Sleettown

The Birth of a Community

Perryville, Kentucky, is most recognized for its place in American history because of the Battle of Perryville in 1862. It was Kentucky’s most intense Civil War engagement. Yet as one begins to study this remarkable community, a touching story of freedom, perseverance and hope emerges–the story of Sleettown.

Sleettown, a self-sufficient community of freed slaves, represents a fascinating dynamic in Southern history. Black townships dotted the landscape of southern states during the Reconstruction Era as freed slaves sought to claim their independence through land ownership and economic self-sufficiency. Like other African Americans throughout the South, the appeal of freedom drew the Sleet family to the rich farmlands outside of Perryville in pursuit of independence. It was in such communities–separated from the influence and governance of whites–that many black families first tasted freedom.

Founding Family–The Sleets

The story of the Sleet family began in Mercer County, Kentucky, at the beginning of the 19th century. Dated August 4, 1836, the will of Reubin Sleet, a Mercer County slaveholder, makes the first reference of Warner–the patriarch of the African-American Sleet family. Upon Reubin’s death, Warner and his wife, Octavia (an Apache Indian) were willed to Lucy Ann Peter, Reubin’s daughter.

Although records do not give a date, Warner and Octavia Sleet moved, most likely with their new owner, to Boyle County. Census data shows that each of their three sons–Henry (c. 1842), Preston (c. 1844), and George (c. 1850)–was born in Boyle County.

1890/First Baptist Church

Through the efforts of these three brothers, Sleettown emerged just west of Perryville during the Reconstruction Era. And although each played an important role in the community’s development, Henry and Preston were particularly committed to the success of Sleettown.

Sleettown–1865 through 1931

At the close of the Civil War, residents in Perryville were working to overcome the losses incurred by the devastating Battle of Perryville. Farmers began re-tilling the land, and the commercial district began rebuilding its businesses. Just west of this town, Henry and Preston Sleet began laying foundation for Sleettown.

Although the official purchase of the property recognized as Sleettown is not recorded until 1880 at the Boyle County Courthouse, deed records suggest that the Sleet family had resided and sharecropped this land as early as 1865. Records from 1880 through the early 1890s show that the Sleet family continued to purchase property around the initial parcel of land–ever increasing the size of Sleettown.

The spirit of Sleettown existed, however, not in its boundaries but in the stories of its residents. Raymond Sleet, a descendant of Preston, remembered Sleettown having its "own store, [and a] restaurant that would be a honky-tonk nowadays…." Several homes and a cemetery also filled the Sleettown community.

Hattie Sleet married Arthur Sleet, one of Preston’s grandsons, and remembers the spirit of fellowship at Sleettown. Neighbors worked together on the farm (tending to the land, hunting and fishing) and in the homes (helping one another with the cooking and the cleaning). At night, neighbors would visit with one another while their children played games.

The Sleets opened their community to other black families nearby, including the Pattersons, the Swanns and the Popes. Even though Sleettown remained a black community, the relationship with neighboring whites was open and friendly. Often blacks and whites would come together in the evenings to visit or play a game of cards.

The kindred spirit felt by each member of the community provided Sleettown its success. The enjoyment and freedom of daily life at Sleettown proved unique in a time of hardship and discrimination.

A Family Makes its Mark on History

For nearly 70 years, Sleettown served as home to many of the African-American families in western Boyle County. For its residents, it was the gateway to freedom. From slaves to sharecroppers to landowners, Henry, Preston and George Sleet–and their families–pursued the American dream at Sleettown.

Late 19th-century life in Southern America included black townships, much like the one near Perryville. But Sleettown remains unique. The community gave its residents the opportunity for economic self-sufficiency and personal growth. Few townships could claim such prosperity. Even more remarkable is that Sleettown embraced its white neighbors in an era defined by segregation and prejudice.

Coretta Scott King and her daughter, Bernice, at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta, 1968. Photographed by Moneta J. Sleet Jr.

By 1931, the last of the Sleets left Sleettown and joined the community of Perryville. The legacy of Sleettown, however, lives on through the work of the Sleet family. From business owners to city councilmen, the Sleets have been active in the Perryville community–and beyond. Most notably is Moneta Sleet Jr., who in 1969, became the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize in photography. He is best remembered for his documentation of the Civil Rights movement, including the touching photograph of Coretta Scott King at her husband’s funeral. In 2006 Anne Sleet was elected Mayor of Perryville.

In May 2007 Kentucky State Parks acquired the Sleettown site with help from the Civil War Preservation Trust. The land is now part of Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, and was dedicated in a ceremony on September 14, 2007. The Perryville Enhancement Project, Kentucky State Parks, and the Kentucky Heritage Council are working together to document the site’s archaeological record and interpret this significant story.

The story of the Sleet family–and of Sleettown–is the story of America. From virtually nothing, a remarkable family emerged. It is in their story that one fully realizes the American dream–life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.