Via Stutsman County Courthouse Historical Site
A special Juneteenth program in Jamestown will shed light on the history of North Dakota’s early settlers, which according to reporting by the North Dakota Monitor, is more diverse than people realize.
The event takes place Friday afternoon at the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse, which is the oldest remaining courthouse in the state. It will cover the story of Benjamin Hayes, a Black U.S. Army soldier who came to Jamestown in 1882. He spent over 20 years in the community as the first Stutman courthouse cook, jailer, and restaraunteur at the Depot. He was also reported to be a comedian and entertainer.
Organizers say that while looking its Hayes’ story, other snippets of Black Americans in Stutsman County will be touched on.
The free educational presentation and historical displays begin at 2 p.m..
Read Michael Achterling‘s full reporting here.
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