UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HISTORY PROJECT OF THE CAPITAL REGION, Inc. P.O. Box 10851 Albany, 12201 (518) 432-4432 www.ugrworkshop.com

December 12, 2009

CO-FOUNDERS Ms. Alexandra M. Lord, Ph. D. Paul Stewart Branch Chief Mary Liz Stewart National Historic Landmarks Program

US Department of the Interior National Park Service BOARD 1849 C Street, N. W. MEMBERS Washington, D. C. 20240

Dear Ms. Lord:

Al DeSalvo President Thank you for your letter of November 16, 2009. We are happy to respond with the information you requested. In addition to this information we Colwyn Allen would like to provide you with additional background about Stephen and Pat Barrot Robert Bullock Harriet Myers (spelled Meyers by some) and this location where they Ron Gardner lived (194 Livingston Avenue, in Albany), recognizing that available Kathleen Godfrey John Inman published material about them is rather scarce and sketchy. The Annette Johnson availability of material about them and their activities is not because of a Alethia Jones lack of researchable material but because there have been no repositories Eileen Kawola Vera Michelson of material about them. Material must be pieced together to present a Anthony Opalka complete picture. We continue to discover new material that adds to what Mae Saunders we know and come to understand in new ways material we already have. Andor Skotnes Paul Stewart Maurice Thornton What we propose is that the building known today as 194 Livingston

Avenue in Albany, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a site of such stature that it should have National Landmark status. It should obtain National Landmark status because it survives as a place where a major African American Underground Railroad figure resided (Douglass’ home in Rochester was destroyed by fire, Loguen’s home in Syracuse no longer exists, Jones’ original home in the period in Binghamton no longer exists, and many others have been lost), it functioned as a headquarters for a Vigilance Committee of importance in the UGRR system (see attached document), and Myers’ importance for the movement for African American freedom is significant.

Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. is a non-profit 501( c ) 3 organization provisionally chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence has already attained recognition as being of national significance through the National Register of Historic Places listing on three counts: it is significant as a place which was part of the Underground Railroad, for the person who lived there – Stephen Myers – and for its architecture as a vernacular town house of the period.

Stephen Myers and his wife Harriet together were significant figures in the Underground Railroad movement. They assisted hundreds of fugitives from slavery as documented in their correspondence with other figures of the period. Stephen Myers was the “Superintendent” of the Albany station from the mid 1840s to the Civil War. Stephen Myers, his wife and children lived at 194 Livingston Avenue in 1856 to 1858. This location is tied to their work: a) because they were constantly involved in this work and; b) because it was also the office of the Vigilance Committee of the Underground Railroad as attested to by the Vigilance Committee broadside, a copy of which is included in the material attached to this correspondence. We will also address the variety of questions you raised in your letter.

Results of his lobbying: Stephen Myers engaged in lobbying with the New York State Legislature to advance the cause of black voting rights in the 1850s. He was successful in getting a bill introduced in the state Senate to eliminate the property qualification against black voters that had been placed in the state constitution. This bill failed to clear the Senate the first year but did so the second year. It was not passed by the lower house of the legislature. [Myers letter of March 22, 1856 to Gerrit Smith, published in Ripley, C. Peter, The Black Abolitionist Papers , UNC Press, Vol IV, p.326-330]

Myers was responsible for presenting more than nineteen petitions representing 1,600 persons to the state legislature on behalf of black voting rights for the New York State Suffrage Association, the Black voting rights group of the period.

Myers was able to help defeat efforts by the New York State Colonization Society to obtain state funding for its programs in 1856. He obtained commitments from 60 Senators to oppose the funding. This stymied the Colonization Society’s attempt to gain ground in New York State.

In 1859-60 Myers and others successfully persuaded the state legislature to authorize a referendum on equal suffrage. The referendum was defeated at the polls. The effort was a success in bringing the issue to the public to be debated. The expectation was that future generations would build upon that effort.

