In 1926 Carter G. Woodson created Negro History Week and deemed February the month for this celebration of black achievement because it was the birth month of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Douglass, the most photographed man of his era, was also the most influential man of color.
He was born, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, enslaved in the Eastern Shore, in 1818. He "stole himself" on September 3, 1838 and traveled by train and boat to Philadelphia and then New York. He changed his name to Douglass in New York and wed Anna Murray-Douglass, a free Baltimorean who had assisted his escape. Douglass moved to Massachusetts, became involved in the abolitionist movement and rapidly became an important orator. He had learned of the movement in 1831, shortly after he became literate, when he came upon a copy of the Columbian Orator.
In 1847 Douglass relocated to Rochester, New York after a rift developed between Douglass and his mentor citing "motives of peace". His family joined him in 1848. Douglass chose Rochester for several reasons. New York State played a significant role in the Underground Railroad (UGRR) because it offered Canadian access via land and water. There were more active anti-slavery groups in the state than in any other and religious and black communities provided assistance and a haven. He also had a number of friends in the city. Douglass would live there until 1872, longer than he would reside anywhere else. www.visitrochester.com
Douglass was not the first person of African descent to live in Rochester albeit he is the most renowned. Asa Dunbar, a mulatto, was among the first to settle the area in 1795. Within 30-years the number of blacks had grown to over 230 largely due to jobs available in the mills and the canal industry.
Southern slave catchers would sometimes track freedom seekers to Rochester and there are regional stories of the community assisting in escapes. One of the most poignant of these stories deals with Ellen who was tracked and captured. The black community managed to free her but she was recaptured. The second capture resulted in her gaining her freedom by slitting her own throat.
The city of Rochester is honoring the legacy of Douglass on the 200th anniversary of his birth. A series of creative and informative events will take place throughout the year spearheaded by the city and the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commemoration Committee under the aegis of Rochester Community Television and Rochester Contemporary Art Center. A proclamation designating 2018 as "The Year of Frederick Douglass" was decreed on Jan. 4th. www.cityofrochester.gov/frederickdouglass200
Douglass began publication of the 4-page weekly newspaper The North Star. The first issue was published in the basement of the A.M.E. Zion Church, an UGRR stop, on December 3, 1847 at a cost of $2.00 annually. Subsequently it was published in the Tallman Building until 1851. In 1851 it became Frederick Douglass' Paper and 1861-1863 as the Douglass' Monthly.
The Tallman Building was constructed in 1820. During Douglass residence the building served as a stop on the UGRR and it is believed that he hid freedom seekers in his printing office. In 1849 Harriett Jacobs organized an anti-slavery reading room there. The building has been designated a Historic Site in Journalism.
Douglass purchased a home in 1848 at 4 Alexander Street from an abolitionist. His neighbors on both sides were abolitionists. Even though there were protests by other residents he lived there for 4-years. He then moved just outside the city. This rural home served as a stop on the UGRR with Anna often serving as stationmaster.
On May 22, 1863 the Bureau of United States Colored Troops (USTC) was formed by the War Department. Douglass immediately became a recruiter and two of his first recruits were his sons Lewis and Charles.
In 1872 Douglass home was burned down in a probable case of arson. He returned from a speaking engagement to find his home gone, his family displaced and he was refused a hotel room until they learned who he was. He then moved to Washington, DC where he died of a heart attack in 1895. A second funeral was held for him at Central Presbyterian Church in Rochester and he was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery. www.fomh.org
Rochester Museum & Science Center's exhibit, Flight to Freedom: Rochester's Underground Railroad, is an outstanding interactive journey in the footsteps of historic abolitionists and freedom seekers. Special emphasis is placed on the lives of Douglass and Harriet Jacobs. This exhibit is a learning experience for all ages. www.rmsc.org
Rochester Contemporary Art Center's unique exhibition runs until March 18th. No Soil Better: Art and the Living Legacy of Frederick Douglass is comprised of works by ten artists who, employing modern techniques and contemporary sensibilities, visually revisit Douglass' life and legacy. www.rochestercontemporary.org
Douglass was a good friend of Susan B. Anthony and a supporter of the Women's Movement. Let's Have Tea, sculpted by Pepsy M. Kettavong, depicts Anthony and Douglass doing just that in Susan B. Anthony Square Park. www.susanbanthonyhouse.org
Sidney W. Edwards' 1899 Douglass Monument is located Highland Park. Originally situated near the train station, it was relocated in 1941. It was the first statue dedicated to an African American in the country.
The Strathallan Hotel is a Rochester icon. This premier boutique hotel offers an extensive menu ofservices including luxurious accommodations, superior service, spa and a rooftop bar with a 360-degree city view. Situated in the heart of the city, it is walking distance to many attractions. The Strath is a great choice when visiting the city. www.strathallan.com
Honor his legacy by seeking the spirit of Douglass in Rochester. www.iloveny.com
Travel Tips:
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