Thank you to the volunteers and attendees who made the 10th Annual Celebrate Oberlin on April 20 such a special gathering!

Photo: Students standing on steps of Oberlin School.

Mission Statement

The Friends of Oberlin Village, through preservation and education, honors Oberlin, one of the last known surviving free and freedmen's villages in the state of North Carolina that grew out of an antebellum Free Black settlement.

Older Black people sitting in lawn chairs

Our Organization

The Friends of Oberlin Village is a grassroots organization that formed in 2011 and was designated a non-profit 501 (C)(3) organization in 2016.

Sabrina Goode's hand on Wilson Morgan Headstone

Our Vision

Oberlin Village is a thriving diverse community that preserves and honors its rich heritage, founded by Free Blacks whose strengths and struggles continue to inform history and influence racial reconciliation.

our Passion Our Purpose

Old headstones standing in a cemetery.

Preserve

We are honoring Oberlin Village by advocating the preservation of the original homes, restoring the Historic Oberlin Cemetery headstones and grounds; and conducting oral histories of the founding descendants and residents.

The rich history of Oberlin’s community is still being discovered within the personal vaults of the historic homes and cemetery; family Bibles, between walls, stashed news clippings, and carved headstones share the true stories of the struggles and strengths of the Free Black founders and generations of long-term residents. Preserving these places accurately informs history and positively influences racial reconciliation.

Marines folding the US flag.

Honor

We are honoring our Oberlin founders, descendants, and beloved community with commemorative public art, celebratory events, narrative trails, and the naming of schools, streets, and businesses.

Over 100 men and women from Oberlin served in the military including the Poole family who had six sons that served during the same period. Cpl. Hubert Andrew Poole posthumously received the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor for distinguished achievement as a Montford Point Marine. The ceremony was held at Wilson Temple United Methodist Church, Raleigh N.C. on August 19, 2012.

Learn More
1959 Holt Family black and white portrait.

Educate

We are educating the public with documentaries, brochures, guided walking tours, and presentations to community groups, churches, civic organizations, and schools. Additionally, we are cultivating research partnerships with area universities.

After reconstruction Oberlin Village had one of the highest concentrations of educated Blacks in North Carolina.  Education was paramount to self-sufficiency; therefore the Oberlin School (1873) and Latta University (1892) was established within the village. The family of Joe Holt continued the fight for education excellence by leading the first effort to integrate the City of Raleigh public school system in North Carolina.

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Oberlin: A Village Rooted in Freedom

Reveals how a historic preservation project has helped recover the story of the thriving community of Oberlin Village the only known surviving Antebellum enclave in the state of North Carolina founded by Free Blacks. At the height of its prosperity, the highly respected Village of Oberlin had more than 1200 inhabitants before being compromised by racial injustices disguised as urban renewal progress. The renovation of two 1880s houses by Preservation North Carolina has exposed remarkable stories about the families who lived there and their beloved community. (Documentary Runtime 56:32)

Our Community

Two people walking with a wheelbarrow that has debris from Oberlin cemetery clean up.

Upcoming Events

Man cutting back a fallen tree in the cemetery.

Historic Oberlin Cemetery 2024 Clean-up Dates

Saturday, July 13
Saturday, October 26

9 a.m. Rain or Shine!!

Wilson Temple

FOV Meetings

Wilson Temple United Methodist Church 
6 – 7 p.m.,  4th Monday except December

Registration is required. Request an invitation by completing the Contact Us form.

Woman with micorphone speaking to crowd.

Guided Walking Tour of Oberlin

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tours usually occur on the third Saturday of each month.

Sign up by completing our Contact Us form.

News cameras and reporters covering an Oberlin event.

In the News

Rev. Latta and his wife

Latta University Park Honors Free Black Educator

April 20, 2024

RALEIGH – The 10th annual Celebrate Oberlin will honor the legacy of Oberlin Village, North…

Oberlin Regional Library Naming Plaque

New Plaque Onsite: Oberlin Regional Library

August 4, 2023

On August 4, 2023 Oberlin Regional Library unveiled the new plaque displaying its new name,…

Voices of Oberlin Exhibit Image

Celebrating the Faces and Voices of Oberlin

June 20, 2023

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The nation is preparing to mark its newest federal holiday on…

OUR PURSUIT TO PRESERVE

Fields-Graves House Restored

Before restoration and after restoration

Oberlin's Historic Cemetery

Before restoration and after restoration

Plummer T. Hall Restoration

Before restoration and after restoration

Join Us for a Tour!

Walking Tours of Oberlin Village lead by an FOV volunteer are available the third Saturday of each month. Tours start at 1:30 p.m. October through April, and at 10:00 a.m. May through September. Custom dates can be scheduled for groups of 10 or more.

Tours are free but you must sign up by completing our contact us form.

7-23 CleanUp Doug Jennette CloseUp

Celebrating our Volunteers

Doug Jennette

One of the strongest characteristics of Oberlin has been its sense of community, where neighbors interact with each other as family. This trait is still embodied today. The Raleigh Friends Meeting has been a neighbor in the Oberlin community and involved with the Friends of Oberlin Village for many years. Member Doug Jennette has fostered the bond between RFM and FOV.  In recent years, Doug has seamlessly assumed the responsibility of coordinating FOV’s community clean-up of the Historic Oberlin cemetery. The maintenance of the cemetery receives many accolades. Doug’s organizational talents make the many tasks involved in scheduling a clean-up appear easy. Doug has also been highly active in contributing to the operational set up of Celebrate Oberlin, FOV’s signature education event. He has also coordinated donations from the Friends Meeting to the Wilson Temple Food Pantry for many years. Doug's affable demeanor, dependable nature, and generous smile has enabled him to build a strong bond with the members of FOV, the Oberlin neighborhood and the community at large. Doug’s participation in FOV has enlivened and strengthened our organization.

Oberlin Historic Overlay District [Oberlin HOD]

To further preserve and enhance the core of Oberlin Village, including its seven Historic properties, in 2018 City Council adopted Historic Overlay zoning within the outline shown on the next page. Links to the zoning ordinance and the Historic Research Report are available.  Regulations provide specific guidance on building materials, landscaping and architectural features. If you wish to make changes to the exterior of your home and it is within the HOD, staff members at the Raleigh Historic Development Commission will be happy to help you. Please call (919) 832-7238 or visit the RHDC website.