By LUCAS BLAISE
PLATTSBURGH "" New York supported slavery well into 1827. Until then, and after, the Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad was a chance at freedom.
"This was the highway," said Don Papson, president of the North County Underground Railroad Historical Association.
The Champlain Line consisted mainly of Lake Champlain and its waterways, along with some land routes that led to Canada.
These included the villages of Rouses Point, Malone, Fort Covington and Ogdensburg.
The New York State Canal Corporation recently held a statewide Canal Splash! event to encourage knowledge of the canal systems. The North Country version, co-sponsored by the Essex County Historical Society and Champlain Valley Transportation museum, stressed the Champlain and St. Lawrence Canal's importance to the Underground Railroad.
Since ferries were often used by fugitives, abolitionists and slave drivers alike, visitors to the replica 1820 sail-ferry Weatherwax had history performed before them.
North country slaves
Lauren Grindberg-Funez, Keenan Hunt-Stone, Morgan DuBrey and Keane McCullum stood aboard the Weatherwax in period costume.
From the deck, they told stories and sang songs prepared by Papson, his wife, Vivian, and Plattsburgh State voice teacher Sophie Bjerke.
One account was of a fugitive that took the route to Ogdensburg, narrated by Keenan.
While stopping to do some work, the runaway was recognized by the postmaster from a wanted-ad fit with a $500 reward.
When he called out the slave to confront him, read Keenan, the slave was trembling and "sweating profusely."
With the prospect of a reward, the postmaster asked the slave what he should do.
"Do as you would do, as you would like me to do, were I in your place," Keenan quoted the slave. "The postmaster was deeply affected."
He gave him directions for a more efficient journey and gave him money.
But, north wasn't the only way to freedom. To the east was Vermont, having abolished slavery in 1777.
"If they could only get across the Lake," read Lauren.
John Haff of Peru was a slave that attempted that route.
"He tried to take the Essex Ferry and reach Charlotte, Vt., but was caught," Papson explained after the event.
Others took steamboats from Whitehall to St. John, Quebec, where British Canada was free. One such steamboat was the Burlington.
"Many a slave has enjoyed the indescribable pleasure of leaping from the liberty-loving Burlington, to feel the pleasure of being free under the protection of a Queen whose pleasure it is to make the lowest of her subjects happy," Keane quoted from "Abel Brown, Abolitionist," by Catherine S. Brown.
Interwoven throughout the young re-enactor's presentation were songs, with the audiences often chiming in.
"Music touches the heart even more immediately than narrative does, and music was used extensively by abolitionists," Don wrote. "It seemed only natural to weave songs and music together."
These included the "Erie Canal Song," "My 'Tis of Thee," "Amazing Grace," "Steal Away" and "On My Way to Canada."
Changing perceptions
With events like this, the associations seek to further present a full picture of the Underground Railroad.
"We cannot have an accurate picture of the Underground Railroad if the history of the Champlain Line is omitted from our books and maps," wrote Don.
This requires constant education.
"The only way for us to change our perception of history is know exactly what happened."
