Metro East Sun

State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) recently shared news about how a National Historic Site in Illinois became a national park.

“In 1836, New Philadelphia became the first town in the nation to be legally registered and platted by formerly enslaved people. In December, the town became the nation’s 424th national park,” Elik said in a Facebook post made on May 23.

Her post linked to a Belleville News-Democrat article describing the history of the new park. Gerald McWorter, whose great-great-grandparents founded New Philadelphia in 1836, helped tell the story. The site is located near Barry, Illinois.

As a newly freed Black man living in Illinois, Frank [McWorter] – Gerald's great-great grandfather  – did not have the right to stop people from trying to lay claim to his land. Christopher Fennell, a professor of anthropology and law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said Frank crafted a plan to prevent that, according to the BND article.

Frank McWorter hired an attorney, Fennell told the newspaper. They filed paperwork in Springfield, Illinois, to create a bill in the state legislature giving him the same rights, responsibilities and capacities as someone classified as white under the existing Illinois and national laws.

The Illinois General Assembly passed the McWorter law in 1837, effectively changing the spelling of his last name and guaranteeing his rights, according to the BND article. The McWorters bought more land in the surrounding area. New Philadelphia became known as an integrated abolitionist farm town with 160 residents at its peak and was also a stop on the Underground Railroad. The publication said that New Philadelphia dissolved in 1885.

New Philadelphia National Historic Site was established as a national park in December 2022, according to a National Park Service (NPS) press release. The site was recognized as a National Historic Landmark on Jan. 16, 2009. NPS said protection of the town’s location will permanently safeguard it for future generations and help preserve the important stories of Frank McWorter and others from the first African-American town in the United States. The NPS plans to establish a presence there so that visitors can learn from the legacy of Frank McWorter.

“We welcome New Philadelphia National Historic Site as the 424th national park and invite all to learn about the town and those who lived there. The designation of New Philadelphia National Historic Site ensures that Frank McWorter’s struggle, sacrifices, and legacy will never be forgotten,” NPS Director Chuck Sams said, according to the release. “It is an honor to steward these parks and programs that preserve the diverse pieces of our nation’s history.”

Elik serves the 111th District and is a lifelong Illinois resident, according to her bio. She is a certified public accountant and auditor.