Although Myers’ efforts did not translate into change on the legislative front in many cases it is worth noting that the defeat of the efforts of the Colonization Society to obtain state funding contributed to the society’s decline in the 1850s period. The organization of many local affiliates of the New York State Suffrage Association contributed to the political empowerment of blacks in local communities. In this period the right of petition was regarded as much more significant then it is regarded today. These groups skillfully utilized the right of petition to assert their interests.

Albany and the Burned Over District: One of the problems with any scheme to describe social movements is that they have their limitations. This is the case with the

2 concept of the “Burned Over District”. The area generally is considered to be central and western Upstate New York. The idea that this geography where religious enthusiasm seemed to thrive had some abrupt border between Syracuse and Albany cannot be argued. The people of the Albany region were also greatly affected by the revivalism of the “burned over district” and because the government of the state of New York was seated in Albany it was considered an important center for bringing issues to the state. Many religious movements that found their roots in central and western New York had their adherents in the Albany region. An example of this is the two Wesleyan Churches in Albany which were noted for their reformism in Methodism and their anti-slavery posture and the nearby Shaker community which is also noted for its religious enthusiasm. Because of its importance there were meetings at the state capital debating slavery and emancipation in the 1830s. Many meetings held in Albany were made up of representatives from the central and western parts of the state as well. One such meeting took place from February 28 to March 2, 1838 at the Presbyterian Church in Albany. This “Albany Anti Slavery Convention” is said to have had 200 in attendance including Gerrit Smith, numerous others from the western and central parts of the state, and Stephen Myers and Rev. Nathaniel Paul of Albany. Among the propositions agreed upon by its members were ones asserting “sympathy” for the enslaved and for fugitives from slavery, embracing the use of “political power” as well as “moral suasion” to end slavery. Of note for this meeting was a large local Black representation. Albany, as a constituent part of the Upstate region, shared in the feeling of there being constructive things people could do to make the world better.

Promoting self-determination and self-help through agrarian reform, Myers spearheaded the Florence Farming and Lumber Association. This association was designed to offer for sale to African Americans lots equaling up to 30 acre plots in the Town of Florence in Oneida County, New York. Supporting contributions were directed to be sent to Dr. McCune Smith or Rev. Charles Ray of . Contributions of cash and goods were provided by a long list of prominent individuals. People in Albany, along with Stephen Myers, were involved in many of the reform movements that were hall marks of the period such as the temperance movement, religious reform, agrarian reform, the abolitionist movement, just as were those in the central and western parts of the state such as the “burned over” district.

Albany’s geographic position on the Underground Railroad: Albany geographically was in a good position to facilitate transit to Canada for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. It was a sort of “hub” location from which freedom seekers traveled east, west and north to freedom. The rapid means of transportation available in the region by way of the Hudson River and its river day liners and the Erie Canal and later through the railroad’s connecting this same route was very important. Equally important was the local support present in the communities at the terminus of the Hudson River route to the Erie Canal and those communities along the Canal. is credited with the reflection that one of the earliest established routes of the Underground Railroad ran from Washington to Philadelphia where William Still provided assistance, to New York City where Mr. Gibbs provided help, to Albany where Stephen Myers provided assistance, to Syracuse where Jermaine Loguen operated, to Rochester where Douglass operated and thence to Canada. In each of these cities a strong community of support was present for the efforts of helping freedom seekers to Canada.

3 In Albany a long history of assistance and a strong community of support has been shown to be present. As early as 1831, Myers is known to have assisted fugitives to Canada. He formed the Northern Star Association for the purpose of devoting organized support to fund raising and providing assistance to freedom seekers as well as organizing support for ways to educate the public on the institution of slavery and its abolition. An 1858 letter from Myers to William notes that financial support for the Underground Railroad work is being provided by a range of prominent New Yorkers including William John Jay, Gerrit Smith, and Thurlow Weed. Many meetings and conventions took place in Albany supporting the abolition of slavery and supporting fugitives from slavery, such as the 1838 meeting referred to above, and the formation of the Eastern New York Anti- slavery Society in 1842. Albany became a center in the 1840s for organized efforts at assisting fugitives from slavery through the efforts of Rev. Abel Brown and Rev. Charles Torrey. Their network was passed along to Stephen Myers when he came to be the “Superintendent” of the Albany Vigilance Committee in the mid 1840s.

