archaeology – Ever Widening Circle

The Witness Stones Project

The Witness Stones Project is a non-profit educational initiative whose mission is to restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved individuals who helped build our communities.

In Sept 2023 I was contacted by Historian Paul Hart of Barkhamsted Historical Society about the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village being featured in one of the Witness Stone projects.

Paul Hart was in touch with one of the project leaders and included them in our email correspondence. Shortly after, I received a message from Laura McCarthy Ed.D., the Director of the Academic Success Center. Having recently visited the Lighthouse site, she expressed interest in learning more about the village and its inhabitants. She asked if I would be willing to assist with the project. Without hesitation, I gladly agreed to help in any capacity needed.

“The Witness Stones Project is a critical necessity for our country. The effort is not critical solely because it restores the humanity that was stolen from the enslaved. It is critical because it can change a student’s empathetic orientation to the hard facts of our country’s past. It is critical because we need a truthful telling of America’s history that acknowledges the contributions of all Americans.“

“Our history is not without pain. Neither is our present. Nor will our future be unless we own our history and grow from it together. Our real history is our children’s right. It is their legacy. And it must be their truth. And if we do this right, the ability to discuss, understand, acknowledge, and reconcile our collective history will be our children’s power.”

Pat Wilson Pheanious, JD, MSW
Chair of the Board of Directors
Witness Stones Project, Inc.

Follow this link to view the article on one of their projects: https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/New-Haven-Witness-Stone-brings-former-enslaved-16220702.php

Their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Hey there, we’re all about diversity, equity, and inclusion! It’s super important to us that everyone feels valued and respected, no matter who they are. We’re committed to creating a welcoming environment where all voices are heard and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Let’s celebrate our differences and work together to make our community awesome for everyone!

The Witness Stones Project’s purpose is to uncover, restore, and honor the history and humanity of enslaved individuals.

We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion must be at the center of how we think and act in order to fulfill that mission.

We value the diversity of the students, educators, parents and families, communities, staff and board members, and funders, and we recognize how each stakeholder contributes to the development of the organization in unique, impactful ways.

We seek to create equitable access to our curriculum and program resources, along with opportunities within and in partnership with the organization.

We prioritize creating spaces where all are recognized, honored, and welcomed.

Approved by the Board of Directors, 2022.

On Sept 13th 2023 they accepted us as one of their projects (super exciting) and started with plans to move forward with project.

Laura McCarty emailed me the rundown of activities:

The Witness Stone Project: We will be following the curriculum of The Witness Stones Project to commemorate the life of those who were enslaved in Connecticut. We’ve chosen to commemorate the life of James Chaugham, as he was enslaved in Rhode Island. https://witnessstonesproject.org/ We will produce two pieces to commemorate James Chaugham’s life, a book and a ceremony. The ceremony will be held in April/May and we will host and event to share our learning’s about his life, share our reflections, and lay a Witness Stone.
The students participating in the project: the students who will be going through this project are from a few different Northwestern Connecticut Community College groups—Team Success Scholars, History Association, and Phi Theta Kappa (the honor society for two-year colleges). The majority of students will be from Team Success Scholars. The Team Success Scholars program has to do Community Action Projects, which is affiliated with Oxford Consortium on Human Rights. Two of the students will be going to Oxford University to talk about their work on the Lighthouse Community in March, 2024.
1. One group of students will be looking at the genealogy of the Lighthouse Community. I am asking this group to interview three descendants on their connection to the Lighthouse Community. I am hoping that you would help us with this!
Troutbeck Symposium: The Troutbeck Symposium is the culmination of local history project-based education. This symposium is held the historic Troutbeck Inn, which was the site of two critical meetings of the NAACP. The symposium will be held April 28-30th. Here is a website that hosts the work that has been done to this point: https://coloringourpast.org/

We are kicking off our year tomorrow with a tour of the Lighthouse Community. The WitnessStones Project will share a lecture on the History of Slavery in Connecticut on Sept. 28th, and then the students will be broken into their workgroups to make the plans. They will present their workplans on October 13^th at Quinnipiac University. This presentation is part of the Oxford Consortium on Human Rights work.

Thanks! Laura

Email via Laura McCarthy: The students and I toured the Lighthouse Community yesterday to give them a sense of this project. On September 28^th from 12:30-1:45pm, we are having Liz Lightfoot from The WitnessStones Project give a lecture on the History of Slavery in Connecticut. This will be in Founders Hall Auditorium and is open to the public. You are welcome to join. This initial work is laying the foundation for the students to conceptualize the life and times of James Chaugham.

Thank you for your assistance! Laura

I was overjoyed to discover that the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village archaeologist and author Kenneth (Ken) Feder was also participating in the project.

Ken is also the founder and director of the Farmington River Archaeological Project which studies the prehistory of the region in northwest Connecticut and author of books on that of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village.

I donated my research & genealogy book I have been working on – of the Lighthouse People. Sent them several files to help the students.
It was at this time, that I was also introduced via email to Liz Lightfoot (Director of Operations – Witness Stones Project), Dennis Culliton (Witness Stones Project), Jessie DePonte and team.

