Child Guidance Resource Centers in Havertown is presenting an exhibition and program at The African American Museum about Fellowship Farm Jan. 18 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The 126-acre Fellowship Farm in Pottstown has been in the care of Child Guidance Resource Centers since April 1, 2013.  It is the site of many historical events and visits from prominent trailblazers.

The farm started as Young People’s Interracial Fellowship of Philadelphia in 1931, and later became Fellowship House in North Philadelphia.

In 1949, a young seminarian, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visited the Fellowship Church at the training center in Fellowship House. He heard a sermon on the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi by Dr. Mordecai Johnson, president of Howard University.

Dr. King described the message as profound, electrifying and influential, setting him on a path of social reform marked by love and nonviolence. Dr. King also visited Fellowship House Junior High and Senior High Fellowships on other occasions.

Fellowship House later joined forces with three organizations, giving birth to the Fellowship Commission.

Marjorie Penney became the first director of the organization and Dr. Herbert Haslam, a Baptist pastor, was the administrator.

In 1948, Dr. Haslam started the Fellowship House choir, now known as Singing City.

Other speakers at Fellowship House have included Eleanor Roosevelt, Ralph Bunche, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Margaret Meade and many more.

Fellowship Farm moved to its current location in 1950.

Child Guidance is taking this opportunity to showcase how the farm’s mission helped to shape many segments of our history.

The display will be exhibited throughout the day in the auditorium of The African American Museum, located at 701 Arch Street in Philadelphia.

A special one hour program of storytelling about Fellowship Farm will take place from 1 to 2 p.m.

Participants include Valda Branison, an educator who spent many years at the farm as a program supervisor; Dr. Elizabeth Haslam, daughter to Dr. Herbert Haslam, the original administrator of Fellowship Farm;  and broadcast television icon Monique Braxton.

[uam_ad id=”62465″]