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People of Courage, People of Hope, Seekers of Justice

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People of Courage, People of Hope, Seekers of Justice If you would like to learn more about Underground Railroad history, visit www.UndergroundRailroadHistory.org. You will find lots of information on that website and you will find links to People of Courage, other sources of information. Sign up to be on the email list o that we can stay in touch about all the great things going on at The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence. People of Hope, Consider visiting The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, a documented Underground Railroad Historic Site located at 194 Seekers of Justice Livingston Avenue in Albany. Become a member of Underground Railroad History Project so that you can receive member benefits. Membership can be arranged online at www.UndergroundRailroadHistory.org/ product/become-a-member/ Please consider leaving your tour comments on The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence Page of Trip Advisor Follow Underground Railroad History Project on Eat lunch or dinner at The Albany Pump Station located at 19 Quackenbush Square and receive a 15% discount on one lunch or entree menu item when showing this coupon. Valid through 12/31/18. Underground Railroad History Project Albany’s Underground of the Capital Region, Inc. 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, New York 12210 Railroad Walking/Driving Tour 518-432-4432 www.UndergroundRailroadHistory.org Learn the Past, Be the Present, Create the Future ® Learn the Past, Be the Present, Create the Future ® Before concluding your tour, find a comfortable place to sit and share the This tour guide book is produced by Underground Litany of Remembrance as a way to recall the names and brief stories of some Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. of the Freedom Seekers who made their way to Albany in the hopes of finding whose mission is to research and preserve the local the life of freedom that was sought— and national history of the anti-slavery and Rev. Mr. James Beulah, a licensed exhorter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was enslaved for 30 years. He took his wife and children and fled Underground Railroad movements, their international from bondage. The swamps and woods were their hiding places for weeks connections, and their legacies to later struggles, until they came to Albany. Mr. Beulah, we remember you as… engaging in public education and dialogue about these All: One of the people of courage, people of hope, seekers of justice. movements and their relationship with us today. Miss Sarah Smith escaped her violent and cruel enslavement in New Orleans, came to Albany with her husband, daughter of 4 years and an unborn child. Sarah Smith and her family, we remember you as... Funding provided by All: One of the people of courage, people of hope, seekers of justice. The Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Mr. Freeman, a carpenter by trade, was formerly enslaved by Honorable Mr. Capital Region Badger, Secretary of the Navy under President Harrison. His flight to freedom passed through Albany. Mr. Freeman, we remember you as... and Underground Railroad History Project of All: One of the people of courage, people of hope, seekers of justice. the Capital Region, Inc. William and Catherine Harris and their child escaped enslavement in South Carolina. Their journey took them through Philadelphia, New York, and Albany. They met misfortune along the Erie Canal and lost their child, but they courageously sought their freedom as did so many others. William, Catherine and your child, we remember you as … All: One of the people of courage, people of hope, seekers of justice. It is our hope that the time spent today has provided an opportunity to better understand an important time in the history and heritage of Albany and the Capital Region. We can preserve this history by sharing it with the community that these stories may be celebrated. The example of both Freedom Seekers and those who helped them in their flight to freedom is one of principal, decision, and justice. We hope that their example as people of courage, December 2017 people of hope, and seekers of justice will be for us as the North Star was for them - a guiding light to show the way to our own freedom. Cross to the west side of S. Pearl St. and continue walking north until How would you answer the following questions - you arrive at Tricentennial Park where you will find a bronze statue of Mayor Whalen III with his dog Finn McCool, a monument Was New York State a slave state? commemorating Dutch and Native American heritage and industry Did all Freedom Seekers head to Canada? with the city seal of Albany prominently positioned, and a Globe commemorating the Albany –Tula, Russia sister city 20th anniversary. Was everything about the Underground Railroad kept secret? This is your 8th UGRR tour stop. Look across the street to Peter D. Were African Americans always the ‘passengers’ on the Kiernan Plaza and you are looking Underground Railroad? at where the Delavan House once stood—a grand, five story full Did abolitionists only assist Freedom Seekers? service hotel at which abolition Wasn’t New York State one of the safe northern free states? meetings were held and Stephen Who are the people pictured here and what is their Myers worked as Head Waiter. connection to the Underground Railroad story? Meetings were intense, tempers would flare, but eventually strategies would be agreed to on what to do to abolish the institution of slavery, and the Delavan House meeting would close with song. An example of an abolition song is below - Enjoy Albany’s Underground Railroad tour as you learn about this important period in America’s history. The map on this page should help you navigate your tour of To arrive at your 7th tour stop walk east on Hudson Avenue toward Albany’s Underground Railroad story S. Pearl St. Turn left (north) onto S. Pearl St. and walk past the SUNY Administration building and the Old Post Office. On your right is a small parking area. You will also see a plaque with the name Exchange Street on it. At the end of the parking area once stood a red brick, three story building which housed The Eastern New York Anti-Slavery Society. Interviews of Freedom Seekers would take place here and arrangements made to meet their needs. Letters such as the one below were carried as a letter of reference by Freedom Seekers so as to verify that they were not freeloaders nor were they in the employ of slave catchers. Walk where abolitionists and Freedom Seekers walked, worked, lived, and engaged in their anti-slavery activities. Walk in their footsteps as you revisit this inspiring story of courage that shaped American and international history and is related to us today. What is your experience with letters of reference? Crossing over State St., continue straight ahead on S. Pearl St. and The 1st stop on your tour is at The Albany Heritage Area Visitors turn left (east) onto Hudson Avenue. Walk to the intersection of Center at 25 Quackenbush Square, which was built in the 1870’s Green Street and Hudson. You should be standing in front of a as a water pumping station. Today this building is a staffed parking garage. This is the 6th tour stop. You are standing at the tourist center that houses gallery exhibits related to Albany’s spot where The Northern Star and Freeman’s Advocate Newspaper history. Locate the Underground Railroad exhibit in the Albany was published in the 1840’s. Spearheaded by Business and Capital City Exhibit Area. This exhibit provides Stephen Myers, a man born enslaved in New some introductory information about the Underground Railroad York State and given his in Albany and its relationship with Underground Railroad efforts legal freedom in 1818, in other parts of New York State. this newspaper was used to educate readers about the real experiences of people who were enslaved, to provide public information about Freedom Seekers’ and abolitionists’ activities, and encourage the uncommitted to join the cause of abolition. Stephen Myers was assisting Freedom Seekers as early as 1831, four years after he married Harriet Johnson and New York State abolished the institution of slavery. However, the Underground Railroad work in What surprised you about what you read and saw in this exhibit? which he engaged, along with wife Harriet and other colleagues, What is something new you learned? What questions remain put them at risk for prosecution under the New York State and unanswered for you? When you head out of The Visitors Center Federal laws that protected the enslaver-enslaved relationship to your second tour stop, take a moment to view the even in New York State. These laws did not deter them from doing appearance of the Hudson River. Can you find the Hudson River? what they believed was right - working to abolish the institution of slavery. “Slavery, with its concomitants and What do you do to take a stand against injustice? consequences, in its best attire in which it can possibly be presented, is but a hateful “…the Albany Committee of Vigilance [run by Stephen Myers] has the monster, the very demon of avarice and reputation of being the most efficient organization in the state of New oppression…” - - Nathaniel Paul, “An Address York, in the business of aiding the way-worn and weather-beaten refugee Delivered on the Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery from slavery’s shambles…” (David Ruggles, in “The Liberator”, May 24, 1844) in the State of New York, July 5, 1827” As you walk east down Pine St. to N. Pearl St., take a right at N.
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