In the fall of 2022, LancasterHistory staff member Randy Harris noticed that multiple gravestones at St. Mary's Cemetery in Lancaster were in need of attention. The three gravestones were leaning heavily and were at risk of falling over completely without the proper attention. Although the historic cemetery is home to many graves, these particular gravestones preserve an important piece of Lancaster's history, as they belong to Lydia Hamilton Smith and her two sons, William and Isaac.

Harris contacted the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania and Charles F. Snyder Funeral Homes to share his concerns about the gravesites. The organizations partnered with LancasterHistory to devise a plan to restore the burial site. Andre Dominguez, a LancasterHistory volunteer and local historian, created a conservation report for the site and worked with Mosko Cemetery Monument Services to start the process of resetting and stabilizing the gravestones.

Dominguez and Mosko used two 12-foot-tall cranes to lift the headstones, each of which weighed over 800 pounds. After the stones were moved aside, the cranes were used to pick up the bases, allowing the Dominguez and Mosko to dig down and level the ground with stone and marble chips. The base and headstones were then moved back to their proper place and sealed to prevent water from causing any further destabilization. Dominguez then cleaned all three of the grave markers.

Harris and Dominguez installed a commemorative marker at the gravesite following the restoration. The marker offers information on the Smith family and the significance of its role in history. Smith was a close friend of Thaddeus Stevens, and she worked as his housekeeper. The two were heavily involved in the Underground Railroad and actively worked for the liberation of slaves during the 19th century. "There have been questions about their relationship and lots of misinformation throughout the years, including varied accounts of where (Smith) is buried," Harris said. "This is another phase of continuing to find accurate information on two pivotal members of American history." A dedication ceremony for the new historical marker was held on June 28.

LancasterHistory is currently in the design phase for a large project to create the Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Smith Center for History and Democracy in downtown Lancaster. The building will be located on the corner of South Queen Street and Vine Street, and it will be part of the Lancaster County Convention Center. In the new installation, visitors will have a chance to learn about Lancaster's role in the Civil War and the lives of Stevens and Smith, as well as others who were involved with abolitionist efforts. "These people were considered fringe characters with no grounding in reality. They pushed the envelope until they brought more people to their side," Harris said. "We want to convey the importance of these people's lives and what it really meant to be an abolitionist and combat the horrors of slavery."

LancasterHistory hopes to begin construction on the project by the spring of 2025. For more information, visit http://www.lancasterhistory.org.