Cleanup coming for Norwich’s African Methodist Episcopal cemetery

Luke Edwards, Post Contributor

An important piece of history in Norwich will be receiving some much-needed attention.

Norwich councillors have approved spending $16,000 on upkeep efforts for the African Methodist Episcopal cemetery, a heritage designated site near Otterville. The money will be used to remove a few dead and dying trees, conduct some branch trimming and generally clean up the cemetery.

“It’s a very important part of our township, it’s very significant historically,” said Coun. Karl Toews, who first brought the issues at the cemetery to the attention of staff.

“It needs to be in better condition.”

CAO Matt Smith said a site visit by staff confirmed the need for some work.

“Staff went down there and investigated and found out that, yes, there are indeed a number of trees that are in pretty poor shape and have not received the TLC that they should have had over a little while,” he said.

Because of the heritage designation on the property, the township will have to bring in a specialized climbing arborist to deal with the trees. That ups the cost a bit, and given the township already has a shoestring $6,000 budget for cemetery maintenance, staff came to councillors with the request. Smith said they plan on absorbing the extra costs within the existing budget, possibly using some year-end surplus dollars to cover it.

The cemetery is one of the few remaining Black pioneer burial grounds in Ontario. As free Black people and escaped slaves fleeing persecution in the United States settled in the Otterville area, trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church purchased the lot, west of present day Church Street, in 1856. The church and cemetery operated until the late 1880s, with the church disappearing sometime in the early 20th century.