October 12, 2021 – Samantha Dorm with Lebanon Cemetery shared the history of York’s largest black cemetery where six generations of her family are buried. The cemetery was founded in 1872, and is nestled on a hill in what was once remote acreage outside York city. It is the burial site of former slaves, military veterans, a bishop and other religious leaders and prominent members of the black community. In April of 2019, a small group of dedicated volunteers came together at Lebanon Cemetery in North York Borough to help with upkeep. In the process, a very rich history of York County's African-American community was uncovered . There was a sense of urgency surrounding the reclamation and preservation of this hallowed ground. In December of 2020, Friends of Lebanon Cemetery was created. Through volunteer efforts, they work to uncover the rich history of York County's African-American burial grounds by researching, identifying and documenting the people interred in these cemeteries, linking familial ties, preserving and restoring not just their locations but their stories. These places matter and merit our respect and protection because they represent a collective history and offer a way to preserve voices of those who were often left out of our historical narrative. Telling their stories through the preservation of their last resting places is vital to providing an authentic narrative of American history. “Their struggles, their hardships, their passions helped pave the way for future generations in York,” the group’s website states. “There was segregation, even in death.” "This was the only cemetery where blacks in this area could be buried," said Samantha.
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