Earlier this week, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) and Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation jointly hosted an African-American History Month event honoring the historic Dennis Farm. The well-attended community event, held at The African American Museum in Philadelphia, was an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the preservation of the historic farm.
Part of the Dennis family for over two centuries, the 153-acre Susquehanna County farm was purchased in the wake of the Revolutionary War. Prince Perkins, a free African American, bought the site in 1793, and since it has been owned and well-maintained by seven generations of the Dennis Family.
Click HERE to view additional photos from this event.
This week, a standing-room-only crowd of community members, state and local elected officials, and other regional leaders heard deeply personal and moving testimony, Denise Dennis. Ms. Dennis, a Philadelphia resident and preservationist, delivered an powerful story about the history of the farm, her recent struggle to protect its deteriorating foundation, and now, its bright future thanks to safe Marcellus Shale development.
From the New Pittsburgh Courier:
Dennis spoke on the farm’s cultural, agricultural and environmental history and discussed plans for its stabilization and restoration made possible in part by a shale gas lease she signed with Cabot Oil in December that will help fund Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust. “It’s amazing how you meeting the right people, in the right place at the right time,”… [Dennis] then met with some folks from Cabot Oil… “Long story short, I eventually met (Cabot Director of External Affairs) George (Stark) and I told him about the farm’s history and the restoration and education pieces I’d planned, and he got it” … “They are vested in our success now…from the industrial revolution to the shale revolution, free Blacks have held this land. That’s history.”
And according to Philly.com:
“It affords a stunning glimpse into the lives of free African Americans over the last two centuries and the agricultural legacy of the region.”
Without question, the Dennis Farm is another inspiring example of how safely-produced domestic natural gas continues to positively rewrite – and preserve – American history for generations to come.
For those who are interested in learning more, please visit Cabot’s corporate blog, where the presentations are available by clicking here HERE, and check out the MSC’s (@MarcellusGas) and Cabot’s (@CabotOG) Twitter feeds for more info from this week’s event, and view our Facebook page for a photo gallery.
Do you, or anyone you know, have questions about natural gas development in Pennsylvania? Please visit LearnAboutShale.org. We hope to hear from you.
