Have you met “Pete” Hill? John Preston “Pete” Hill was an outstanding Negro Leagues Baseball player often talked about in the same sentence as the better-known Babe Ruth. In July of 2006, a man named Joseph Preston “Pete” Hill, born in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1880, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, …
By August 2009, the path to Hill’s personal life including his correct name, birthplace and birth date was well worn by at least a half dozen baseball historians. Yet, the data had not been compiled, analyzed and concluded. This was my first foray into the vast world of baseball history and I was duly impressed …
Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Buena, Culpeper Co., VA Research has proven irrefutably that Pete Hill was born in Virginia. But Virginia is a vast state and a birthplace often provides the single thread, imbued with color, character and strength, that connects the generations. Pete Hill’s Social Security application recorded Rapidan, Va., as his birthplace. …
Photo of Lizzie Seals contributed by the Pete Hill’s descendants. Baseball Hall of Famer and most likely the son of former slaves, John Preston “Pete” Hill, born in the village of Buena, Culpeper County, Va. in 1882, lived his entire adult life north of the Mason-Dixon Line. He played ball, not for fame or fortune, …
Last week’s column about African-Americans in the Locust Grove area was a big hit! I have received calls and emails regarding the families of Washington, Henderson, Nelson, Brown and Broadus/Broddus—just to name a few. I am thrilled with the response and the wealth of material these folks have collected and preserved. I am doubly thrilled …
Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Gov. Almond Road, Orange County, VA The folks that live in and around the Lake of the Woods (LOW) area of Orange County are very interested in learning more about the African American families that settled there after Emancipation. Last Friday, I enjoyed an opportunity to speaking about a few …
Anticipation! The magic potion that gets us up in the morning; gets us past the humdrum of routine, and often over the hump of life’s less than desirable events. It helps if the anticipation is for the promise of good things: presents, sweet time with family and friends, a great meal, good bottle of wine …
It is not my intention to leave the discussion of the First Africans-the “20 and odd”- who landed on Virginia soil in 1619 as if a conclusion has been reached. To the contrary, the fruitful debate takes time, comprehension, and study. The last five articles should provide excellent fodder for continuing conversations: letting the thought …
Note a couple of items on this marker produced in 1994. The text questions the status of these First Africans as being enslaved or indentured and one should note that until 1661 the Virginia Colony had no laws pertaining to the institution of race based slavery or any other form of slavery. The second item …
Note: The VDHR let me know that the 1994 signage was removed and a replacement erected in 2015. It is unfortunate that the former sign remians on the web!! Have you been thinking about these questions I posed last week? Who were these people of color? Where did they come from? Were they a religious …