In a stirring ceremony commemorating Crozierville’s 160th anniversary, Her Excellency Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, President of Barbados, called for Liberians and Barbadians to continue honoring the shared legacy between the two countries through cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and storytelling.
“Let us encourage future generations to deepen our relationship and ensure that our bond remains vibrant; as vibrant as the spirit of Crozerville’s founders,” the President declared.
The celebration, held on May 10, 2025, at the Crozierville Town Hall, on Lemongrass Street, aimed to honor the founding of Crozerville by Barbadian immigrants in 1865, recognizing it as a symbol of resilience, ancestral return, and enduring cultural identity.
Mason paid homage to the courage and vision of the town’s founders. “To stand in this remarkable place as we commemorate 160 years since the founding of Crozierville, a community born out of courage, hope, and a profound sense of purpose, is a moment of deep significance,” she said.
She paid tribute to notable figures of Barbadian descent who helped shape Liberia, including the 15th and 18th Presidents, Arthur Barclay and his nephew Edwin Barclay. Their contributions were described as monumental, cementing the legacy of Barbadian immigrants and their descendants.
She noted that the event was more than a historical milestone. “What we honor here today is not only the founding of a town. We honor a story of return; the journey of men, women, and children who crossed the Atlantic not swathed in fear, but anchored in faith,” she reflected.
The community of Crozierville was established by freed Barbadian emigrants who made the transatlantic journey in search of dignity and restoration. With the support of then-President Daniel B. Warner of Liberia, they laid the foundations of a thriving township—one that would go on to shape Liberia’s social and political landscape. Among their descendants are two of Liberia’s Presidents: Arthur Barclay and Edwin Barclay.
Mason referenced the West African concept of Sankofa, an Akan tradition from Ghana that means “go back and get it.” She described the original settlers’ journey as an act of Sankofokam, a return to ancestral roots and identity. “This connection is not merely historical; it is profoundly ancestral,” she said.
The Bajan President made reference to the recent Sankofa Pilgrimage during which at least 100 Liberians traveled to Barbados, from May 6-14, 2024, to re-discover their roots. She cited the voyage as a testament to the living bonds between the two nations, saying “Although seas separate us, we are bound by blood, by culture, and by spirit.”
Echoing those sentiments, the President of Liberia Joseph Nyumah Boakai praised the occasion as a moment of national reflection and pride. “Many in Liberia may not know the full history of Crozierville, but today reveals that connection,” he said. He emphasized that Barbados had contributed more than just settlers to Liberia; it had offered enduring legacies in journalism, education, and national leadership.
He honored figures of Barbadian descendants such as Albert Porte, a crusader for press freedom, and Kenneth Best, founder of The Daily Observer newspaper. In a lighthearted moment, he referenced the striking resemblance between a Barbadian guest and a local, noting, “That’s what makes this so special we see ourselves in each other.”
Boakai urged Barbadians and their descendants to see Liberia not as a distant memory, but as home. “We welcome your back. This is not just a gateway to Africa. Liberia is the destination.”
Speaking to the spirit of the nation, the President declared, “This is the country of love. I often say that Liberia’s greatest asset is not iron ore or rubber—it’s the Liberian people. We embrace others because we know that’s who we are.”
Addressing the delegation from Barbados directly, the President extended a warm welcome: “We thank you for re-establishing your connection with this part of the country. The first group came long ago, now a second wave returns. We welcome your home.”
He concluded by saying “Let us use the knowledge and spirit of today to draw us closer. We are proud to be Liberians. We are proud to be interconnected. May God bless us, keep us united, and strengthen our shared future.”
Local heroes honored
The celebration also shined a light on Crozierville’s local heroes. Mrs. Fannie Padmore is one of township’s oldest and most cherished citizens. The 95-year-old lifelong educator and caregiver was honored during the 160th Anniversary of Crozierville for her remarkable 61 years of service to community-based education.
Padmore, who has lived in Crozierville since 1960, is known for her unique and heartfelt approach to teaching. For decades, she conducted informal lessons from her front porch, calling out to children as they passed by and inviting them to learn, no matter their age.
“I teach them from one year old, those not in school or too young to start,” she explained. “Back then, there was no formal education system, so I did what I could.”
Padmore described herself as “a Baptist teacher by faith, but a born Episcopalian,” adding that she studied in Sinoe County and later moved to Crozierville after marrying into the community.
