The Underground Railroad

One of the most interesting and commonly asked questions we receive at the Local History Room in the library is: 'What do you know about the Underground Railroad in Nyack?' Our display for February 2008 offers an answer to this question. There are two historial markers in Nyack that commemorate local participation in the underground railroad. One is at the corner of Main Street and 9W. Another is further down Main Street near where the brook is visible and a short pedestrian bridge gives people access to stores set back from the street. The two major players in the local underground railroad activities were Edward Hesdra and John Towt.

Brooks, creeks, streams, and rivers were often used as landmarks for escaping slaves on the underground railroad. Due to the extreme secrecy of the underground railroad network, it is difficult to trace the exact stops on the railroad. We do know that Edward Hesdra was in charge of an underground railroad station in Nyack. Hesdra owned property near the corner of Main Street and 9W where one plaque now stands in remembrance of the spot. Another plaque marks the brook that was perhaps used as a landmark. If you consult the 1876 map of Nyack it shows that Hesdra owned property in the location where the 1st plaque was located, but he also owned riverfront property near where the brook flows into the river. Also notice that John W. Towt, another noted abolitionist owned properties near Hesdra in both locations. Is it possible that the brook marked the way between the two Hesdra properties? Come to the Nyack Library in February to find out more.

Bibliography of Materials at the Nyack Library on the Underground Railroad

Books

• Calarco, Tom. The Underground Railroad in the Adirondack Region. Jefferson, NC: McFarland,2004.
• Green, Frank Bertangue. The History of Rockland County. New York: A.S. Barnes, 1886: 281-283.
• King, Roger A. The Silent Rebellion: the Underground Railroad in Orange County, New York.
• Switala, William J. Underground Railroad in New York and New Jersey. Mechancisburg, PA: Stackpole, 2006.
• Zimm et al. Southeastern New York: a History of the Counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam. Vol. 2. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1946: 697.

Articles and miscellaneous publications

• Cacioppo, Nancy. “Heritage New York Tracking State’s Role in the Underground Railroad.” Journal News December 28, 2003: 3B.
• Cacioppo, Nancy. “Underground Railroad Site to be Recognized.” Journal News February 16, 2002.
• Cacioppo, Nancy. “Historic Marker Dedicated.” Journal News February 19, 2002: 1B+.
• Carlsen, Paul. “Historic Nyack house torn down by owner.” Rockland Journal News September 20, 1977: 1B+.
• Cullen, Jack. “Re: Underground Railroad – Hesdra House.” March 4, 2002. Responding to the articles in the Journal News from February 2002, Mr. Cullen states that “the underground railroad Hesdra house was the second house from the corner. It was set back from the corner.” He states that he was shown the house in 1950 or 51 by Jack Harniman who grew up there.
• Harniman, Ken. “A History of the Underground Railroad.” Rockland County Government News. August 1974: 2R. A copy is in the Nyack – African Americans - Underground Railroad file in the local history room. An article from the Rockland Journal News of April 29, 1997 also in the file reveals that Mr. Harniman grew up in one of the houses thought to be the one Hesdra used as an underground railroad station. Harniman said: “I know the O’dell waterworks had a pump in back of the house at 294 Main St. and one below, next door (west) of the Highland Hose. To my mind, 294 Main had to be the house.”
• Haber, Shel. “The Drinking Gourd.” Nyack Villager February 2002: 3.
• Laroff, Harold. “County Abolitionists Helped Runaway Slaves.” Rockland Leader Independent July 7, 1970.
• Weiner, Randi. “The Underground Railroad Also Ran Thru Rockland.” Rockland Journal News February 11, 1997.