CCHS presents ‘Black Family Connections Between Peterboro & Chenango County’
NORWICH, N.Y. – The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) invites the community to experience “Black Family Connections Between Peterboro & Chenango County” from 1:30–2:30 p.m. on Feb. 8. at the James S. Flanagan Research Center, located at 43 Rexford St., Norwich. This program, which has been researched and will be presented by Smithfield Town Historian Donna Dorrance Burdick, will be hosted during the month of February in commemoration of Black History Month.
Located in Madison County, Peterboro is home to the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum and the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark. In 1848, black abolitionists declared that “there are yet two places where slave holders cannot come, Heaven and Peterboro,” words that were inspired by Peterboro resident Gerrit Smith. A wealthy landowner, Smith used his considerable resources to operate a station on the Underground Railroad, purchase African-Americans from slavery, and finance local, state, and national abolition activities.
Since her childhood in Peterboro, Burdick has been collecting, studying, and recording all aspects of her beloved community. The chief researcher for the Madison County Freedom Trail Commission, Burdick has a special commitment to the histories of black families of Peterboro and their connections to others.
Admission is a free-will donation left up to each visitor’s discretion. For more details on “Black Family Connections Between Peterboro & Chenango County,” email info@chenangohistorical.org or call (607) 334-9227. (In case of inclement weather, this presentation will be held on Feb. 15.)
First established in 1939, CCHS is the primary organization dedicated to actively and comprehensively preserving the history of Chenango County. The area’s premier heritage museum, the organization celebrates local culture — the enduring traditions, noteworthy residents, and unique stories of the region. CCHS programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
CCHS presents ‘Black Family Connections Between Peterboro & Chenango County’
NORWICH, N.Y. – The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) invites the community to experience “Black Family Connections Between Peterboro & Chenango County” from 1:30–2:30 p.m. on Feb. 8. at the James S. Flanagan Research Center, located at 43 Rexford St., Norwich. This program, which has been researched and will be presented by Smithfield Town Historian Donna Dorrance Burdick, will be hosted during the month of February in commemoration of Black History Month.
Located in Madison County, Peterboro is home to the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum and the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark. In 1848, black abolitionists declared that “there are yet two places where slave holders cannot come, Heaven and Peterboro,” words that were inspired by Peterboro resident Gerrit Smith. A wealthy landowner, Smith used his considerable resources to operate a station on the Underground Railroad, purchase African-Americans from slavery, and finance local, state, and national abolition activities.
Since her childhood in Peterboro, Burdick has been collecting, studying, and recording all aspects of her beloved community. The chief researcher for the Madison County Freedom Trail Commission, Burdick has a special commitment to the histories of black families of Peterboro and their connections to others.
Admission is a free-will donation left up to each visitor’s discretion. For more details on “Black Family Connections Between Peterboro & Chenango County,” email info@chenangohistorical.org or call (607) 334-9227. (In case of inclement weather, this presentation will be held on Feb. 15.)
First established in 1939, CCHS is the primary organization dedicated to actively and comprehensively preserving the history of Chenango County. The area’s premier heritage museum, the organization celebrates local culture — the enduring traditions, noteworthy residents, and unique stories of the region. CCHS programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
