Clearview Leadership Partners with Oklahoma Historical Society to Launch Civil Rights Trail Grant on June 20

CLEARVIEW, OKLAHOMA — Mayor Marilyn Jackson and the Town Trustees officially announced the launch of the Clearview Civil Rights Trail project today. Funded by a competitive grant from the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS), this initiative cements Clearview’s status as one of Oklahoma’s original All-Black Towns to receive this historic funding. The local project establishes permanent physical historical markers and outdoor exhibits along Main Street, mapping the town’s unique place within a statewide commemorative network.

The project features a newly installed, large-scale historical map sign titled “Clearview Oklahoma, Okfuskee Co. Est. 1903.” Featuring the town’s iconic lion emblem, this master sign provides an intricate grid map and a detailed 124-point key detailing former and present Clearview residences and businesses. The monument proudly notes at its base that funding was provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society through the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail Grant Program.

The funding stems from a landmark $1.5 million bipartisan legislative appropriation authored by former State Senator Kevin Matthews to map and preserve the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail. This statewide trail network connects Oklahoma’s remaining 13 historic All-Black Towns—including Clearview, Boley, Langston, and Taft—alongside landmarks of the modern Civil Rights Movement, such as Tulsa’s Greenwood District. Oklahoma boasts the highest concentration of these safety havens in the nation.

The Clearview grant project preserves specific stories of the regional civil rights pioneers, agricultural entrepreneurs, and community leaders who built the town in 1903. Main Street will function as an outdoor walking museum, marking vital historical landmarks that shaped community life. Featured markers along the route include:

Abe Lincoln Trading Company: Constructed in 1903 as the main office of the Lincoln Townsite Company, this cornerstone building was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It initially provided essential groceries and building materials to early settlers and surrounding farm families.
The Bush Brothers Stores: A pillar of Clearview’s commercial golden age, representing the self-sufficient economic engine built by Black entrepreneurs.
Dessie Davis Barber Shop: A vibrant social hub on Main Street where local citizens gathered to debate politics, civil rights organizing, and town development.
Church of the Living God: One of the foundation stones of Clearview’s spiritual and communal resilience, which anchored families during the Jim Crow era.
Hattie Holmes Boarding House: A crucial haven of hospitality providing safe lodging, shelter, and community care for travelers navigating a segregated world.

To enhance modern visitor interaction, the new markers integrate specialized QR codes, linking physical trail walkers directly to digital archives and the statewide Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail mobile platform. “This grant allows us to permanently etch our ancestors’ achievements into the physical landscape of our community,” said Town Trustee and Project Director Dr. Donnie L. Nero Sr. “These markers ensure that future generations understand the pivotal role Clearview played in the fight for self-determination.”

Town Trustees Joyce Barrett, Peter Bush, and Earl French expressed shared pride in the project. They emphasized that the trail will boost cultural tourism and foster local economic development while honoring the town’s profound historical significance.

The public dedication ceremony and trail launch event will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Clearview Main Street Community Center, located at 302 West Main Street, Clearview, OK 74880.

Event Schedule & Highlights:

10:00 AM: Opening ceremony, viewing of the master town map sign, and keynote address by former State Senator Kevin Matthews.
Lunch Provided: A complimentary lunch will be served to attendees following the presentation.
Guided Tours: Attendees can experience the newly installed historical markers via guided golf cart tours along Main Street.

All members of the public and media are invited to attend. Attendees must RSVP by June 12, 2026, to secure their spot and lunch accommodation. For more information, to RSVP, or to schedule media interviews, please contact Project Director Dr. Donnie L. Nero Sr. at dr**********@*ol.com.

About Clearview, Oklahoma: Founded in 1903, Clearview is one of the 13 surviving All-Black Towns established in Oklahoma. It served as a haven of safety, economic prosperity, and cultural pride for African Americans fleeing Jim Crow laws in the American South.