Lessons in the Geography of the
Underground Railroad in New York State
Scenario 7: The Southern Tierby Timothy McDonnell
New York Geographic Alliance
STATIONS ON THE SOUTHERN TIER TRAIL
List of UGRR Stations:
| 1 - John W. Jones Home (Elmira) |
5 - William Sortose Farm
(Belmont) |
9 - Dr. James Pettit (Fredonia) |
| 2 - Marcus
Lucas Home (Corning) |
6 - Dr. Lambert Whitney (Olean) |
10 - Eber Pettit Home (Versailles) |
| 3 - Thatcher Brothers (Hornell) |
7 - Hiram Thayer (Frewsburg) |
11 - Oliver Lee Home (Silver
Creek) |
| 4 - Henry Crandall Home (Almond) |
8 - Catherine Harris Home (Jamestown) |
12 - Isaac Searle Home (Cadiz) |
There are
several parts to this lesson. First you will decide on a route
for a Freedom Seeker to take on his/her way northward. Then you will
read about a real escape on the Underground Railroad in the Southern
Tier of New York State. You will look over some primary
sources (old map, census record, a journal) and see
if the story makes sense. Ready? It's time to do some geography!
TASK
1: Look at the Color
Landform Atlas Map of New York. What does the landscape look like
in the Southern Tier of New York? Do you think that this would affect the
routes Freedom Seekers took?
TASK 2: Help plan the escape route for a Freedom Seeker:
A fugitive woman from northern Virginia has made her way up the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania, and now she has arrived in the city of Elmira to the home of John W. Jones (#1), himself a former slave. Mr. Jones has contacts with the railroads that run through Elmira. Do you think he should use the "Above-ground Railroad" to send this brave woman closer to Canada? One possible route could be to Jamestown (#8), and then to the home of Eber Petitt in Versailles (#10).
Determine a good path, listing the stations you probably could use along the way. Record them on your Student Worksheet.
TASK 3: The railroads in and around Elmira are being watched by federal marshalls. It is too dangerous to use this method of transportation. Can you think of an alternative? Write your new plan on the Student Worksheet.
Primary Sources to Help in Verification
TASK 2: Help plan the escape route for a Freedom Seeker:
A fugitive woman from northern Virginia has made her way up the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania, and now she has arrived in the city of Elmira to the home of John W. Jones (#1), himself a former slave. Mr. Jones has contacts with the railroads that run through Elmira. Do you think he should use the "Above-ground Railroad" to send this brave woman closer to Canada? One possible route could be to Jamestown (#8), and then to the home of Eber Petitt in Versailles (#10).
Determine a good path, listing the stations you probably could use along the way. Record them on your Student Worksheet.
TASK 3: The railroads in and around Elmira are being watched by federal marshalls. It is too dangerous to use this method of transportation. Can you think of an alternative? Write your new plan on the Student Worksheet.
TASK
4: Now that you have determined a possible escape route for a Freedom
Seeker, now it is time to compare it to an actual event in the real Underground
Railroad. To view this document, click on this link: Elmira/Jamestown
Primary Sources to Help in Verification
| Photos of People and UGRR Stations |
Maps and Panoramic Views |
Census Records |
Documents |
| John W. Jones John Jones Home Catherine Harris Plaque Locomotive in Elmira NY |
Railroad Map of New York State Elmira Panoramic Map Jamestown Panoramic Map |
Busti NY Census 1860 John W. Jones Census Record 1860 Jamestown Census 1860 |
Quote from Catherine Harris Account of Elmira's Role in the UGRR Failed Escape in Chautauqua County |
Make sure
you answer the questions on the Student Worksheet from Task 4. This
includes filling in the chart on the primary sources included in this web
page.
CONCLUSIONS: The wrap-up of this activity will be done as a class. Make sure you participate in the class discussion!
CONCLUSIONS: The wrap-up of this activity will be done as a class. Make sure you participate in the class discussion!
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