As a fifth-generation descendant of Weston, Angela Hagenbach is happy, and proud that the town will host From Slavery to Freedom, Weston’s First Annual Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 19, at the Ben Holladay Pavilion in Weston City Park, behind Main Street, between Thomas and Spring streets.
“Through the collaboration of local businesses and civic leaders who appreciate the historical link to my Weston ancestors and are concerned about the lack of documentation regarding the contributions on the part of the Black population from the inception of Weston, I am honored to host the Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee - From Slavery to Freedom,” she said. “Brother John Rajpa will be my co-host.”
The event will offer the opportunity to journey back through enslavement to emancipation, and living free in Weston, while allowing attendees to become acquainted with a few little-known citizens of color from Weston’s past.
There will be memorabilia and merchandise available, of which 5 percent of sales goes to Weston’s Historically Black Ancestors Awareness Campaign. A barbecue will follow the event, provided by the Weston Rotary Club and Visit Weston. In case of rain the event will be held at the Burley House at 347 Main Street. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Hagenbach
Attendees are also encouraged to visit the African American Monument at Laurel Hill Cemetery, dedicated in 2019, commemorating approximately 400 enslaved and free souls buried there. In this First Annual Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee, those lives will be celebrated from slavery to freedom.
“With this being Missouri’s Bicentennial year, Weston was, and is, ready and interested in uncovering and learning about its rich and vital Black history,” Hagenbach said. “I’m pleased to say presenter participation was overwhelming to the point we had more interested parties than we could accommodate in our two-hour program. We’ve encouraged them to participate in our second Annual Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee next year.”
A backdrop to the event will be the vibrant folk art, Our Town Too, a 17-foot hanging mural created by the Fiber Artist Collaborative, which depicts the story From Slavery to Freedom, Weston, Mo.
Special guest presenters are Book of Gaia, a vocal trio featuring Pamela Baskin-Watson, Nedra Dixon and Hagenbach. They will offer a few musical numbers throughout the event including Hank Moberly’s East of the Village and The Negro Speaks of Rivers, a poem by Langston Hughes. Phyllis Becker, a published poet, has written Finding Freedom just for this occasion.
Author and documentarian Gary Jenkins will present his piece on Missouri Freedom Seekers and Those That Helped. Dr. Robert McNichols, a baritone soloist will perform an aria, What is American Slavery, from the opera John Brown. Author N.M. Shabazz will deliver his spoken-word piece, Empty Pipedreams: The Abandoned Promise of Reconstruction. Then Rebecca Ehrich will open the section called Remembrance, where some of Weston’s citizens will be highlighted.
Ehrich will speak on George Washington Ellis and his work in Liberia. Jessica Larsen will honor her mother Carolyn Bless Larsen and her important book We, Too, Lived. Lynn Johnson will talk about firefighter Raymond Dydell who died in service to the community.
Bill and Carla Sutton will highlight the beautiful African American Monument erected in Laurel Hill Cemetery, and mayor of Weston Kent Stelljes will open the jubilee and lead attendees in the communal hymn, Lift Every Voice and Sing.
Hagenbach was born and raised in Kansas City and in 1998 discovered her link with Weston.
“It is difficult for African Americans to trace genealogical lineage back more than a few generations,” Hagenbach said. “My sister, Joyce Johnson, and I only discovered our Weston ancestry in 1998, 10 years after our mother’s passing. We were at once shocked and pleased to learn our mother’s people came to Missouri through Weston, just miles away from where we grew up. Why our mother never discussed this is left to conjecture.”
She said there were many adjustments to be made on all sides after emancipation, which added tension and confusion.
“Living free is a welcome reality beyond any modern-day imagining,” Hagenbach said. “Reconstruction, a federal government peace-keeping measure, lasted 12 years before the federal army left the newly freed to their own defenses. But using my Weston ancestral research as a guide, I would imagine things settled down to near pleasant even if challenging. Joyce and I located Mariah Dayton-Vaughn, our third-great-grandmother, from our mother’s paternal lineage in 1998, and mother’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Dinah Robinson in 2015.
“With this discovery, we were able to confirm them in the 1870 U.S. Census for the City of Weston — the first time Black folks were listed by name and family groupings. In addition to their dwelling numbers, real estate value and other vital information, the 1870 U.S. Census showed Blacks and whites living next door to one another; the City of Weston appeared to be integrated.”
The event will be a valuable learning experience for children and adults alike. With the varied learning tools of poetry, the spoken word, music, history revealed and storytelling, the event will offer not only an informative experience, but also an entertaining way to learn.
Hagenbach said the importance of attending the Juneteenth event is to learn more about the history of slavery and emancipation, because it is American history that will benefit everyone.
“In this case, we’re addressing and exploring Weston’s history,” Hagenbach said. “By its very nature, history is written by and for the victors and is doomed to repeat itself for better or worse without modern exploration. Ignoring this history hurts us all and blocks us from viewing each other as countrymen and women.
“It negates the opportunity for us to lead with love and pride for our nation and her people. John Naisbitt said it best, ‘We are drowning in information, but starving for knowledge.’ We are family. We are a nation of diversity. We always have been.”
She believes the underlying lives of those oppressed is every bit as vital, precious and important to the fabric of America.
“Weston is but a slice of that collective American history — our slice, and I’m thrilled to present some of that history at our first annual Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee — From Slavery to Freedom,” Hagenbach said.
As Juneteenth approaches, Hagenbach is most looking forward to sharing what has been learned about the rich and hidden history of such an important element of Weston’s past, and she is eager to promote the Black Ancestors Awareness Campaign of Weston.
“We’re looking forward to using this celebration as a springboard to recognize, honor and promote the lives and contributions of Weston’s resilient Black community whose labor, talent and industry resonate in historic Weston to this day,” Hagenbach said.