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G.I. Museum to hold talk about island’s Black history

The Gwynn’s Island Museum is sponsoring a talk titled “Why African Americans Left Gwynn’s Island between 1916-1920” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, in the community room of the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad on Cricket Hill Road at Hudgins.

Genealogical researchers Allison Thomas and Maria Montgomery have together researched the history of the Black families who lived on Gwynn’s Island after the Civil War and who left there between 1916 and 1920.

The two believe the flight was sparked by an incident involving a fight that occurred on the island on Christmas Eve, 1915. Montgomery’s great-grandfather was involved in the fight.

Extensive research has gone into the women’s study, said a press release. Copies of their work are available at the museum and will be on hand at the talk.

For more information, call Tom Edwards at 804-725-5022.
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