EVENTS

The afternoon will begin with the cutting and sharing of the birthday cake. At 1:30 brief information on upcoming projects and programs in the Town of Smithfield / Hamlet of Peterboro will be shared. The

Peterboro Academy will be launched.

Gerrit Smith biographer Norman K. Dann PhD will honor Smith with the announcement of a forthcoming book in 2025 on Smith’s remarkable relationship with Frederick Douglass. Dann will also outline a series of eight two-hour programs on Peterboro 19th C. history planned for April and May.

Smithfield Community Center

5255 Pleasant Valley Road, Peterboro NY 13134

Juneteenth activities will be described commencing with bell ringing on the evening of Thursday, June 19th, followed by a movie on enslavement Friday, June 20th . Saturday morning, June 21, will include lectures on Harriet Tubman and racism, followed by information from the Madison County Freedom Trail and identifying Underground Railroad sites, and then a late afternoon Freedom Festival of music and food.  Sunday will include programs on the enslavement role of churches in the early 19th Century.

July 5th will include Owen Corpin, descendant of a formerly enslaved family that came to Peterboro, relate Frederick Douglass’ strong words about enslavement. Norm Dann will share more about research on the Douglass-Smith relationship.  Jack Hanrahan, author of a history and travel book on Frederick Douglass in Maryland will share his plans for a Douglass’ New York State travel book.

The Annual Peterboro Emancipation Day will be held Saturday, August 2 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First Peterboro Emancipation Day held in 1925.

A round trip walk from Canastota to Clockville in remembrance of the founding the New York State Abolitionist Abolitionist Society

Details TBA