Just last year, the city planned to raze some Duffield Street houses that may have been part of the underground railroad. Now, a piece of that street is co-named "Abolitionist Place," and "a multi-faceted proposal to memorialize the history of abolitionism, the anti-slavery movement, and the Underground Railroad in Brooklyn," called "In Pursuit of Freedom" is on the horizon. The $2 million effort is courtesy of a coalition of heavies in the Brooklyn cultural scene, including New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and the Commemoration Advisory Panel, who selected the proposal from the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Weeksville Heritage Center and the Irondale Ensemble Project. The project will include a theatrical performance, an interactive exhibit and a self-guided walking tour. Good thing the houses are still here!
Tour, Play, Exhibit Mark Brooklyn Underground Railroad [NY Observer]
