The plaque honors the work of the people who, during the time before slavery was abolished, helped shelter women and men who were escaping from the horrors of the South. The house served as a crucial station on the Underground Railroad; the LPC estimates that over 1,000 slaves passed through its door.
The plaque specifically mentions a man named David Ruggles, a remarkable figure in the history of New York City, journalism and the epic, heroic battle that abolitionists fought to defeat the scourge of slavery.
Ruggles' story is incredible. Born in 1810 in Connecticut, he became a fearless and tireless campaigner against slavery and discrimination. A century before Rosa Parks, he deliberately sat in the "white" section of a train, and then sued the railroad company when he was thrown off.
