"By the Sweat of Our Brows"

On Sept. 9 at Historic Brattonsville, descendants of the enslaved community gather to honor their ancestral legacy during “By the Sweat of Our Brows.” Dedicated to telling their authentic narrative, the descendant community has helped to organized the annual event since 2005.  

"By the Sweat of Our Brows" commences at 10:30 a.m. with the traditional Calling of the Names read from Harriet Bratton’s 1865 Freedmen’s List.

Panel discussions are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Black and white Bratton descendants discuss the impact of how the recent discovery of shared DNA impacts their personal lives and collaborative projects. Dr. Lisa Bratton is moderating the 11 a.m. panel.

Throughout the day, the descendants will greet visitors, showcase memorabilia and share stories. Around the site, period-dressed interpreters demonstrate what daily life was like on a cotton plantation in the 19th century through traditional African American cooking demonstrations, woodworking, basket weaving, quilting, hands-on activities, children’s games and musical performances.

Living history interprets the legacy of the Brick House with the award-winning exhibit “Liberty & Resistance: Reconstruction and the African American Community at Brattonsville 1865-1877” and the recreated Brattonsville Store. Tours detailing the landscapes of the 19th century plantation are scheduled for noon and 3 p.m.

During the event, staff from the Historical Center of York County will be available with information on genealogical research. Historical artifacts from Culture & Heritage Museums’ collections, two baskets and one woven coverlet, all believed to have been made by people enslaved on plantations in the surrounding area, will be on display in the site’s Orientation Room. The redesigned space also features the new permanent exhibit, “Historic Brattonsville: Through the Eras.”