BY STACI WILSON
A pole barn was erected over the Dennis home in order to stabilize the structure. Efforts are underway to renovate the house. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
The story of the Dennis family is the quintessential American story – predating and encompassing the Revolutionary War and continuing to the present.
But it is also a personal story, Denise Dennis told the crowd at the third annual Dennis Farm Symposium on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
“It is a belief in the American dream,” Dennis said, “at a time when the American dream was not designed with African Americans in mind.”
Dennis told her family’s story, beginning in New England and the family’s path to Susquehanna County and to the Perkins-Dennis farm on Creek Road in Brooklyn Township where a historical marker was unveiled last week.
Members of the Dennis-Perkins family gather in front of the historical marker dedicated last week in Brooklyn Township. From left: Lonnie Moore, Edith Dennis Moore Stephens, Darryl Gore, Denise Dennis and PHMC Commissioner Bill Lewis. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commissioner Bill Lewis said the perpetual permanent marker will forever tell the story of the Dennis family.
The Dennis Farm was settled in 1793 by Prince Perkins, a free African-American Revolutionary War veteran. The property has remained in the family 
for over 200 years. Prince Perkins’ daughter, Angeline, and her husband, Henry Dennis, expanded the farm acreage.
Wade Catts, of John Milner Associates, said the family farm located in rural northeastern Pennsylvania created a powerful and nuanced story complete with documentation, photographs and oral histories, as well as artifacts and architecture on the property.
There are plans to renovate the house at the site, which was originally built on the second quarter of the 19th century, Catts said. Family photos will be used to help with the renovation project.
Over 10,000 artifacts, including the ruins of outbuildings, were unearthed on the property in 2008-09 by Binghamton University archeologists who worked at the site.
There are also 40-50 burials in the African American cemetery on the property. Catts said he believed it was the only African American cemetery in the county.
In September 2014, the Dennis Farm was lists on the National Register of Historic Places, re cognized as being nationally significant.
At the dedication of the historical marker, neighbor and Brooklyn Historical Society member Richard Zick said, “What a great day!. I’ve probably traveled every inch of this property.”
The Zick property has shared a boundary with the Dennis Farm for the past 95 years, he said, admitting he has known the family for the past 70. The first meeting of the Dennis Family Land Trust was held at the Zick’s home in 2006.
Zick said the Dennis family had been a vibrant part of the community while he was growing up. “We didn’t know prejudice,” he said. “We considered (the Dennis’s) family.”
For more information about the Dennis Farm, visit the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust at thedennisfarm.org
To Whom This May Concern:
11 yrs ago I came upon a really wonderful hobby & all because I love Pa History as this is where I was born, Phila. I started finding these historical markers & I knew that Pa is just too historical not to have a or any type of website like this. On my 3rd try of typing in different phrases on my computer I really thought about it & bingo it was like I was a gold miner & found my pot of gold. Since that time I have now been to 40 of the 67 counties & have have pictures of all the county markers & every once in a while when I’m out taking pictures of the markers I get lucky & stumble upon 1 in some odd town I’m in, or I get lucky & find 1 on my computer like I found (The Dennis Farm). I was in Nicholson & saw your giant RR Bridge & the lady (I think her name is Mary, older lady)who I was talking too sold me the book on the bridge & then told me about 2 others near by-The KINGSLY & The Stone Bridge). Since that time I have put together many fine books on different topics while I’m out doing my markers.
Now, just this past Sunday websurfing & came across The Dennis Farm. On my markers I have split my books into 2 different catagories 1 for white people & the other for famous blacks that I have markers for because I want to write a book on it.
So now that I have told u what I do for a hobby would u then please forward to me the address or coordinates of The Dennis Farm, I only need the picture of the marker & the house for my book. I did go to the website & found nothing for it nor on it.
Thank u very much for your time.
Jay Donald Newman