What role did the communities of Utica, Rochester, and Ithaca play?: Many cities in upstate New York played a role in the story the Underground Railroad. Some had outstanding stories tell. The community of Utica was noted for its role as the city where the founding convention of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society was routed out to Peterboro some twenty miles to the south.

Gerrit Smith was a well-to-do New York State resident and a person of stature because of his wealth and connections. He was a resident of New York’s Madison County, south of Utica. Smith’s religious faith and principles drove him to address social issues such as land reform, but he also took aim at colonization as a social solution to the problems faced by African people in America. These were problems such as degraded living condition, lack of livelihood, discrimination, slavery, and lack of political empowerment. Smith believed that repatriation of Africans through colonization was the only just solution to the problems Africans faced. Out of curiosity, while en-route to Schenectady (a community just west of Albany) to visit his father, he stopped to look in on the meeting at the Second Presbyterian Church on Bleeker Street in Utica. It was October 21, 1835 and those gathered there planned to create a state wide anti-slavery society.

Much to Gerrit Smith’s surprise and disgust an angry crowd attempted to break up the meeting. The mob had been stimulated by business people of Utica who felt the supporters of immediate abolition were crazy agitators looking to upset the social order. A description of these events is included in Milton Sernett’s North Star Country (p.49- 53):

On October 21, 1835, nearly six hundred antislavery enthusiasts assembled at the Second Presbyterian church…a mob of some three hundred anti-abolitionists massed outside. Some of the crowd shouted, “Open the way! Break down the doors! Damn the fanatics! Stop your damn stuff!” This outburst of antiabolitionist violence, which was replicated elsewhere in the North, was evidence of a hardening of the opposition. It also confirmed the immediatists conviction that they were crusaders in a holy cause.

While the antiabolitionists congregated ominously [outside], Alvin Stewart convened the assembly [inside]. He gave a speech about slavery’s assault on the

4 “liberty of discussion, of conscience and the press”. A constitution was read and adopted. had begun to read a declaration of sentiments when “a large number of persons, in a disorderly and boisterous manner” pushed their way into the church and disrupted the proceedings.

The disrupters threatened violence but Smith rose to speak stating he was not himself an abolitionist but the disruption was a violation of free speech and fairness. He invited those assembled to re-assemble in the sanctuary of his estate in Peterboro some 20 miles to the south. The delegates left and as they left they were hounded by antiabolitionists as they passed through the streets. Three hundred took Smith up on his offer and traveled south to Peterboro and the Peterboro Presbyterian Church where the meeting resumed. The delegates formed a New York State Anti-Slavery Society and Gerrit Smith began to listen more closely to their arguments. His importance as an abolitionist would come into play over the next two decades.

Utica, in December of 1836, also had a slave rescue where two men identified as Henry Bird and George were apprehended as fugitive slaves. A pro-abolition band engineered their escape and they made their way to Canada.

Utica was also noted as a place from which significant abolitionist newspapers The Friend of Man and The Liberty Press were published. These two newspapers, though each short lived, provided some unity to the developing abolitionist movement in New York State.

Syracuse had a noted position as an abolitionist center. Ultimately Jermain Loguen, and Samuel May have been noted as leaders in assisting fugitives from slavery in Syracuse. In 1850 Syracuse gained note as a town of abolitionist sympathies when the “Jerry Rescue” incident took place there. When proponents of the 1850 fugitive slave law sought to make an example of someone in Syracuse, an angry anti-slavery mob attacked the jail where the captured fugitive William “Jerry” Henry was held and they freed him. A jury was convened and 30 people were indicted in connection with the jail break. The jury was to sit first in Auburn, then Buffalo and finally the trial convened in Albany where only one person was convicted. The convicted rioter then died before he could be sentenced. This contributed to the Fugitive Slave law of 1850 being considered a “dead letter”. Many prominent abolitionists came to Albany to support the defense and Gerrit Smith was allowed to be confirmed as a lawyer for the defense just for the occasion.

