New Milford in Western Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

History of the Underground Railroad

"A Rough Road to Freedom"

— Ray Crawford —

History of the Underground Railroad Marker image. Click for full size.

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 4, 2023

1. History of the Underground Railroad Marker

Inscription.
This plaque is dedicated to the memory of slaves.

In the middle of the 1800's, the Underground Railroad was organized with a true commitment to freedom.

New Milford, Connecticut was a road to freedom used to escape into Canada.

In 1865 the Civil War ends, and also the Underground Railroad.

The 13th Amendment was added to the United States Constitution, abolishing slavery permanently.

"Slavery chain done broke at last"

Erected 2012.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Abolition & Underground RR. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 41° 34.836′ N, 73° 24.728′ W. Marker is in New Milford in Western Region, Connecticut. It is at the intersection of Elm Street and Main Street, on the right when traveling west on Elm Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 46 Main Street, New Milford CT 06776, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Connecticut’s Berkshire Foothills

and in the Litchfield Hills.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

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the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Litchfield County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "A Rough Road to Freedom" (here, next to this marker); Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument (here, next to this marker); Lincoln Herm (a few steps from this marker); New Milford (within shouting distance of this marker); Knapp House (within shouting distance of this marker); Pvt. Albert J. Boucher Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Gallery (within shouting distance of this marker); M. Joseph Lillis, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Milford.

Also see . . . The Part of History You've Always Skipped | Neoslavery. This video from Knowing Better is well-sourced and describes how debt slavery survived into the twentieth century. (Submitted on August 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Additional commentary.
1. Inaccuracy in the marker
While

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 4, 2023

2. History of the Underground Railroad Marker

the 13th amendment is generally considered the end of legal chattel slavery in the United States, the system of legal debt slavery existed in the American South until the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration.

— Submitted August 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 671 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.