North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association

Want to join our effort to "Save the Safe House"?

The North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association (est. 2005) is raising funds to save a slice of history. Our goal is to purchase the former property of Quaker Abolitionist and Underground Railroad Conductor Stephen Keese Smith. From the 1840s onward, Smith spent $1,000 to provide refuge in a hidden barn room behind his farmhouse for an estimated 400 enslaved persons. Freedom seekers stayed on his property during the last leg of their months-long journey to freedom in Canada.

Photo: Ryan Finnerty

The historic structures on the property need extensive repair work. The front porch on the main farmhouse recently collapsed during a storm, and the 3 barns on the property need repairs to be structurally sound enough for the public to journey inside and step back into their important history.

Currently, NO historical site recognizes the Abolition Movement between Clinton, Franklin and St. Lawrence County, NY. We aim to fill the void with this site.

Map Source: https://www.nysac.org/nycounties

Contributions from people like YOU go towards:

With YOUR help, we can employ the historical restoration methods necessary to preserve this stop on the road to freedom for generations.

YOUR contributions only bring us closer to achieving this mission. Any donation will help.

THANK YOU so much in advance for your contribution!

"We are Lighting Freedom's Road"

Videos About the Property!

Hiding Place in the Barn:

Woods Behind the Hiding Place:

North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association (NCUGRHA)

Our Website: https://northcountryundergroundrailroad.com/index.php

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northcountryugrr/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northcountryugrr/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCth1zaqB90v7kthq4Q9R3bw

Podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-mitchell24/