Ithaca, New York is known as a location where fugitive from slavery were assisted through the members of the Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The church was organized in 1833. For a period of time (1846-48) Jermain Loguen pastored there. While the church is considered significant no single individual has been documented as having as extensive a history as Stephen Myers in the work of assisting freedom seekers.

Comparing Underground Railroad Activities in Neighboring Communities With Albany: The core activity of the Underground Railroad was assisting fugitives or freedom seekers from enslavement to make their way from slavery to freedom in the north and Canada. This activity took various forms. A close examination of accounts of Underground Railroad activists shows that among the works engaged in by these activists

5 were providing transportation, food and lodging, finding employment for freedom seekers, providing medical assistance and providing legal help. While most popular lore about the Underground Railroad centers around freedom seekers hiding from pursuit, actual accounts of freedom seekers’ stories detail a rich response within the flight narrative. An example of such a story is that of Moses Viney who settled in Schenectady, New York. He and a friend took flight on Easter morning 1841 and he finally wound up at Schenectady. He decided to settle there rather than go to Canada. He obtained employment at first as a farm laborer in neighboring Glenville. He later found a job as a driver for a local doctor and college President. In short, this person fleeing enslavement settled down and found a job. He didn’t spend his time hiding in secret rooms. Another story is that of Charles Nalle who was rescued from recapture into enslavement by Harriet Tubman in 1860. Nalle had escaped some years earlier. He settled in the Troy, New York area in Sand Lake. He obtained employment with a lumber yard. Later he moved to Troy and found work as a driver for a local businessman. It was while running errands for his employer that he was recaptured by slave catchers. Once again, rather than being in hiding in a secret room he was working a regular job to earn his living. Likewise the story of William “Jerry” Henry in Syracuse and his rescue from capture under the fugitive slave law of 1850. That story centers on Jerry who was employed in the barrel trade as a cooper. There are many other stories of freedom seekers who went on directly to Canada, but as these three stories illustrate, food, clothing, shelter and employment were high on the list of those seeking freedom and they often felt safe enough in Northern cities to seek regular employment.

We know a considerable amount about how Underground Railroad operations were conducted in Albany. Through accounts such as The Memoir of Abel Brown , accounts preserved in newspapers, handbill reports and the surviving correspondence of Stephen Myers we find that the Albany station was busy serving 350 fugitives in one year (1842), and 256 fugitives in another 10 month period (1856). We know that fugitives were lodged in people’s homes and the home owners were reimbursed for meals served and nights lodged. While the narrative of the Underground Railroad in Albany had many figures and stories it can be seen that activity focused in the Arbor Hill section of Albany in the 1850s coincident to the residency of Stephen and Harriet Myers in that section of the City. While the Myers lived at 168 Third Street, 198 Lumber Street, and 10 Lark Street, they conducted their Underground Railroad activities. The Vigilance Committee handbill of 1856 attests to fugitives being helped while the Myers’ lived at 198 Lumber Street (our present 194 Livingston Avenue). Surviving letters attest to activity when they lived at Third Street and Lark Street. We also know a considerable amount about how the activity of the Underground Railroad was financed, who gave contributions for support. In short, we know quite a bit of detail about the operations of the Underground Railroad in Albany through documentation beyond what is commonly known about many of the other upstate communities.

The arguments for the significance of the Myers property at 198 Lumber Street (194 Livingston Avenue) do not lay in any association of Myers with other major Underground Railroad figures. The significance of the property is first its connection to Stephen Myers and his wife Harriet, who were major figures themselves. While not being featured as lecturers by national anti-slavery societies as Douglas was, Myers spoke regularly and widely to African American audiences in New York State, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. They are African American activists and station operators, unlike

6 many of the other surviving locations of Underground Railroad activity where white abolitionist activists were involved, and it was their home and not some secondary site. Of noted figures Douglass’ home no longer exists and Loguen’s home no longer exists. According to the surviving handbill from the period the location is the “office” or command center for the Vigilance Committee of the Underground Railroad. Operations were conducted from there and directions to other elements of the operations were given from there such as to line up shelter for a fugitive in another location or to arrange transportation. It is with little doubt that fugitives stayed there, visited there, and received guidance there. The Myers’ themselves worked tirelessly in their efforts to assist freedom seekers as several citations will illustrate:

