Juneteenth is an annual celebration of the end of slavery in the United States (not counting the 13th Amendment) and Linden Place is holding a fundraiser on that day.

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Linden Place, the mansion of George DeWolf, is maintained as a museum and a place for weddings and other celebrations.

Susan Battle, executive director of Linden Place in Bristol, Rhode Island, notes that while George DeWolf participated in the slave trade, “as did the entire economy of Bristol,” he himself was not the “largest slave trader” in the United States. That title goes to his nephew, James DeWolf.

It is estimated James DeWolf transported 11,000-30,000 kidnapped and enslaved Africans to the United States.

Juneteenth is an annual celebration of the end of slavery in the United States (not counting the 13th Amendment) and Linden Place is holding a fundraiser on that day.

Looking into the fundraiser, UpriseRI found no acknowledgement of Juneteenth in any of the publicity for the event. We asked Executive Director Battle about that.

“Here at Linden Place we pride ourselves on being an educational resource for those looking to explore the history of the triangle slave trade in Bristol and beyond. Our tours delve into the DeWolf family’s long history with slavery and we host a twice a month walking tours focused on this important part of Linden Place and Bristol’s story. We are committed to presenting all of our history and stories, both good and bad, and we have for many years,” wrote Battle, in answer to an email. “We are proud and committed to being a part of the statewide Rhode Island Slave History Medallion project and we look forward to hosting everyone at the mansion for a tour (when we are able to reopen) so that you, too, can explore this significant part of our collective history.”

As for the fundraiser, “Like most non-profit institutions, Linden Place is struggling financially during this time of COVID-19. Our doors have been closed since March and without fundraising, we would not be able to continue our mission of preservation and education, including our programs regarding the DeWolf history with the triangle slave trade. We will be recognizing Juneteenth in Friday evening’s virtual performance as well as in advance on our social media platforms.”