Bergen County Hosting Gethsemane Cemetery Tour On Juneteenth

LITTLE FERRY, NJ — The Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs will host a Juneteenth tour of Gethsemane Cemetery this week, in honor of the holiday.

Self-guided tours will be available on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Little Ferry Cemetery, and the public viewing will feature Bergen County historian Dr. Arnold Brown, who will be on site to answer questions.

The cemetery was founded in 1860 as a burial site for Hackensack's Black population, the county said. The graves of over 500 people have been documented, and among those buried there are former slaves, wealthy landowners, and two Civil War veterans.

"We are always thrilled to open Gethsemane Cemetery to the public, and Juneteenth is a special date," said Cynthia Forster, director of the DCHA.

"It allows us to highlight a historic site that belongs to all of us and especially our African-American population. The people buried here were not allowed to be buried in the general Hackensack cemetery due to their race. We want to make sure Bergen County residents don’t forget that history, but also feel encouraged by how far we’ve come."

The cemetery is located between Summit Place and Liberty Street (entrance on Summit Place), north of Rt. 46 in Little Ferry.

A recorded tour of the cemetery is also available on the county website.

Legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in September 2020 officially designated the third Friday in June as a state and public holiday.

Juneteenth, which is short for June 19th, is a 156-year-old holiday that celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in the United States.

"Juneteenth today celebrates African-American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures," according to Juneteenth.com in an explanation of the holiday.

On June 19, 1865, Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that the Civil War was over and slavery had been abolished.

Granger publicly read General Order No. 3, which said: "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."

Granger's announcement implemented the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, more than 2-1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln first issued it in 1863 .

Initially, the presidential order caused little change in Texas due to the lack of Union troops to enforce it.

READ MORE: What Is Juneteenth? 5 Things To Know About The Holiday

Additional reporting by Gus Saltonstall.