Primus’s Story: Freedom. A Book. Flora. And Juneteenth
All progress depends on the unreasonable [hu]man. George Bernard Shaw
Eyes open.
“He survived the loss of his homeland, his freedom.”
“Who was Primus? Who was Flora? Who was Venus? Why were their stories forgotten?”
“They will never disappear from the record again.”
So said John Mills, author, historian, genealogist–and a powerful speaker (his words are from the video that follows). Mills is on Facebook, sharing words and events for even more illumination.
Listen:
Or read his new book, Primus.
Also see when Juneteenth becoming a state holiday was not for certain.
“We cannot understate the importance of Juneteenth. It is a celebration of resilience, of culture and American history. It is emblematic of freedom for African Americans and for us all. It is a reminder of how far our country has come, and how far we still have to go.
“On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became the 11th Federal holiday when President Biden signed it into law.
“With the governor’s signature, Connecticut will be among a handful of states in distinguishing Juneteenth as a state holiday.”
“Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.” — Juneteenth.com
Before 2020, many were unaware of the history and culture behind this event. The humanity. (Including me.)
If you grow up with racism is it possible to choose differently? (Yes.)
That said, let’s see a sampling of ways to fee your mind and spirit, grow with learning:
New London, Connecticut.
Antone DeSant.
Image: Mystic Seaport Museum
G.W. Blunt White Library, Log 933.New London (CT) Black Heritage Trail. visitnewlondon.org/black-herita…
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) May 11, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Middletown.
“Reverend Beman came from Colchester, Connecticut, where his father, Caesar, gained freedom by fighting in the American Revolution in place of his enslaver.”
#history
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) May 12, 2026 at 9:29 AM
A new book, Rhode Island.
“The title of this new book, Echoes
from the Attic, comes from the discovery of a *nkisi*—a spirit bundle, found under the floorboards of the house during its restoration…”Regarding “Echoes from the Attic
Stories of Slavery and Freedom-Making in Newport, RI” edited by Dr. Akeia de Barros Gomes.— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) June 6, 2026 at 1:37 PM
This book.
“Over time, Americans have needed deflections from the deeper meanings of the Civil War. It haunts us still; we feel it, to borrow from Warren, but often do not face it.”
David W. Blight
#SundaySentence
Excerpt: www.hup.harvard.edu/file/feeds/P…
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) May 31, 2026 at 8:04 AM
And on we go, to Deep River, connected directly to Africa through trade, shipping, business. Ivory. How tusks were acquired, lives spent in doing so. Risks. Life and death for humans, for elephants. The goal: Objects (tusk/ivory) to be used in manufacturing; yes, in Connecticut.
Notice the details here.
Then a documentary, viewed late at night after writing. Powerful stuff, stories. Across an ocean to right here.
How we choose to remember. Seeing the beads found with burials stay with me. Recently watched and well worth review, A Story of Bones. How connected to the ivory trade and Deep River? The Middle Passage, the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Their bones speak to those who will listen.
PBS POV A Story of Bones “as Construction Environmental Officer for St. Helena’s troubled airport project, Annina van Neel learns about an unmarked mass burial ground of an estimated 9,000 formerly enslaved Africans. Haunted by this historical injustice, she and African American preservationist Peggy King Jorde fight for their proper memorialization, exposing the UK’s colonial past and present.”
Historic Narrative:
“Built by Pratt Brothers Co. in 1856 for the manufacture of ivory combs, it became a facility of Pratt Read and Co., the merger formed by Julius Pratt and Co., George Read and Co., and Pratt Brothers Co. in 1863. After the construction of the 1881 factory on Main Street in Deep River, this location was identified as the ‘West’ factory/mill of Pratt Read and Co., where ivory was cut and bleached for combs, keys, collar buttons and various notions. After Pratt Read and Co. merged with Comstock Cheney and Co. in 1936, Leonard Young moved his Electric Soldering Iron Co. to this location. Young had started the firm in New York in 1928 to produce soldering irons, tips and pots, and held several patents. Young also invented the ‘Health Ray’ lamp, a tanning device, establishing the Health Ray Manufacturing Co. c.1930 in New York; he moved production to the Deep River plant in 1937. The lamp, whose rays were purportedly four times stronger than mid-day summer sun, was sold by mail order only; users were cautioned against lengthy exposure. Between the two companies Young employed 35 people in 1937. From 1962 to 1987, the Electric Soldering Iron Co. was owned and operated by William A. Purtell Jr (1922-2004), son of Senator William A. Purtell, and in 1987, under new ownership it was renamed ESICO. Production of soldering equipment for use in the aerospace, automotive, branding, electrical, electronics, HVAC, hobbyist, marine, plumbing and roofing industries continued under ESICO-Triton International Inc.”
Architectural Description:
The 1856 wood frame factory building is one and a half stories with gable roof. One to two bleach houses, with southwestern facing glass elevations, were located to the north of the factory until c.1925. An ivory vault was located to the west on the other side of the head race until c.1936. The eastern engine shop and boiler house were built in 1911. According to town historian Rich Kalapos, as of 2016 the turn of the century turbine, rope-pulled elevator, and some machinery remain in place.
And to the present, a campus reborn as Pandemonium Thrift and Rescue Project Sanctuary.
“The FW Beers County Atlas of Middlesex, Connecticut, inset of the West Factory. This is one of the best visual indications of how much Route 9 changed the area. The bridge on the right side of the mill is where we have cleared down to, near the fire pit.” — Ian Basilone, PRP manager and historian, who shared his knowledge and this image, one of many in his collection for an upcoming feature story about both the building and connections to Africa, elephants, trade, slavery; but also about the vision of what the acreage and building are becoming for housing rescues and providing animal care, home to a community connecting to all with a big heart.
Ivory’s Ghosts by John Frederick Walker.
And then there is Connecticut’s Freedom Trail.
“Quentin Williams held his mother Queen Williams, who raised her son as a single mother, in very high regard. So much so that, in 2022, he changed his surname, Phipps, to hers.”
#CTFreedomTrail
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) April 2, 2026 at 9:50 AM