Raised by a single mother, she is the biological mother of one child, but is affectionately known as mother and grandmother to the entire township. Many families credit her with helping raise their children, teaching them to walk, talk, pray, sing, and even dance.
Upon receiving her award, Padmore was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude.
“You know, they say give thanks to God for a little thing,” she said. “Myself, I don’t know where I get it from. I was just teaching my children; we were dancing and then I got old. And now, to be honored like this… it’s a blessing.”
Mrs. Gladys M. Porte, a distinguished citizen of the township, was also honored for her long-standing and tireless contributions to education in the community. Speaking to the Daily Observer during the event, Porte expressed deep emotion and gratitude.
“I was born and raised in Crozierville, and I’ve lived here all my life. This program means a whole lot to me. It’s like my birthday, because Crozierville’s birthday is every Crozervillian’s birthday,” she said. “We’ve been celebrating it everywhere: the school, the community.”
Mrs. Porte is the wife of Coslet M. Porte, son of the late Liberian journalist and political activist Albert Porte. She is a proud mother of six surviving children, having lost one.
She recounted the surprise of being honored: “I was at the house on Porte Hill, and the children kept telling me, ‘You’ve got to go to the Town Hall—you’re being honored today.’ I said, ‘Wow.’ I appreciate this program a whole lot. I have students who still appreciate me today.”
Mrs. Porte served as an educator at the Antoinette Tubman Community School in Crozierville for an extraordinary 51 years, after completing teacher training and earning a “B” teaching certificate from the Ministry of Education.
Now in her later years, she shared that the physical demands of aging have led her to retire from active teaching.
“My back is getting tired now,” she said, “so I went to the Ministry of Education and asked for a pension. I’m resting for now.”
A homecoming for some
Elijah Ray Barclay, a direct descendant of former Liberian presidents Edwin Barclay and Arthur Barclay, returned to Crozierville to reconnect with his ancestral roots. His great-grandfather, Arthur Barclay, served as Liberia’s 15th president from 1904 to 1912. His grandfather is Anthony Barclay, and his father is Gerald Barclay.
Speaking with the Observer on the margins of Crozierville’s 160th anniversary celebrations, he shared his emotional connection to the land of his forebears. “Coming back here to Crozierville today feels like coming home,” he said. “Even though we were displaced over the years and lived in the United States for a long time, returning now feels amazing. It’s a chance to reconnect with my roots in Liberia and with my family.”
Reflecting on his family’s history, Barclay remarked, “I’m excited to be here and to witness this moment in the place where our family originated. Our family originally came from Africa before being taken to Barbados as slaves. To come back here and see Liberia recognized as one of the major ports, where freed slaves returned home, is truly meaningful.”
He emphasized the legacy of his great-grandfather, Arthur Barclay, who came from Barbados at the age of 10 and arrived in Crozierville with his family. Barclay also noted that he has visited Barbados twice, including St. Mary’s Church, where the Barclay family tomb is located, alongside other relatives.
Relics renewed
The festivities also included tributes to historical landmarks such as the Calder’s Monument and the Korah House, which stand as testaments to the architectural and cultural imprint of Barbadian settlers. The monument, situated on a hill at the edge of Bentol, is the first landmark announcing one’s entry into Crozierville from the Fendall route.
The structure features a replica of the Broc Cora, plaques commemorating the families who made the journey, and a sculpture depicting a scene of settlers arriving on the soil secured for them by President Warner’s government. The citizens of Crozierville erected the monument in 1965, to mark the centenary anniversary of the migration.
The Kora House, adjacent the Reeves Memorial Methodist Church, in Crozierville, was the home of James Isaac Alexander Weeks, one of the 320 Barbadians who arrived in Liberia in 1865. It stands three Storeys tall and built the concrete blocks holding up many of the original homes in the township. At the awards ceremony at the Town Hall, the Weeks family announced their efforts to renovate the 160-year-old house and make it a museum.
Looking back to move forward
The celebrations reflected not only on Crozierville’s past, but also on a shared vision for the future. As the ceremonies drew to a close, both the Liberian and Barbadian Presidents and the people of Crozierville left with a renewed sense of identity and unity.
Throughout the festivities, the spirit of Sankofa remained present: a reminder that the road forward is often paved by looking back, reclaiming what was once lost, and standing in the strength of ancestral wisdom.
“Let the story of Crozierville remind us,” said President Mason, “that history is not only remembered; it is lived. And as we continue this journey together, may our roots deepen, and our bond strengthen, now and forever.”
