Hannah Till and Black History in the Age of Revolution

Durand-Hedden House & Garden and the SOMA Community Coalition on Race will host reenactor Leslie Bramlett on Sunday, February 1, at 1 pm, at The Woodland in Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – February 2026 – As we look back 250 years to our nation’s founding, Black History Month provides an important opportunity to highlight the lives and contributions of African Americans.

Durand-Hedden, in partnership with the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, is delighted to welcome educator and historical reenactor Leslie Bramlett. Ms. Bramlett, in this one-woman performance, will appear as Hannah Till, an enslaved cook and servant to General George Washington during the War for Independence.

Born into slavery in Delaware, Till was leased to cook for Washington during the harsh Valley Forge encampment in 1777-78. She eventually purchased her freedom and continued to work as a paid cook, serving both Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette throughout the war. Till's incredible journey of resilience and strength is a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked historical contributions of African American women.

This event will take place at The Woodland Parlor in Maplewood at 1 pm. The program will continue at Durand-Hedden House following the performance for refreshments and conversation with Ms. Bramlett. An art exhibit by Beverly McCutcheon in the House will feature McCutcheon’s mixed-media work, assemblages, and fiber collages, exploring themes of women, domestic workers, and beauty. Complete details on both events, as well as registration, are available at DurandHedden.org.

While our events are free, we ask those able to do so to support the House and our programming by purchasing a donation ticket. All donations are welcome, appreciated, and support Durand-Hedden's mission, upkeep, and community events. Both complimentary and donation tickets are available at DurandHedden.org. Parking for the Durand-Hedden House is available on nearby streets.

About Durand-Hedden House and Garden

The Durand-Hedden House and Garden Association is Maplewood’s historic house museum, dedicated to creating engaging and informative educational programs and materials about the local history of Maplewood and surrounding communities, natural history, and other related topics. The House, at 523 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, is open once a month between September and June. For more information, visit our website at durandhedden.org. To arrange group tours, write to info@durandhedden.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.