The North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association 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. See flyer for more information.

Photo Gallery

Category Albums Files
NCUGRHA Events
24 332
Distinguished Service Awards 2023


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SUNY Plattsburgh honored Jacqueline Madison, president of the North Country Underground Railroad Association, and Keith Tyo, retired SUNY Plattsburgh chief of staff, with the Distinguished Service Award.

2 files, last one added on Dec 18, 2023
Album viewed 29 times

Colors of Freedom Award 2023


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Dr. Dexter L. Criss was the inaugural recipient of the Colors of Freedom in the North Country Award from the North Star Underground Railroad. He was nominated by Aisha Stanyon. The award was presented after the gospel choir sang at SUNY Plattsburgh Community Night, September 22, 2023.

16 files, last one added on Sep 24, 2023
Album viewed 78 times

John Thomas Brook Marker Unveiling


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The unveiling of a marker at John Thomas Brook (formerly called Negro Brook). John Thomas escaped from slavery in Maryland c. 1840 and lived near this brook in Vermontville as a prosperous farmed and respected citizen.

19 files, last one added on Sep 17, 2023
Album viewed 86 times

Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration 2022


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1 files, last one added on Sep 14, 2022
Album viewed 173 times

Solomon Northup Day 2022


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Solomon Northup Day virtual celebration at the North Star Underground Railroad Museum. Video available on YouTube.

3 files, last one added on Jul 11, 2022
Album viewed 200 times

Don & Vivian Papson Recognition


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A ceremony recognizing Don and Vivian Papson, founders of the North Star Underground Railroad Museum

6 files, last one added on Dec 07, 2021
Album viewed 318 times

Tenth Anniversary Celebration


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Photos from the Tenth Anniversary Celebration of The North Star Underground Railroad Museum.

32 files, last one added on Sep 24, 2021
Album viewed 439 times

Women's Suffrage Centennial Auto Tour


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Photos from the Champlain Valley Women's Suffrage Centennial Auto Tour. Visit
Champlain Valley Women for more information.

91 files, last one added on Aug 02, 2021
Album viewed 482 times

Juneteenth 2021


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Photos related to the North Star Underground Railroad Museum Juneteenth celebration

1 files, last one added on Jun 18, 2021
Album viewed 271 times

Herbert Estes Historical Marker Unveiling


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Herbert Estes was the superintendent of the Ausable Chasm Horse Nail Works Company. He also served in the Civil War and was captured in Salisbury, North Carolina. This was a Confederate prison that housed over 6,000 men. Conditions were horrible. Herbert Estes kept a diary while he was in the prison. Later, after his release, he read his entire diary in Congress.
Herbert's wife was Harriet. When the Ausable Chasm Horse Nail Works Company was operating, most of the employees were women. At one time, there were three buildings near the present house. These buildings were used to house employees. Herbert grew up as a Quaker and, according to his grandson, was an abolitionist. He was a member of the Baptist Church when he lived in the Keeseville area.

1 files, last one added on Oct 12, 2020
Album viewed 374 times

Deed Signing


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President Jackie Madison signed the deed to make the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association the sole owner of the Estes House. Founders, Don and Vivian Papson were present for the momentous occasion.

3 files, last one added on Jun 26, 2019
Album viewed 610 times

Computer Games Unveiling


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Three computer games invented by Keeseville Elementary School's enrichment program students for our Children's Table were unveiled on May 21, 2019.
See Press Release.

25 files, last one added on May 22, 2019
Album viewed 864 times

24 albums on 2 page(s) 1

North Star Underground Railroad Museum
2024 Season
3 3
Visit from Descendant of Stephen Keese Smith


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1 files, last one added on Mar 13, 2024
Album viewed 5 times

SUNY Plattsburgh Visit


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A visit from SUNY Plattsburgh students and staff members

1 files, last one added on Feb 20, 2024
Album viewed 12 times

SUNY Potsdam Visit


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A visit from SUNY Potsdam students and the Interim DEI Director

1 files, last one added on Feb 12, 2024
Album viewed 13 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

2023 Season
2 7
West Point Cadets Visit


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A visit from West Point cadets and faculty members and presentation of a certificate from the Department of History at West Point: "Wisdom Through History."

5 files, last one added on Oct 02, 2023
Album viewed 50 times

Clean Up Day


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Volunteers clean up the museum grounds

2 files, last one added on May 10, 2023
Album viewed 104 times

2 albums on 1 page(s)

2022 Season
4 14
West Point Cadets Visit


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A visit from West Point cadets and faculty members.

3 files, last one added on Sep 01, 2022
Album viewed 184 times

Notable Visitors


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Notable visitors to the North Star Underground Railroad Museum during the 2022 season.

