In his third autobiography, Frederick Douglass reflected on his anti-slavery work while living in Rochester: Along with speaking and writing against slavery, Douglass wrote in “Life and Times of Frederick Douglass,” one important action “must not be forgotten or omitted.”
“My position gave me the chance of hitting that old enemy some telling blows,” he wrote. “I was on the southern border of Lake Ontario, and the Queen’s dominions were right over the way — and my prominence as an abolitionist, and as the editor of an anti-slavery paper, naturally made me the station-master and conductor of the underground railroad passing through this goodly city.”
New York State was a major part of the Underground Railroad. The state was the gateway for many freedom-seekers making their way to Canada, and people following the North Star could find help from the black communities, Quakers and other religious groups, and many anti-slavery organizations spread throughout New York.
Those helping freedom-seekers faced a lot of risk. There could be fines or imprisonment under the Fugitive Slave Law, but “I can say I never did more congenial, attractive, fascinating, and satisfactory work,” Douglass wrote. “True, as a means of destroying slavery, it was like an attempt to bail out the ocean with a teaspoon, but the thought that there was one less slave, and one more freeman — having myself been a slave, and a fugitive slave — brought to my heart unspeakable joy.”
Western and Central New York has an exceptionally rich Underground Railroad history. Trails from the South would find their way to Auburn, where Harriet Tubman helped hundreds of people; to the station homes of Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass, Amy and Isaac Post, Asa Anthony, and other abolitionists in Rochester; and to Buffalo and Niagara Falls for the border crossing to freedom and safety in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Understanding this history is always important, but since 2018 marks the bicentennial of Frederick Douglass’s chosen birthdate, this is a great summer to learn more about the area’s role in the fight against slavery. Below, you will find a map of seven locations connected to the region’s Underground Railroad history.
Because it’s summer, our hope is that you can use this map to plan day trips from Rochester and connect with this important part of history. There are dozens of documented Underground Railroad-related locations across New York State, but many are now a part of private residences or aren’t accessible. This map gives locations that are open, offer tours, or have informational markers.
Monroe County itself has a lot of history to engage with. The Rochester-Monroe County Freedom Trail Commission has documented that local history, and you can access a Google map of locations at rochesterfreedomtrail.com.
Dr. David Anderson, chair of the Freedom Trail Commission, is also a founding member of Akwaaba, the Heritage Associates. The organization conducts tours, educational presentations, and reenactments of historical figures from the 19th century, specifically those involved in the fight for freedom, as a way to share lessons from that time in history. The group offers a tour of Rochester sites. More information can be found at akwaabatours.org.
Harriet Tubman Home
180 South Street, Auburn | harriettubmanhome.com; 315-252-2081
Harriet Tubman lived one of history’s most extraordinary lives. Born into bondage on the eastern shore of Maryland, Tubman took her freedom, helped by people on the Underground Railroad, but soon after returned to Maryland to lead her family to the North. It’s believed that “Moses” helped more than 300 people to freedom. In 1859, Tubman purchased a piece of land from US Senator William Seward and settled in Auburn. Tubman was not only an abolitionist, but also a suffragist, Union army scout — in 1863, she led a troop of men in a raid on plantations — and in her later years opened the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged on her property.
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours are $5 general; $3 seniors and college students; $2 for ages 6-17.
B. Forman Park and Sodus Point
If you’re taking a drive along Lake Ontario this summer, stop at B. Forman Park (4507 Lake Road, Pultneyville). The spot was the site of Samuel Cuyler’s home, which was an Underground Railroad terminus, and it’s said that freedom-seekers could keep watch for a ship captained by Horatio Throop for passage to Canada. The home was destroyed in a fire. If you continue on to Sodus Point — which is just a great summer destination — look for a mural (8364 Bay Street, Sodus Point) and plaque commemorating the area’s Underground Railroad history.
M’Clintock House
14 East Williams Street, Waterloo | 315-568-0024
The M’Clintock House is perhaps best known as the site where the First Women’s Rights Convention was planned and the Declaration of Sentiments was drafted. But the home of Thomas and Mary Ann M’Clintock, staunch abolitionists, was also a station on the Underground Railroad.
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Howland Stone Store Museum
2956 State Route 34 B, Aurora | howlandstonestore.org; 315-364-5587
Built in 1837 by the Howland Family, active abolitionists and suffragists, the store — which is made out of cobblestones — harbored people making their way North. The museum also has frequent historic and social programming; check its website for more information.
Open Thursdays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., in June through September
Murphy Orchards
2402 McClew Road, Burt | murphyorchards.com; 716-778-7926
Charles McClew built what is now Murphy Orchards in 1850, and it’s believed that his family aided freedom-seekers up until 1861. Visitors to the orchards can still see the entrance in the barn to a secret room and learn about the farm’s Underground Railroad history. The business offers guided tours for schools and special groups.
Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
John W. Jones Museum
1250 Davis Street, Elmira | johnwjonesmuseum.org
John W. Jones was born into bondage in Virgina, and took his freedom in 1844 at the age of 27 by walking 300 miles north until he reached Elmira, New York. He settled there, and by 1851 became an active agent on the Underground Railroad. Jones managed to make an arrangement employees of the Northern Central Railway that passed through the area, and hid freedom-seekers on cars bound for Niagara Falls. Most of those people found freedom in St. Catharines, Ontario. It’s believed that he helped more than 800 people.
Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Freedom Crossing at Niagara Arts and Cultural Center
1201 Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls | thenacc.org/freedom-crossing-home; 716-282-7530
Housed at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, the exhibit “Freedom Crossing” examines the history of the Underground Railroad at the active point where freedom-seekers finally stepped into Canada.
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $2.
This article appears in Jun 20-26, 2018.