On Oct 23rd 2023 I received an update via email from Laura McCarty

Hi Everyone!

Thank you all for your support with the Lighthouse Project. I feel like we are officially launched. Our students have a firm understanding of the project and its parameters. On October 13th, they presented the project at the Oxford Consortium on Human Rights. It was a real delight to see them be able to communicate the project and its importance to faculty from Oxford University, Quinnipiac University, Bridgewater State University, and Sonoma State University.

We have broken the students into teams—Genealogy, Narrative Writing, and Social Media. We will begin meeting with these teams to launch their individual work in the next two weeks. The students’ goal is to produce a documentary film, with assistance from Ben Willis. Ben is funded through the Troutbeck Symposium and is free to us! We have begun a repository for film documenting our work…. We have aspirations for a social media presents and a book. Of course, all of this will conclude in May with a placing of a WitnessStone in James Chaughum’s memory.

The leads for these projects are: Genealogy—Jessie DePonte, Narrative Writing—Todd Bryda and Laura McCarthy, and Social Media/Event—Maggie Sullivan. We will be reaching out to Liz and Coni for research support with the students’ work. Coni, thank you for your years of dedication to documentation and researching your family. These connections and documents are impressive! Thanks to all your work, I easily located another descendant, who is a former student of mine, Jess Tessman! I worked closely with Jess when she was a student here and having her involved makes this project so much more significant to me personally.

I will be attending a presentation by Kenny Feder on Sunday at the American Indian Studies Institute in Washington, CT. Mr. Feder did the monumental archeological work of uncovering the remains of the Lighthouse Community.

Thanks! Laura

Email from Liz Lightfoot 0n Oct 26, 2023:

Hi again, Coni. I just wanted to say again how terrific it was to speak with you, how grateful we are for your remarkable research and your generosity in sharing it, and how much I admire you for devoting so many years (and so much love) to this important work. What an extraordinary job you do – it’s truly inspiring and vitally important!

All best, Liz

Sometime in November 2023 Ken Feder and I had a video conference with the students.

Feb 2024 I receive an email from Liz Lightfoot:

Coni, your research was beyond helpful! What a phenomenal job you have done, and clearly it’s been a labor of love. I’m so excited to see what the students come up with.

Thank you all for helping me learn about this fascinating man and his family. It’s a story everyone should know.

All best, Liz

Upcoming: I will be Zooming with students this week to answer questions they have prepared for me~
- “I feel incredibly privileged to have been a part of this incredible project and its team. Collaborating with the entire team has been an amazing experience and I am eagerly anticipating the final results from the project’s students.“

My final thoughts,

It is crucial to share the entire story, holding nothing back. By allowing others to follow the Barkhamsted Lighthouse narrative, we can present a fresh perspective to younger generations. Witnessing their unique viewpoint on this piece of history will undoubtedly be intriguing. Let’s not shy away from the truth and embrace the opportunity to educate and inspire the future.“
Coni Dubois

We’re currently in the process of finalizing the times and dates for the placement of the Witness Stone at Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village. As soon as they are confirmed, we will make sure to keep everyone informed.
Thank you for your patience.

Books by Ken Feder via Wikipedia

Feder, Kenneth (1998). Lessons From the Past: An Introductory Reader in Archaeology. McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages. ISBN 978-0-7674-0453-2.
Feder, Kenneth; Coauthor – Michael Alan Park (1989). Human Antiquity: An Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology. Mayfield Publishing. ISBN 978-0-87484-828-1.
Feder, Kenneth (2019). Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology 10th edition. Oxford University Press Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages. ISBN 978-0190096410.
Feder, Kenneth (1993). A Village of Outcasts: Historical Archaeology and Documentary Research at the Lighthouse Site. Mayfield Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55934-255-1. Feder, Kenneth; Coauthor – David A. Poirier (2001). Dangerous Places: Health, Safety, and Archaeology. Bergin & Garvey. ISBN 978-0-89789-801-0.
Feder, Kenneth (2006). Past in Perspective: An Introduction to Human Prehistory. Mcgraw-Hill College. ISBN 978-0-07-310770-7.
Feder, Kenneth; Coauthor – Michael Park (2006). Human Antiquity: An Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Archaeology. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-304196-4. Feder, Kenneth (2007). Linking to the Past: A Brief Introduction to Archaeology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-533117-2.
Feder, Kenneth; Coauthor – Thomas R. Hester; Coauthor – Harry J. Shafer (2009). Field Methods in Archaeology, 7th Edition. Mayfield Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59874-428-6.
Feder, Kenneth (2010). Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology: From Atlantis to the Walam Olum. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-37918-5.
Feder, Kenneth (2016). Ancient America: Fifty Archaeological Sites to See for Yourself. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-6312-3.
Feder, Kenneth (2023). Native American Archaeology in the Parks: A Guide to Heritage Sites in Our National Parks and Monuments. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-4586-9.
Feder, Kenneth L. (2023). The Barkhamsted Lighthouse: The Archaeology of the Lighthouse Family. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-8085-3.