Hunter Research has had the privilege of designing numerous historic interpretive wayside signs for historic sites and cultural landscapes over the past two decades. Over the course of this work, we have developed a deep sense of purpose that continues to inspire us to become involved in local community projects.
On Juneteenth 2025, a sign titled Woodville “Little Africa” was unveiled at a celebration hosted by the Friends of Millstone Township Historic Registered Properties (FMTHRP) and Millstone Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Lewis and Catherine Conover obtained their freedom from slavery in 1828 and founded Woodville, an African American village. Shortly thereafter, they were instrumental in the establishment of St. James A.M.E. Church, a one-room church that still has an active congregation today.
The sign, a collaborative effort between FMTHRP, Millstone HPC member Shazel Muhammad and Hunter Research, was unveiled as part of a larger event, “Looking Back to Look Forward,” which sought to honor Woodville’s rich past. The event attracted some 160 attendees, with descendants of the original Woodville families, some from far-away states, coming together to recognize their shared history.
The sign will be set within a small memorial to Woodville and its founding families just south of Wagner Farm Park in Millstone Township. Hunter Research also led marketing efforts and assisted in event planning as part of a heritage tourism and marketing plan with the FMTHRP, funded in part by the New Jersey Historic Trust.