From a letter from David Ruggles to Myers, published in The Liberator of May 24, 1844: …Seeing the Albany Committee of Vigilance has the reputation of being the most efficient organization in the state of New York, in the business of aiding the way-worn and weather-beaten refugee from slavery’s shambles…

From an unpublished letter of Harriet Myers to [from the Jay Family Papers]: Albany August 20, 1860 Antislavery Office No. 10 Lark Street

Mr. William Jay, Esquire, Sir,

The two fugitive arrived here that you sent and I sent them immediately on their route for Canada. In this month we have had ten. We have sent on the two that you sent, Sir. They had some money. They said that you gave them some. They had enough to get to Canada but the others had none. Mr. Myers is not home. He is at Lake George this season as a butler, and you see sir I have to attend to the fugitives myself. I was very thankful that you gave some aid for it was on Saturday that they came and it would have been difficult to get money to send them on that day. And it is hard to get money for the fugitives as it seems that prejudice against our class grows stronger every day and yet we have a few good friends that feel for the bleeding slave that comes panting at their doors. I thank you for all the favors you have done for the downtrodden that come to this office. May God bless you and your posterity.

Yours for the Oppressed, Harriet Myers

From an unpublished letter from Stephen Myers to William Jay [Jay Family Papers]: Albany January 2, 1860

Mr. John Jay, Esq.

I send you this circular, Sir, to wish you a Happy New Year together with your family in hoping that God will spare you and yours to see many a happy new year. I have added up the number of fugitives that I have received in eight years, fed, and lodged. There has been more in the last three years than there has been in six years previous. We have six men arrive Sunday the first day of the year in 1860. Last year we had three on the first day. Of the six that arrived on Sunday two came from Norfolk on a vessel from Stonington, two from Fairfax, Virginia, two from Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Jay, Sir, I was very sorry to hear of the death of Mr. Sedgewick. I had not heard that he was sick. I lived with his father two months in 1820. You have my thanks for the many favors you have rendered to me and the bondsman in his flight to Canada.

Your Obedient Servant, S. Myers 7

Although there are other facts of importance noted in these letters, they are presented to illustrate the constancy of effort provided by Stephen and Harriet Myers in support of fugitives from enslavement. While no summative figure can truly be presented on the number of people assisted it seems certain that the number runs in the high hundreds. One letter dated January 1 st , 1860 cites:

“Within the last eight years I have passed six hundred and fifty four men, women, and children through my hands that have gone safely on to Canada.”

In addition to being an important “station” on the Underground Railroad it was also an important center. As Myers notes in his letter to Francis Jackson of the Boston Vigilance Committee on May 22, 1858:

Since April 4 th of 1858 up to this day I have had sixty seven I have sent to Canada. I am receiving them [fugitives] from three different branches of the Underground Railroad. [from special collections, Boston Public Library]

And, a December 17, 1858 letter:

…and this being sir a central point they are sent to me by Francis Jackson of Boston…There are many that stray up here that do not come through Philadelphia or New York…

Stephen and Harriet Myers were tireless workers in their efforts at the Underground Railroad and their efforts were far reaching in other areas of the work for African American rights. Although Myers began helping fugitives from enslavement as early as 1831, in the period from 1844 to the Civil War he and his wife assisted hundreds of persons. The Myers “station” of the Underground Railroad was a center receiving passengers from multiple lines of the underground. In addition, the Myers worked in many other areas important to the advancement of African people.

An article is attached that outlines the life of Stephen and Harriet Myers. It is taken from the Historic Structure Report for the Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence published in February 2009 by the Underground Railroad History Project of the (Albany, New York) Capital Region.

I am sure after consideration of all of this material you will agree that the Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence is deserving of listing as a National Historic Landmark site.

Sincerely,

Paul and Mary Liz Stewart URHPCR. Scholars In Residence, Russell Sage College, Troy, NY

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