AMHERST — During his military service, Charles Thompson, a Black soldier from Amherst serving in the 54th regiment during the Civil War, recounted his thoughts and feelings of his experience in a handwritten letter to his sister, Mary Thompson.

Now, more than 150 years after sending the correspondence, the original historic document is housed in a glass case at the center of the Freedom Room at Ancestral Bridges, accompanied by an interpretive exhibit, put together by Amherst College students, who carefully transcribed each word in the letter.

With the letter a focal point of the room inside Ancestral Bridges’ physical space at 29A Cottage St., Amherst College sophomore Liana Zempare explained to people gathered at a “sneak peak” event on May 7 the importance of the work she completed for the American Literature in Conversation class.

“Overall, this is about being in a space where your voice is valued, where there’s a personal history in conversation with others,” Zempare said. “This is a special place to work with direct descendants, and seeing their work and their fight for liberation and freedom. It’s affected me in ways beyond the class.”

Anika Lopes, who founded Ancestral Bridges, said the site is the first in town to explore the erased, obscure and lesser known Black and Afro-Indigenous history in Amherst.

Calling it the “first of its kind” cultural anchor that lifts up the Black and Afro-Indigenous history in Amherst, she partnered with Amherst College and its Center for Community Engagement, and students in Lisa Brooks’ American Literature in Conversation class.

“This is really a surreal moment for me and my family members,” said Lopes, who was joined by, among others, her mother, Debora Bridges, curator of the Civil War Tablet and Photograph Exhibit, and Edythe Harris, the daughter of Amherst’s internationally acclaimed jazz musician, Gilbert “Gil” Roberts, who turns 98 next month. Harris is a descendant of Charles Thompson.

At the Curiosity, Connection and Conversation sneak peak event people could see the artifacts throughout the various rooms and display cabinets, whether it to be Music Corner, which traces the jazz roots in town with sounds, the Hat Room outlining the history of millinery in Amherst, the In/Visible display case, elaborating on the relationship between Black and Afro-Indigenous residents and Amherst College, Juneteenth, for the untold stories of liberation and enterepeneurship. The space also includes numerous historical photographs and contemporary art are displayed.

Civil War letter

Audrey Seeger, a freshman at Amherst College, joined Zempare at the college’s Frost Library in figuring out all the words in Thompson’s letter, getting help with certain words that are not understandable since they were slang at the time. She then put the Thompson letter into context.

“Our job was to contextualize this, so visitors can read the letter and understand it,” Seeger said.

“It’s been super valuable to focus on local aspect of American history and the Afro-Indigenous conversation, both historical and contemporary, and the oral history from so far back,” Seeger said.

In attendance on May 7 were members of the Amherst Town Council, residents who have undertaken efforts to bring reparations to those of Black and African heritage and numerous community leaders.

Amherst College President Michael A. Elliott called Ancestral Bridges a tremendous partner with the college and privilege to be able to highlight through the intergenerational effort.

“You’re one of the reasons Amherst is a great place to live,” Elliott said.

Aimee Sinsel, an Amherst College junior, was among those in the class, helping to transcribe all 317 names from a handwritten ledger of the all the soldiers from Amherst, both Black and white, a record that visitors of names and other details can peruse while in the Freedom Room.

There they can also sit on a 19th century bench from the North Congregational Church, reflecting on the experience. Those names are all of the ones inscribed on the Civil War tablets at the Bangs Community Center.

“This has been a special opportunity to get involved in the community,” Sinsel said, noting college can be a bubble.

“This is a very different way to learn about American literature, and at the same time the town of Amherst,” Sinsel said.

A professor of American studies, Brooks said students also completed video recordings of conversations with elders, including Debora Bridges and Carlie Tartakov, an Amherst educator.

Zoe Jacobs Feinstein, associate director of the college’s Community-Engaged Learning for the Center for Community Engagement, said students did things to learn how to interview.

“What’s extraordinary about it is this was designed in collaboration with Anika, centered on Anika’s desire for space,” Jacobs Feinstein said.

In addition to students speaking to those in attendance about the connections they made, Cheryll Toney Holley, the Sonksq, or female chief, of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, spoke. “This is an amazing place, is it not?” Holley said.

While a celebratory occasion, and thanking the Community Foundation of Western Mass, Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mead Art Museum, the Mill District, New England Foundation for the Arts and the New England Histories Project for support, Lopes closed her remarks by referencing concerns about what might be looming from Washington, D.C.

“We’ve just opened the doors from erasure and now we face it again and again and again and again,” Lopes said.

Lopes is thanking her mother, who has been with her every step of the way, from priming the walls to curating the space. “I am so grateful for and proud of my mother, Debora Bridges. Her love and energy guided every aspect of how the space feels.”

She observes, too, that the space is dedicated to the memory of her grandfather and cousin, with one of the signs at the entrance reading, “This space is dedicated to the memory of Dudley J. Bridges Sr. and Daniel B. Harris, who were unwavering in their commitment to preserving our history for future generations.”

Ancestral Bridges will be open to visitors for spring and summer hours starting June 3. The hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays; from 12 to 5 p.m. on Fridays; and from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information, email info@ancestral-bridges.org or call 413-230-3240 to make an appointment or for assistance with group visits, guided tours and jazzy walking tours.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.