The Underground Railroad in Westchester
The Underground Railroad in Westchester
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Did you know the path of the Underground Railroad from NYC went through Westchester, very close to where we live?
Follow the footsteps of brave Americans who stood up, spoke out and made a difference. Visit major stops on the Underground Railroad in Westchester, including nearby Carpenter Pond, Foster Memorial AME Zion Church in Tarrytown, Mount Pleasant, the John Jay Homestead, and Park Street AME Zion Church in Peekskill. Based on an article in The Examiner News, this page contains directions and background information for these destinations to help you explore some of our county's Black History.
Read about the Underground Railroad at PBS.org.
Thank you to Jeanine Cole for her extensive research on this topic.
Photo top: WGBH
Carpenter Pond (Photo by Len Stein)
Visit nearby Carpenter Pond, named after Joseph (born in Scarsdale in 1793) and Margaret Carpenter, who were important abolitionists before the Civil War. Their farm in Quaker Ridge (now on the New Rochelle side) was a major stop for the Underground Railroad. Read more.
Directions: Carpenter Pond, New Rochelle, NY 10583
Then drive up to Foster Memorial AME Zion Church in Tarrytown. It is the oldest Black Church in Westchester.
About Foster Memorial AME Zion Church: Aboard the Underground Railroad-- Foster Memorial AME Zion Church (nps.gov)
Amanda Foster, one of the founders of the church, a candy shop owner, and a nurse, gave up her ‘free papers’ to help others escape to freedom. Read more: The Woman Who Inspired the Memorial at AME Zion Church - The Hudson Indy Westchester's Rivertowns News - (thehudsonindependent.com)
Directions: Foster Memorial AME Zion Church, 90 Wildey St, Tarrytown, NY 10591
The Pierce Family (related to the Carpenters by marriage) used their home in Pleasantville as a stop between the Carpenter’s house in New Rochelle and the John Jay Homestead in Bedford. They were honored by the Mount Pleasant Library with a plaque commemorating their service.
Pleasantville's Ties to Underground Railroad [VIDEO] | Pleasantville, NY Patch
Directions: Mount Pleasant Public Library, 350 Bedford Rd, Pleasantville, NY 10570
John Jay's Bedford House (Photo: John Jay Homestead)
John Jay's Bedford House (Photo: John Jay Homestead)
Continue on to the John Jay Homestead in Bedford, an important stop on the Underground Railroad, now open as a museum.
John Jay argued for abolition in New York as early as 1777 but did not abolish slavery in his own household for another four decades. His descendants include three generations who were abolitionists and civil rights activists.
Digital Exhibit: Slaves, Anti-Slavery, and Five Generations of Jays
During House Tours (currently suspended) one can see what life was like for the Jay family during those times. See items like the Bear Paw Quilt, a great example of a pattern often associated with the Underground Railroad. According to legend, the “bear paw” design either indicated that runaway slaves should follow a mountain trail to keep them hidden from view or suggested they follow an actual bear’s trail which would lead them to water and food (John Jay Homestead, Object of the Day - May 6).
Plan your visit or take a virtual tour.
Directions: John Jay Homestead, 400 Jay Street (Route 22), Katonah, NY 10536
Park Street AME Zion Church (Photo by Park Street AME Zion Church)
Finally, visit the Park Street AME Zion Church in Peekskill, which had several important leaders as parishioners, including Harriett Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass.
Peekskill hosted several Underground Railroad Stations. Hawley Green, a barber and a free black man sheltered freedom seekers in their home. They even had a hidden stairway and hidden room.
Directions: Park Street AME Zion Church, 1220 Park St, Peekskill, NY 10566
More destinations for Black History Month and all year
Explore the African American Heritage Trail
Visit the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum in Harlem, NY.
Visit the Hudson River Museum’s Family Studio Art Workshop: Dazzling Icons. Use printed images of African American Historical Figures, and employ a portrait making technique from the Teaching Artist in Residence (recommended ages 5+).
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