5/21/2012
FRIENDS OF SUSAN B. ANTHONY HOUSE
Rochester, New York
Elizabeth Stanton, Editor, 805 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618-4823; 585-244-8134; [email protected]
Day Trip to Syracuse, Fayetteville and Peterboro – May 15, 2012
What a successful trip we had this week. As usual, the comment cards were extraordinary! Alice and her team
(Jean Shafer; Nadine Fiero; Jan Sarbou; Sue Barres; Jean Cammer) again found unknown secrets of New York
State. I will copy here the comments from 2 travelers:
“One of the best organized and informative trips I have ever taken. Many thanks.”
“Wow! I never knew that so much could be crammed into a day and my stomach!
As usual, the precision in the planning was trés magnifique! I feel privileged to be part
of an organization that promotes this type of experience!”
Alice and her team did a wonderful job of planning and leading our exceptional trip. As I said during dinner,
they always find the most surprising and interesting secrets for our trips. Imagine, we are still talking about
Oswego two years later, and about Auburn one year later. Who knew!! The team always tops itself.
Onondaga Historical Association Our day began with a stop at the OHA in the
middle of downtown Syracuse in an old telephone company building. We visited the
Freedom Bound exhibit, highlighting the story of Syracuse and the underground
railroad, the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the Jerry Rescue. It was very
powerful. We had 3 stops there, with different docents at each location. The
docents were fabulous. Also excellent is the little newsletter (titled Freedom bound)
found in our packet of info from OHA describing everything we saw (or didn’t see) at
docent portraying The Rev.
the visit.
Samuel May (holding shackles)
Matilda Joslyn Gage (1826-1898) home in Fayetteville Our visit to the home was
delightful. We had stops in three spots inside the house and a talented docent in each.
The Executive Director (Sally Roesch Wagner) has included surprising innovations in the
house, including sitting on the furniture and “writing on the walls,” a room highlighting
the nearby Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) matriarchal society, and even a Frank Baum “Oz”
room (Baum was her son-in-law) - plus exhibits highlighting Gage’s work for women’s
rights.
docent portraying Matilda Joslyn Gage
Lunch – historic United Church of Fayetteville We walked from the Gage
house to the nearby church (1858). The ladies of the church prepared a
delicious sandwich lunch for us (in a lovely 1953 Fellowship Hall addition).
THEN, we were entertained by Vanessa Johnson, a Griot (defined as the
village keeper of oral history). She made a wonderful presentation of the
lives/experiences of 3 slaves. She reminded me of the narrator in the
Broadway musical The Lion King, which will give you an idea of just how
powerful she was. She also asked an interesting question which one of
the comment cards quoted: “What am I willing to give up everything for?”
Jean Shafer Griot Alice Ennis
Gerrit Smith (1797-1874) and Peterboro We then drove to nearby Peterboro, visiting the property originally
owned by Peter Smith (a partner of John Jacob Astor) and then by his son. What a story! What a family! The
town is little known and the buildings are meticulously preserved, although the very large main house burned
down (boiler explosion) in 1936. There is an interesting introductory video in a large empty barn so we all knew
where we were and why we were visiting this unknown hamlet. The introductory program was given by Dr.
Norman Dann, author of the future book Cousins about Gerrit Smith and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It was at a
visit to this home that cousin Elizabeth Cady met her future husband, Henry B. Stanton. Dr. Dann is a scholar on
the Smith-Stanton connection and we loved learning about it.
Dr. Dann and his wife Dorothy Willsey have a home on the Smith property. She is president of the nearby
National Abolition Hall of Fame and Dr. Dann is a member of its Governing Board. We toured the original Land
Office (now an Historic Property). We were standing on the original brick floor used by Susan B. Anthony;
Elizabeth Cady Stanton; Frederick Douglass; Smith family; John Brown; Harriet Tubman, etc. It was inspiring.
There had originally been 15 buildings on the Smith land. As you read any book about Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
the Smith property is well described as she was close to her cousin (and siblings) and spent much time there.
Our time with Dr. Norman Dann and with his wife Dorothy Willsey was fascinating. The life of Gerrit Smith and
his abolition activities, and his monetary contributions to many needy causes and/or individuals, were part of
the story told by Dr. Dann and by Dorothy Willsey. I am anxious to read his book Cousins as the storytelling was
captivating.
One unusual fact I learned is that there is no paid staff at the Smith property – all are volunteers.
National Abolition Hall of Fame After our
about ¼ mile down Pleasant Valley Road to
building was originally a church; it became a
1974 it became the Smithfield Community
designated The National Abolition Hall of
beginning in 2005.
time at the Gerrit Smith property, we traveled
the National Abolition Hall of Fame. This 1820
school in 1869 and remained so until 1968. In
Center. It was in 2004 that the building was
Fame, inducting members every other year
The second floor of the structure is as large as a basketball court and contains the exhibits for
the National Abolition Hall of Fame, plus a stage. The first floor is the Smithfield Community
Center and we were served dinner there by the ladies of the Fayetteville United Methodist
Church and the Smithfield United Methodist Church. We were treated royally in a simple
setting. And Dr. Dann told us more about his soon-to-be-published book Cousins.
_____________________________
It was an unusual and satisfying day, with lots of new facts and faces to remember.
The generosity and hospitality of the communities, the sites, and the church ladies were
wonderful. Alice left a small gift and a thank you note for each participant.
The Team
Nadine Fiero
Jean
Shafer
Jan
Sarbou
Alice
Ennis
Betsy
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Sue
Barres
Jean Cammer
video time
Gage House
lunchtime at The United Church
Sally Roesch Wagner
before the performance
background info by Dot Willsey

in barn
Vanessa Johnson, Griot
Barb Blaisdell at historically
certified Land Office
Gerrit Smith barn
Dorothy Willsey
president of Hall of Fame
more history by Dr. Norman Dann
in Land Office
Dr. Norman Dann
author of Cousins
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short bus ride to
National Abolition Hall of Fame
Alice
dinner prepared and served by church ladies
REMINDERS
September 27 (Thursday) trip to Buffalo, Lockport and Lewiston This trip will feature women’s rights,
abolition activists and historic sites in an area which provided an escape route to Canada for former slaves on
the run. Alice and her team have scoped out the territory and have been in communication with historians in
each city. It should be great. The price will be announced later. Lots of underground railroad history will be
included. An E-blast will be sent to each of you with the cost and the reservation information. Alice is still
working on even more details, so it is well worth our wait!!
Fall Tea The date and other arrangements are being finalized now. Details will be announced when they are
firm. We believe we will be able to again have the event on a Sunday afternoon in October. The cost will
remain at $45. I am delighted to report that Nadine Fiero is making all the arrangements.
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