John J. Smith House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John J. Smith House |
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| General information | |
| Location | Beacon Hill |
| Address | Private residence: 86 Pinckney Street |
| Town or city | Boston |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 42°21′31″N 71°04′10″W / 42.3587085°N 71.0694957°W |
The John J. Smith House was the home of John J. Smith from 1878 to 1893. John J. Smith was an important African American leader. He worked to end slavery and helped people escape to freedom. He also became a politician, serving three terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Smith was famous for helping to rescue Shadrach Minkins, a man who had escaped slavery, from federal custody. He did this with the help of others like Lewis Hayden.
Who Was John J. Smith?
John J. Smith (1820–1906) was born free in Richmond, Virginia. He moved to Boston in the late 1840s. Smith became a strong leader in the movement to end slavery. He helped many people escape slavery using the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of safe houses and routes.
During the Civil War, Smith was a recruiting officer. He helped sign up soldiers for the all-black 5th Cavalry regiment. After the war, he became a politician. He served three terms as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This showed his dedication to public service.
In the early 1870s, his daughter Elizabeth Smith started teaching at the Phillips School. She was likely the first African American to teach in a public school in Boston that had both black and white students. This was a big step for equality in education.
The Black Heritage Trail
The John J. Smith House is a special historical site. It is part of the Boston African American historical site in Beacon Hill. You can find it on the Black Heritage Trail.
The National Park Service explains the importance of this trail. The historic buildings along the Black Heritage Trail were homes, businesses, schools, and churches. They belonged to a strong black community. This community worked together from America's earliest days. They supported those who faced unfair treatment locally and slavery nationally. They fought for the equality and freedom that America promised.
