The Underground Railroad in Chester & Schroon

Free program. Join us as authors Donna Lagoy and Laura Seldman talk about the Town of Chester, its role as a haven for slaves escaping to Canada, and the brave residents who risked all to assist in the fight for freedom.

The Town of Chester in Warren County was a secret haven for runaway slaves escaping to Canada along the Underground Railroad. The small Adirondack town holds as many as nine confirmed or suspected sites where fugitives once found shelter.

“We include the stories of the courageous people involved in the movement in the town as well as confirmed and suspected Underground Railroad sites,” says LaGoy. “Owners of those sites were interviewed about the history of their property. We will talk about visits from noted abolitionists, local churches involved, and how we uncovered this history.”

Lagoy is a former teacher who became the Town of Chester Historian when she retired in 2006. She has been on the Board of Trustees of the Historical Society of the Town of Chester since 1990 and editor of their quarterly newsletter since 2007.

Seldman is a long-time summer visitor to the Chestertown area and a professional photographer who has always been interested in the history of the area. She was appointed Photo Historian of the local Historical Society in 2014.

Refreshments will be served.