Hattie’s Trail now open to the public, highlighting local history
EDEN, Md. – A local site shedding light on veteran history was unveiled Monday morning.
“Gentrification has become a concept that is kind of taking over and we want to maintain a positive African-American footprint,” said Deborah Scott, Thomas Polk’s granddaughter, and landowner.
In Eden, Hattie’s Trail is officially open with historical significance honoring Thomas E. Polk Senior. He had faith, he was bold, he was courageous,” Scott said. “Thomas Polk served in the ninth cavalry units so he served two tours, back then if you went to the cavalry, you served five years so he served two 5 year tours with the Buffalo Soldiers.
In 1882, at the age of 21, Thomas Polk enlisted in the army, becoming a Sergeant for the Buffalo Soldiers. He served across Indigenous Territory. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas McKnight says it’s people like Sergeant Polk who paved the way for him, by fighting for more than just the war he signed up for. “He fought all those tribes out there, so that was one battle. The second battle was that he had to fight racial discrimination among their own leaders, their own commanders,” Lt. Col. McKnight said.
Now, the trail named after Harriet “Hattie” Boon, Polk’s widow stands as his legacy. “We are shall I say resurrecting a history that has never been truly appreciate it east of the Mississippi,” said Scott. “The younger generation can come and witness firsthand the artifacts and the history so that they can take away from that the strength and the courage and the dignity and the bravery,” said Lt. Col. Thomas McKnight.
Polk’s Granddaughter, Deborah Scott says this is just the beginning for the plot of land that Mr. Polk left for his family. “There will eventually be a pavilion and where the old dwelling is that will become a visitor center in so those will be the three components of the Thomas Polk Senior Buffalo Soldier outpost,” Scott said.
The project will take some time to be completed, but Wicomico County’s President estimates that it should be completed by 2025.
The trail is located at 4013 S Upper Ferry Road, Eden, Maryland 21822.
