Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Freedom Seeker Volume XI, No. 2 Summer, 2014 The Myers Residence - a Great Place to Be Paul Stewart, Scholar-in-Residence at Russell Sage College, and Co-Founder, URHPCR, Inc. you’re looking for an educational, exciting, and Most of their meetings and activities have been in or If inspiring activity come visit The Stephen and around The Myers Residence. Harriet Myers Residence. Groups and individuals have visited The Myers Residence as visitors, volunteers, for T h e H u d s o n M o h a w k meetings, or to engage in activities. These visits and Appalachian Mountain Club meetings take place despite the fact that the restoration volunteered to help Underground of the building is far from complete. The Myers historic Railroad History Project site draws people because of its special significance as a upgrade the trail that cuts well-documented site of national significance. The site is across the properties associated on the National Register of Historic Places, the NYS with The Myers Residence. Underground Railroad Freedom Trail and the National The Myers Residence properties Network to Freedom of the include more than just the building of the Myers National Park Service. In Residence. URHPCR owns six property lots adjacent to the month of May 2014 and near The Myers Residence. The other lots variously alone, Young Abolitionists include one that was once lived on by Abram Johnson, have met at the residence Harriet Myers’ father, and one lived on by Dr. Thomas twice, members of the Hudson Elkins, another key abolition activist. Several other lots Mohawk Appalachian support the work of The Myers Mountain Club have come Residence in various ways. to work in laying out a Combined with other volunteers walking path, staff and volunteers from the Martin Van and members of URHPCR, some Buren Historic site visited, and a group of 15 people twenty people helped upgrade came from SUNY Delhi to participate in an interactive and expand the trail between History Day Program. In addition to this our volunteer Third Street and Livingston gardeners, and many people attending the numerous Avenue that stretches across recent plant sales, have visited. the Abram Johnson Garden. Young Abolitionists, a project of Underground Railroad Staff, volunteers and friends of the Martin Van Buren History Project, is a group of teens who meet in Historic Site recently visited The Myers Residence celebration of the abolitionist history of our community to look at what a site in and its connection with today. development was like and Inside this issue Eight to twelve teens from a to learn how URHPCR variety of area schools have met interprets the Underground July 4th Oration 2 regularly for the past three Railroad history of the site. years. They have studied aboli- It was an opportunity for tionist history, done grounds networking and exploring In Memoriam: 3 Joy Chatel work, created fundraisers, gone important features of the on fieldtrips, produced educational Myers Site story. Canal Cruise on 3 programs, and re-enacted the Caldwell Belle th th characters from the 19 century. History Day this year was May 4 and, as (Cont’d. on p. 2) VOLUME XI, NO. 2 PAGE 2 THE FREEDOM SEEKER Join us! URHPCR Board of Directors Thought provoking Paul Stewart, Co-founder questions about with Mary Liz Stewart, Executive Director democracy, Pat Barrot liberty, and civic Barry Walston Christine Cowieson engagement are President Dale Black-Pennington as relevant Paul Murray Julia Hastings today as they Vice-President Michael O’Brien were in 1852 Alexandra Sautin Jim Owens when Douglass Secretary Ralph Pennington, Jr. asked his Marva Richards Doug Arnott audience, “What Sharon Robinson Treasurer to the Slave is the Mary Scanlon Jacqui Williams Fourth of July?” The Freedom Seeker is a publication of Underground Please bring a chair Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc., a Program - 11am - 12noon non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting knowledge Guest Speaker: Refreshments and of the 19th century Underground Railroad Movement and Dr. Alice Green, Founder and Executive conversation - 12noon - 1pm its legacy in the Capital Region, in New York State, and in Director, Center for Law and Justice Admission free the United States. This newsletter is published three times a A restroom facility will be year. Editorial inquiries can be sent to Slavery by Another Name: Mass Incarceration In Modern America available [email protected] The Myers Residence (cont’d) Breaking Free: Civil War, Emancipation, & Beyond part of the History Day CALL FOR PROPOSALS (please note, title has changed, program at the Albany call for proposals content has not changed) County Historical Society, 40 people came up to visit The 14th annual UGRR Public History Conference The Myers Residence. April 17-19, 2015 Spending time both at Russell Sage College and The Myers Residence outside and inside The Residence, where they 2015 commemorates the 150th anniversary of the end of could hear the story and the Civil War, the assassination