The Friends of the African Union Church Cemetery was established in 1996 to restore and preserve this historic cemetery owned by the Mt. Salem Union AME Church.
The Friends’ primary mission is to preserve and share the rich history of the cemetery with the general public, from children through adults. The cemetery, part of one of the first free black communities in Delaware, was established in 1835 by five Black trustees. It includes graves of five United States Colored Troops who served bravely during the Civil War. Those are marked with Federal tombstones. We ensure that the site will be intact and accessible for future generations.
By accident ,the cemetery was rediscovered over 25 years ago by a few adventurous children who found a tombstone hidden by phragmites. Local tradition in Delaware City has it that erosion of the canal bank caused some of the burials to fall into the water.
Polktown, a hamlet that has disappeared, was once a thriving Black community just outside of Delaware City. The African Union Church was based there.
The Friends group researches Delaware City’s Black heritage and the Polktown community. In particular it has supported education about the contribution of local Black soldiers to the Union army in the Civil War.
Read more in past issues of our newsletter The Epitaph.