4 files, last one added on Dec 07, 2022
Album viewed 205 times

SUNY Potsdam Visit


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A visit from SUNY Potsdam students and Clifton H. Harcum, Director of the SUNY Potsdam Center of Diversity

4 files, last one added on Mar 28, 2022
Album viewed 227 times

Fall Photos


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3 files, last one added on Dec 05, 2022
Album viewed 141 times

4 albums on 1 page(s)

2021 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2021 season
1 2
Adirondack Experience Visit


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A visit from staff members and interns of The Adirondack Experience, Blue Mountain Lake

2 files, last one added on Aug 16, 2021
Album viewed 300 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2018 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2018 season
1 4
Brooklyn Bus Tour Visit


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Members of a Brooklyn bus tour visit the North Star Underground Railroad Museum

4 files, last one added on Jun 11, 2018
Album viewed 607 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2014 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2014 season
1 4
Visit from Congressman Bill Owens


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Congressman Bill Owens visits the North Star Underground Railroad Museum

4 files, last one added on Nov 12, 2014
Album viewed 1054 times

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

2013 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2013 season
2 40
Visit from Dick Gregory


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Martha Swan and the Board from John Brown Lives! suggested that Dick Gregory visit our museum while in the North Country for John Brown Day 2013 to get a sense of the work that NCUGRHA and others have done to uplift the freedom history of the region.
(Read more)

26 files, last one added on May 14, 2013
Album viewed 1802 times

Tour of Underground Railroad Sites


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Photos taken by John Ryan, Editor of the Peru Gazette, during one of the Museum's summer bus tours of Underground Railroad sites in the Peru/Keeseville area. The tour was led by Peter Slocum, NCUGRHA Board Member and 2nd Vice President.

14 files, last one added on Sep 05, 2013
Album viewed 1999 times

2 albums on 1 page(s)

2012 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2012 season
3 15
Students from West Africa


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3 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1304 times

Opening Weekend


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2012 opening weekend with lecture "Who’s Under that Load of Hay?" given by Bryan Thompson, De Kalb town historian.

6 files, last one added on Jun 17, 2012
Album viewed 1271 times

Juneteenth: Dr. Washington


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Dr. Margaret Washington, professor of History and American Studies at Cornell University, unveiled the stories of four unsung women activists during a Juneteenth Celebrations at the North Star Underground Railroad Museum on Sunday, June 17.
(Read more)

6 files, last one added on Jun 18, 2012
Album viewed 1251 times

 

3 albums on 1 page(s)

2011 SeasonNorth Star Underground Museum photos taken during the 2011 season
6 36
Entrance


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6 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1415 times

Entrance Room & Gift Shop


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7 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1431 times

Exhibits


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12 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1657 times

John Thomas Story


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6 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1432 times

Lavinia Bell Story


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1 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1304 times

Onward Your Country to Save


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4 files, last one added on May 22, 2012
Album viewed 1309 times

6 albums on 1 page(s)

Other Related Photos
5 20
Black History Month 2024


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Photos related to Black History Month

1 files, last one added on Feb 29, 2024
Album viewed 7 times

Culture Talk Appreciation Awards


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Jackie Madison and LeGita M. Scott-Williams receive certificates of appreciation for serving as panelists in 2021/2022 culture talks sponsored by UVM Health Network/CVPH.

3 files, last one added on May 10, 2023
Album viewed 90 times

The Making of "Amazing Abolitionists"


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Students of Class 4A Flint Hill School create the book "Amazing Abolitionists."

5 files, last one added on May 21, 2021
Album viewed 330 times

Barn Work at Stephen Keese Smith Farm


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Work on the barn at the Stephen Keese Smith farm (Peru, NY), which is now owned by Frank Perusse.

10 files, last one added on May 10, 2019
Album viewed 528 times

Visit to Africville Museum


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Jacqueline Madison visited the (Africville
Museum
) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 2018.

1 files, last one added on May 07, 2018
Album viewed 574 times

 

5 albums on 1 page(s)

477 files in 52 albums and 12 categories viewed 1,390,595 times

Latest Additions
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Stephen Keese Smith Jr. poses with image of his ancestor Stephen Keese Smith (1805–1894)Mar 13, 2024
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NCUGRHA Black History Month Exhibit at Clinton Community CollegeFeb 29, 2024
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SUNY Plattsburgh students and staff members pose with NCUGRHA President Jacqueline MadisonFeb 20, 2024
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SUNY Potsdam students pose with NCUGRHA President Jacqueline MadisonFeb 12, 2024
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SUNY Plattsburgh Winter 2023 CommencementDec 18, 2023
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Jacqueline Madison and Keith TyoDec 18, 2023
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Certificate from the Department of History at West PointOct 02, 2023
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West Point Cadets and Faculty Members with Jackie MadisonOct 02, 2023