Norwich — The Ellis Ruley Project Committee has started fundraising to create a park and erect a plaque at the former home of the African-American artist, and the chairman of the new committee will make the first contribution.

Frank Manfredi, chairman of the three-member panel, said he would donate “seed money” to help plan a major reception at the Slater Memorial Museum in September. Manfredi did not disclose the amount, but said the money would pay for invitations and letters to local business owners and potential donors in advance of the event.

The City Council established the committee to lead the effort to create a public park at the 28 Hammond Ave. site, now owned by the city. The committee met Monday with Deputy Comptroller Anthony Madeira to establish a mechanism for donations.

Ruley, a self-taught artist, lived his entire life in Norwich. He died on Jan. 16, 1959, under mysterious circumstances. His body was found in the road at the bottom of the long driveway that leads to his 28 Hammond Ave. home.

Eleven years earlier, Ruley’s son-in-law, Douglas Harris, had died on the property, also in suspicious circumstances. His body was found Nov. 20, 1948, head first in a narrow, shallow well on the property. Without an autopsy, Harris’ death was ruled an accidental drowning.

PBS documentary filmmaker Glenn Palmedo-Smith coordinated an effort last fall to have the two bodies exhumed for new autopsies and a possible cold case investigation. Results of the autopsies are expected to be announced this month. During Monday's meeting, Manfredi said the park committee and Palmedo-Smith originally had hoped to hold a joint event — the park fundraiser and autopsy announcement — but scheduling conflicts made that unlikely.

A date and location — either in Norwich or in New York City — for the release of the autopsy results is not yet scheduled.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday

If you want to give

Checks for the Ellis Ruley Project should be made out to "City of Norwich" with a notation “Ellis Ruley Project” in the memo line, and sent to City of Norwich, Attention Ellis Ruley Project Committee, 100 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360.