Work begins to save endangered, historic Bridgeport Freeman homes
BRIDGEPORT — A significant piece of African-American history and one of the nation's most endangered historic sites is finally headed for restoration after a years-long fundraising effort. The fragile-looking structures, remnants of Little Liberia, a 200-year-old, 15-block community founded by free African Americans and Natives, are now being stabilized and transformed. The Eliza Freeman building, in particular, is being shored up to lift it for a new foundation, ensuring its structural integrity and resilience.
Maisa Tisdale, who leads the Freeman Center, a nonprofit founded in 2009 to save the Mary and Eliza Freeman houses on Main Street in the South End, expressed her excitement about the progress. The South End, located on Long Island Sound, is prone to flooding during severe storms. The delayed federally-funded effort to fortify the neighborhood against future water damage has been in limbo due to cuts announced by President Donald Trump's administration. The renovated Eliza Freeman home will also have space for neighborhood meetings and gatherings.
Despite the challenges, the Freeman Center has made significant strides. In 2018, the buildings were added to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of 'America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.' The construction was supposed to have begun in summer 2021, over a dozen years after the structures were saved from demolition. However, the aftermath of the COVID-19 global health crisis led to a significant increase in construction costs, leaving a substantial gap between the funds available and the required amount. The National Park Service and U.S. Congress came to the rescue in 2023 with a $750,000 African American Civil Rights grant, which required a one-year technical review and zoning permits. While more funding is still needed to complete the Eliza Freeman work and tackle the Mary Freeman house, Tisdale remains optimistic.
Tisdale emphasized the importance of this milestone, stating, 'We crossed a major threshold. This is something to be celebrated and encouraging. It just seems like we're finally on our way. It's still a daunting task, but we can look back and say together we've accomplished so much. And just keep going.'
