle Passage Ceremonies & Port Markers Project ($5,000 would be provided for the marker creation). 2. Commission primary-source verification before finalizing public-facing language. Examine (a) Williams, Slavery and Freedom in Delaware and (b) the original Historical Society of Pennsylvania shipment record. NOTE: Valerie Francois has obtained these documents and reviewed them. 3. Confirm a Lewes Middle Passage Liason. A signed MOU with MPCPMP requires names of the official committee and chair (Valerie Francois has volunteered to continue leading this initiative and work with LAAHC & the workgroup; and to suggest additional committee members to represent a mix of interests from the town of Lewes); this should be finalized promptly given the strengthened evidence base. 4. Review any existing Middle Passage Marker language and artwork. ReReview any existing text and artwork (and related heritage trail and pillar messaging) to reflect documented direct landings rather than symbolic gateway framing, while being careful to represent the Kollock evidence. New artwork may need to be commissioned and the $5,000 grant can be used towards the marker artwork and creation. 5. Recommended marker location: Canalfront Park / the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal (near the historic Lewes Creek and Pilottown Road corridor). The Cape May–Lewes Ferry Terminal, Cape Henlopen/Harbor of Refuge, and the Lewes Canal/Downtown Waterfront — are all possibilities, however the new evidence points most directly to the Canal/downtown waterfront option. Note that William Still's book, The Underground Railroad, depicts an image of slaves escaping from Lewes and sailing to the shores of Cape May, New Jersey--another documented story to incorporate. The Lydia Clark account's “stuck in Lewes Creek” location sits on this stretch of water, immediately adjacent to Pilottown Road, the documented slave quarters, the St. George A.M.E. Cemetery, and the Cato Lewis shipyard site. This location ties the marker to the specific, evidenced history rather than to a modern transportation landmark, and it integrates naturally into the existing heritage trail and walking tour route. The Cape May Ferry Terminal site remains a reasonable secondary option for visibility. LAAHC Social & Economic Workgroup | Lewes, Delaware | July 2026 | Working Document Contact: Valerie Francois Page 2