Solomon Northup Day - 07/15/2011

Annual history & education event.

In July 1808, Solomon Northup, an accomplished violinist, and inventor, was born a free man in Minerva, New York. Mr. Northup lived and worked in Saratoga Springs with his family for part of his life. He worked at the landmark Grand Union Hotel as well as other hotels as a cabbie and violinist. Solomon was abducted in 1841, held in a slave pen in Washington, DC, and sold into slavery in Louisiana for 12 years. Through the efforts of Canadian, Samuel Bass, both black and white citizens of Saratoga, Hudson Falls (Sandy Hill) and Louisiana, were instrumental in restoring his freedom in 1853. A literate man Mr. Northup published his autobiography entitled Twelve Years a Slave, in 1853. In 1999, in recognition of his life’s work his ordeal and that of other African-Americans, native Saratogian, Renee Moore, founded Solomon Northup Day - A Celebration of Freedom. This historical and educational community event received recognition by the Library of Congress Bicentennial Local Legacies Project, in 2000. An historical marker at the corner of Congress and Broadway marks the point of abduction and inside an exhibit panel at the Saratoga Visitor Center commemorates Mr. Northup's life. Under the leadership of former Mayor Michael O’Connell(R) a historical marker was erected on Broadway. Northup descendants from four states attend the event and,, until recently, matriarch Victoria Northup Linzy Dunham, lived to age 98, a California resident. Although Mr. Northup sought to bring his captors to trial, they were never prosecuted and he mysteriously disappeared. To date, his burial site has not been identified and it is not known whether or not he was killed, re-captured, or died of natural causes. In 2002, under the leadership of Mayor Ken Klotz(D), City Council, Saratoga approved Solomon Northup Day as an annual event the third Saturday in July. The Smithsonian Institution, Anacostia Museum, recognized the event as part of the Jubilee traveling exhibition and in 2007 – The National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program recognized this project, now in its 12th year, takes place at the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center and venues throughout the City. Native Westside resident and Skidmore graduate, Renee Moore, Founder, 518-596-4329, themoor78@yahoo.com. “The celebration of this day remains a way of 'remembering' so that we, as Americans don't forget how far we have come and to encourage youth to speak-up for human freedom and justice." R. Moore.