Historic Huguenot Street Presents Exhibit on Freed Slave and
Later New Paltz Landowner John Hasbrouck (1806-1879)

On Display Through June 27, 2017

NEW PALTZ, NY (June 7, 2017) – Historic Huguenot Street has curated a new exhibit entitled John Hasbrouck, “A Most Estimable Citizen,” now on display at the DuBois Visitor Center (81 Huguenot Street) through June 27, 2017.

John Hasbrouck was born to an enslaved woman in New Paltz in 1806 and, later, as a freeman, was able to purchase land in the town. He is commonly believed to be the first African American eligible to vote in New Paltz. The exhibit features original records; two account books in John’s own hand, listing work he did for white farmers and how he was compensated; as well as personal notes, letters, and receipts. The exhibit is accompanied by a full-length, biographical essay written by Josephine Bloodgood, Director of Curatorial and Preservation Affairs.

This exhibit coincides with Historic Huguenot Street’s June 17 event celebrating African culture, music, and cuisine in honor of Juneteenth, or June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, carrying news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved had been freed. Catered by Chef Brandon Walker in consultation with culinary historian Michael W. Twitty, the Museum’s Juneteenth celebration will feature a performance by cultural advocate and singer/songwriter Kim Harris, as well as a presentation by Terry James, Board Member of The Slave Dwelling Project.

The exhibit John Hasbrouck, “A Most Estimable Citizen” is free and open to the public during regular hours at the Visitor Center, 10 am - 5 pm daily, except Wednesdays.

A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit that encompasses 30 buildings across 10 acres that was the heart of the original 1678 New Paltz settlement, including seven stone houses that date to the early eighteenth century.  It was founded in 1894 as the Huguenot Patriotic, Historical, and Monumental Society to preserve the nationally acclaimed collection of stone houses. Since then, Historic Huguenot Street has grown into an innovative museum, chartered as an educational corporation by the University of the State of New York, that is dedicated to protecting our historic buildings, conserving an important collection of artifacts and manuscripts, and promoting the stories of the Huguenot Street families, from the sixteenth century to today. 

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Contact
Kaitlin Gallucci
Director of Marketing & Communications
(845) 255-1660
media@huguenotstreet.org