For Black History Month, Urban Grid reflects on the legacy of Rev. Lewis H. Bayneum, a minister and undertaker who established what became Silent City Cemetery in Cambridge, Maryland. Tucked away and nearly forgotten, this sacred site is the final resting place for more than 100 community members, including WWII veterans. Too many African American cemeteries on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and beyond have been neglected, their histories at risk of being lost. Silent City is one of them—hidden from view on land Urban Grid owns and will tend as part of our Egypt Road Solar project. Our community commitment is to ensure this unique history is not erased. With guidance from the COALITION TO PROTECT MARYLAND BURIAL SITES INC, and in partnership with the Dorchester County Historical Society, we are launching a community-driven research initiative to uncover and document the stories of Silent City Cemetery, providing an ongoing resource for local descendants seeking to reconnect with their past. As our project work gets underway, we are grateful to our partners at DEPCOM Power, Inc who will lead cleanup efforts in the surrounding area, ensure public safety and join us for the eventual installation and unveiling of a commemorative marker at the site when our Egypt Road Solar facility is completed. Preserving history is a responsibility. We are honored to be part of this effort. #communitycommitment