of Lincoln, and the start be in the place where important history took place, of reconstruction. Proposals are requested for workshops, the visitors heard about the Myers family, the presentations and activities that explore the relationship neighborhood, the Underground Railroad and the of the UGRR to these developments and to the stories of freedom seekers (fugitives from complexities of shaping the emerging society which enslavement) who were referred to the Myers followed the Civil War, as well as exploring the Residence from points south. relationship of these developments to our present day. In addition to these many visitors The Myers Full details are available on the conference pages at th Residence hosts an annual 4 of July Celebration, is www.undergroundrailroadhistory.org. a stop on the National Park Service Passageways program, hosts a summer program with as many as Submission deadline - October 20, 2014 40 teens who work and learn, hosts archeology programs, and is the location of many other meetings, occasional fund raisers and open houses. If you’re “A chance to network, make new friends, learn history, have looking for a place to spend some time related to an fun, purchase a book or two, hear some excellent cultural exciting history, visit The Myers Residence. presentations.” (anonymous, 2014 conference) VOLUME XI, NO. 2 THE FREEDOM SEEKER PAGE 3 Welcome to new board member Christine Cowieson. Christine is the Coordinator of Coming Next Month! Campus Events at Schenectady County Community College. As the previous Canal Cruise on the Caldwell Belle Coordinator of Special Events at Russell Sage An authentic 19th century sternwheel paddle boat College, Christine brings with her an extensive Saturday, August 16 — 5:30pm - 7pm background in events organizing and business administration. Welcome, Christine! Debut of Myers Cider, a custom blend by Nine Pins Cider Works Cruise to Northumberland Falls via Champlain Canal Exterior restoration construction begins July 7 - walls, windows, entryways, bearing wall, and Lock 5 while enjoying a narrated tour with music, Chef Ben’s hors d’ouerves, and great conversation more will come ’under the knife’ of Yankee construction, bid awardee. Watch the URHPCR Cash bar and URHPCR merchandise will be available Facebook page for continuous updates. $65 per person - advance ticket purchase required - make checks payable to URHPCR or purchase online In Memoriam - Joy Chatel, activist and at www.undergroundrailroadhistory.org/events preservationist, passed away in January of Seating is limited - do not delay! this year. Joy was instrumental in leading the effort to save 227 Duffield Street from devel- All proceeds benefit URHPCR opment into a park and underground Arrange for a carpool by calling 518-432-4432 parking garage. In 2007, Duffield Street The 1st Annual Canal Cruise sponsored by URHPCR was co-named Abolitionist Place. Her home at 227 Duffield Street was the home of Learn the Past, Be the Present, Create the Future ® abolitionists Thomas and Harriet Truesdell. News and Notes Welcome and thank you to new and renewing members: Mission Statement of URHPCR: Robin Krawitz; Deborah Abel; Scott Christianson; Underground Railroad History Project Tom Ellis; Judith Wellmn; Kenneth Williams; Dora researches and preserves the local and national history Lee Stanley; Sylvia Barnard; Peter G. Sokaris; of the anti-slavery and Underground Railroad movements, Alfred and Lois Siegel; Jacqueline C. Robinson; their international connections Stan Malecki; Melissa Richburg; Donald K. Baxter; and their legacies to later struggles; it engages in public education and dialogue about Suzanne Isaksen; Karen Mahar; Enid Mastriani; these movements and their relevance to modern society. Isabel T. Mills; Christine Connell; Margaret Lavelle; Deborah Gross; Nancy Rosenberg; Willie J. Hughes; Brea Barthel; Julia Holcomb; Dorothy Mark your calendars and plan to attend - Wilsey; Francis Decker; Virgia Phoenix; Martha J. Bennett; Katherine Storms; Joanne Bakerman; URHPCR Board Meetings - 3rd Thursday of every month, Vera Michelson; Brenda Cave-James and Isaac 5:45 - 7:30pm at Russell Sage College, Troy Wooden; David Dova; Annette Johnson; Denise Conference Planning Mtg - 1st Monday of each month, 6:00 - 7:30pm in Rm. 105, Gurley Hall at Russell Sage Clement; Allyn Kay Writsel College, Troy Building & Properties Mtg - monthly, 5:30 - 6:30pm at Invite someone you know to become a member, or give the gift The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence of membership - details available on the Membership Page at Finance Committee Mtg - 2nd Tuesday of each month, www.UndergroundRailroadHistory.org 5:30 - 6:30pm at Albany Center for Economic Success Gardening Committee - Thursdays, 10am - 1pm, weekly, at The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence Questions? Concerns? Contributions? Interested in volunteering? Contact us by calling 518-432-4432 or Information about these meetings and events is available at 518-432-4432 or at [email protected] by visiting www.UndergroundRailroadHistory.org.