GEORGETOWN, Del. -Â The Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs removed the last of three whipping posts in Delaware from public view Wednesday morning. This form of punishment dates back to colonial settlement and was last used in 1952.Â
The whipping post was placed next to the Old Sussex County Courthouse in 1993. Before that it was at the Sussex Correctional Institution. People who came to watch its removal say this represents changing times.
"I had to pass this whipping post for 31 years going to church and every time I would go by I would shake my head," says Lutisha Gibbs.
After more than an hour of excavating the historical artifact was hoisted into the air.
"There's mixed emotions going on," says Mayor Bill West.
West may have a compromise for those who still want to see this piece of Georgetown's history in town.
"I've talked about maybe building a 12' by 12' room on the back of the courthouse and then when people tour, let them see that," West says.
For people like Dr. Brittany Hazzard and Dr. Reba Hollingsworth freeing this concrete from the ground frees them of some pain.
"I happened to be privileged to see a person getting whipped at the Kent County whipping post when I was a little girl and every time I see a replica, I always remember," says Hollingsworth.
"When voices are being heard, what it does is it builds trust in our community," says Hazzard. "Right now in our world one of the biggest conversations is are we able to have courageous conversations? Can we come together as if it isn't racist and this shows that we can."
This removal comes after calls from the community and recognition of the violence and racial discrimination it represented for many. The post is also known as Red Hannah and that's the title of the book Greg Wilson brought to share.
"Over 1600 people were whipped," Wilson says. "Over 66% of them from 1900 to 1942 were African American."
This historical moment represents liberty and justice for all to Gail Reid, who's sign with that message will now be immortalized wherever the whipping post is preserved.
"It's always been on my mind," Reid says. "When you ride by, what is this for and why is it still here?"
HCA has another whipping post in its possession that once stood near The Green in Dover. A working group will be formed to determine how to interpret and preserve the one from Georgetown in a museum setting.