Peterboro in Madison County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Barn

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 25, 2022

1. The Barn Marker

Inscription.
This mid-19th century timber-framed building on a mortar stone foundation served as the carriage barn for the Gerrit Smith Estate. Five horse stanchions with feed chutes from the hay mow are between the main room and the two story addition on the north facade a pigeon cote remains in the north peak.

Ann and Gerrit Smith’s grandson Gerrit Smith Miller recalls “that after being fed and rested and as opportunity offered they (fugitives) could be passed on to Oswego where the captains of the lake vessels known to Smith would give them passage to Canada and safety.” Miller recounts that sometimes freedom seekers preferred to sleep in the barn than in the house.
(“The Story of Gerrit Smith: Reflections from a Visit to a Home Where History was Made” The American Agriculture, December 3, 1927)

The barn now houses a large portion of an Underground Railroad exhibit.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Agriculture. A significant day of the year for for this entry is December 3.

Location. 42° 58.091′ N, 75° 41.231′ W. Marker is in Peterboro, New York,

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in Madison County. It can be reached from Oxbow Road (County Route 25) north of Peterboro Road (County Road 32), on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the grounds of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5304 Oxbow Road, Peterboro NY 13134, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Central New York,

and in the Syracuse Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Designations (here, next to this marker); Myths of The Underground Railroad (here, next to this marker); The Lodge (a few steps from this marker); The Laundry (a few steps from this marker); Heaven & Peterboro

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 25, 2022

2. The Barn Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); African American Soldier of the Civil War Buried at Peterboro (within shouting distance of this marker); Purchased From Slavery (within shouting distance of this marker); The Birdhouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Peterboro.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, April 25, 2022

3. The Barn Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 9 times this year. Last updated on May 30, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 6, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.