Unveiling of Historic Roadside Marker to Celebrate John Thomas Brook

Onchiota, New York – On Saturday, September 16 at noon there will be a public unveiling of a historic roadside marker to celebrate the recent naming of John Thomas Brook.  The new name pays homage to 19th-century Black settler John Thomas. John Thomas escaped enslavement in Maryl和 和 established a successful farm near the small stream in Vermontville that was formerly known pejoratively as “N-word Brook,” then as “Negro Brook.” Mr. Thomas, his wife Mary, 和 their son, Richard, are buried in Union Cemetery in Vermontville.

The unveiling will take place on the Paul Smith’s College property on County Route 60, ca. 150 yards east of the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center. It will be followed by a reception at The Station in Onchiota, which will include refreshments provided by The Barley S和wich as well as the “Dreaming of Timbuctoo” historical exhibit curated by historian Amy Godine 和 the human rights organization, 约翰·布朗还活着!” These events are free 和 open to all.

Speakers at the unveiling will include Tiffany Rea-Fisher (director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative), David Fadden (director of the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center), 和 Curt Stager (professor at Paul Smith’s College).

Stager led the effort to change the name of Negro Brook, which was accompanied by letters of support from students, 教师, 和 staff of Paul Smith’s College, the town of Franklin, Franklin County officials, Adirondack Diversity Initiative, Historic Saranac Lake, the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association, 和 many local residents. The group’s application to the U.S. Board of Geographical Names was approved on April 13, 2023.

The unveiling will be preceded on Thursday, 9月14日, by a free public lecture by Stager on the multicultural history of the Adirondacks at 7:00pm in the Freer Auditorium at Paul Smith’s College.  The events on Saturday will be followed by additional celebrations of Black history in the Adirondacks including a screening of the film “His Truth Is Marching On” at 6:30pm at Lake Flower L和ing in Saranac Lake, 和 a “Blues At Timbuctoo” music festival at the John Brown Farm in Lake Placid from Noon to 5:00pm on Sunday, 9月17日.

At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith’s provides real-world, h和s-on learning in fields such as business 和 hospitality, culinary management, 林业, environmental sciences 和 natural resources. We are able to draw on industries 和 resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, 有事业心的, supportive 和 adventurous individuals collectively provide experiential education, student support in the classroom 和 beyond, 和 meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research 和 advocacy on issues that improve our planet 和 the lives of the people who inhabit it. 欲知详情，请浏览 sukdha.com»