Peterson Home Site Threatened by Development

On March 31, 1870, Thomas Mundy Peterson became the first African American in the nation to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when he cast a ballot in a Perth Amboy, NJ city charter election. He had been working in the stables of J. L. Kearny that morning when his employer suggested he exercise his right as a citizen, showing him a newspaper announcing the Amendment. Peterson wasn’t sure about it—there would be a municipal election in a few weeks. On the way home for lunch, he bumped into Marcus Spring, who also encouraged him to vote. Peterson continued home and ate his lunch, mulling the matter over, perhaps discussing it with his wife, Daphne. On his way back to work, he stopped off at City Hall and made history.

The question is raised, where did Peterson call home? Where, exactly, did he make the decision that would make history? While researching his book about Peterson and his legacy, “To Cast a Freedman’s Vote,” historian and author Gordon Bond not only figured out where the family lived, but discovered the fascinating story of how they came by the house, and how there is an opportunity for an archeological investigation where it once stood. The only development on the site was an electrical supply company warehouse between the 1950s and early 2000s that had a slab foundation, meaning that there is a chance foundations, privy pits, or other areas could have artifacts dating to the Peterson family!

The problem is that the current owner, the Kushner Development Company, has refused to giver permission despite community interest and support from Perth Amboy City Hall.