Gerrit Smith Estate facts for kids
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Gerrit Smith Estate
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5304 Oxbow Rd., Peterboro, New York |
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| Area | 7.78 acres (3.15 ha) |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001386 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1997 |
| Designated NHL | January 3, 2001 |
The Gerrit Smith Estate is a special historic place in Peterboro, New York. It was once the home of Gerrit Smith (1797-1874). He was a famous 19th-century social reformer. This means he worked hard to make society better. Gerrit Smith was also an abolitionist, which means he fought to end slavery. His wife, Ann Carroll Fitzhugh, lived here too.
The estate was a well-known stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. Gerrit Smith also tried to open one of the first "temperance hotels" here. Temperance was a movement that encouraged people to avoid alcohol. In 2001, the remaining parts of the estate were named a National Historic Landmark. Today, a group manages the estate. You can visit it for tours from June to August.
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A Historic Home for Change
The Gerrit Smith Estate is located in Peterboro, New York. It covers about 8 acres of land. This is a small part of what was once a huge 30-acre estate. In its busiest times, the estate was almost like a small village. It had about 30 buildings, including a large main house and a hotel.
Over the years, many buildings on the estate have changed or disappeared. The main house, built in the Federal style, was destroyed by fire in the 1930s. The hotel, which operated from 1827 to 1859, was torn down by Gerrit Smith himself. Many other smaller buildings have also been lost.
What You Can Still See
Even though some buildings are gone, important parts of the estate still stand. These include the Peterboro Land Office and a smokehouse attached to it. The Land Office is so important that it's listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. There's also a barn from the 1800s. Next to the barn is another building that was likely the laundry.
A Glimpse into the Past
In 1875, someone described the estate. They talked about Gerrit Smith's office, a strong building near his home. The main house was large and grand. It had many rooms, some with high ceilings. The house was furnished nicely but simply. There was a wide porch on one side. This porch was turned into a beautiful plant room with glass walls. It was filled with many kinds of flowers.
Gerrit Smith's father built the main house when Gerrit was a child. Gerrit later improved it. He loved the house and the trees around it. The estate also had beautiful grounds. There was a stream flowing through 25 acres of land. The stream had strong stone walls to protect its banks. The land sloped gently down to the stream. One side had a green lawn. The other side had five terraces. These terraces were planted with different types of grapevines. There was also a large greenhouse for growing special foreign grapes. A lovely summer house and a fountain were also on the grounds. The whole estate was well-kept. It had many fruit trees, flowers, and vegetable gardens. There were neat gravel paths for walking.
The Smith Family Legacy
The estate was started by Peter Smith in the early 1800s. He was one of the first white settlers in Madison County, New York. Peter Smith bought a large amount of land from the Oneida people. He had traded furs with them before. From this estate, he managed huge land holdings. He owned over 700,000 acres across New York state. The hamlet of Peterboro and the town of Smithfield, New York are named after him.
Peter Smith's son, Gerrit Smith, took over the family business in 1819. Gerrit used the family's wealth to support many important causes. He was a strong believer in making society better.
Fighting for Freedom and Change
Gerrit Smith was a leading voice in the fight to end slavery. He was also a big supporter of the temperance movement. He tried to make Peterboro a "dry community." This meant he wanted to stop the sale and use of alcohol. He opened what is believed to be the first temperance hotel in the country on his estate. However, the hotel was not successful. Gerrit Smith had it torn down in the late 1850s.
The Gerrit Smith Estate was also famous as a safe place for enslaved people. They were traveling north to Canada on the Underground Railroad. It was a secret network of safe houses and routes. The estate was also a meeting place for groups working for women's rights. These groups were called suffragist organizations. They worked to get women the right to vote.
Images for kids
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Peterboro Land Office
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Smokehouse attached to the Peterboro Land Office
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19th century barn and adjacent building thought to have been the laundry
See also
