WHEREAS, Audrey Johnson Thornton was the President of the Underground Railroad Museum at the Belmont Mansion and the Founder of the American Women’s Heritage Society; and
WHEREAS, The American Women’s Heritage Society is a non-profit historic preservation organization. Founded in November of 1986, the mission of the organization was to maintain and restore Belmont Mansion, an eighteenth-century home in Fairmount Park that was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Belmont Mansion was abandoned and dilapidated before Johnson Thornton took interest in it; and
WHEREAS, Led by Johnson Thornton, the American Women’s Heritage Society became the first organization to operate Belmont Mansion as primarily a historic site, and is the only African American Women’s foundation to administer a historic site in Fairmount Park. In 2007, the Belmont Mansion reopened as The Underground Railroad Museum at Belmont Mansion; and
WHEREAS, Aided by Johnson Thornton’s handwork and dedication, Belmont Mansion has become an interpretive and educational center for American history and culture, exposing the community to the fine arts, as well as building bridges of communication and interaction among various ethnic communities throughout Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, Johnson Thornton retired as the President of Belmont Mansion after almost 30 years of working to restore and maintain the historic site; and
WHEREAS, On April 8, 2019, Audrey Johnson Thornton passed away at age 93, leaving behind family, friends, and the many Philadelphians who had great respect for her; and
WHEREAS, Johnson Thornton will forever be remembered for her commitment to forging an alliance to protect and preserve the Belmont Mansion, a site with significant relevance to African American history and the history of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the dedicated service of Audrey Johnson Thornton to Belmont Mansion is honored and Belmont Mansion Drive from S. Chamounix Drive to Army Road shall henceforth also be known as “Audrey Johnson Thornton Way.”
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Audrey Johnson Thornton as evidence of the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End