NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – To some, it looks like an ordinary mini mall, but underneath the stores at the corner of Forest and Livermore avenues on Staten Island lie the bodies of hundreds of African Americans.
Some were slaves who helped build the surrounding neighborhood; others were their relatives. All were nearly forgotten about until recently.
Heather Quinlan is the genealogist and documentarian who accidentally uncovered the truth while doing research and looking for inspiration for her next project.
“I wanted it to be on cemeteries in New York City. In doing my research, I read a book called 'Graveyard Shift' where it mentioned that there was a cemetery on Staten Island,” she told 1010 WINS.
“I'm from Staten Island, so this struck a particular chord. But there was a cemetery on Staten Island that had been paved over and not in the 1600s, not in the 1700s [but] in the 1950s.”
Using her genealogical instincts, she kept on digging and discovered that Benjamin Prine, the last living person born into slavery on Staten Island, was one of the people buried there.
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However, it wasn’t until she found and contacted his direct descendants, Ruth Ann Hills and David Thomas, that the story blew up. Now, Heather is helping to spread even more awareness through her film, "Staten Island Graveyard."
This year, for 1010 WINS’ Black History Month series, anchor Larry Mullins got the opportunity to sit down with Heather, Ruth Ann, and David to discuss the upcoming project, as well as the almost unbelievable way in which all their lives have become intertwined.