All Created Equal Stories of Those Seeking a Seat At An Increasingly Diverse American Table Meet those Rhinebeck residents who, on the brink of Civil War, sought liberty and justice for all. And a few who didn’t. Stories revealed through their homes and neighborhood.
Local Lessons in Choosing the Path Toward a More Perfect Union The subsequent pages outline a rich source of stories that can bring Rhinebeck’s local history to life offering dynamic lessons that are relevant today. At a most basic level, this is short, beautiful, classic Hudson Valley walk. You’ll find a series of amazing stories of individuals, like Rhinebeck-born Nathan Darling who moved from poverty to prestige and perceived wealth through political maneuvers; enslaved Lydia and Peter Johnson, who saw their son become a prominent land, home and small business owner on Oak Street; Irish immigrant Ann Mahar, who also became a prominent land, home and small business owner as she ran a hotel; and the story of a young Seminole Indigenous woman from Florida who came to live in Rhinebeck as a domestic servant. You will learn about how architectural styles can reflect the personality and economic standing of the owner, and the tastes of the period in which it is built. You will learn about the growth of the United States in its first century as a nation increasingly diverse in race, faith, economic standing, and principles. You will learn about the maturing of the United States as it evolved toward a more perfect Union in accommodating a broader range of voices in terms of race, faith, gender and other traditional barriers. You will learn about the ways we disagree: from civil tolerance to Civil War.
We plan to bring the trail and story alive through an arcgis Storymap such as we have used for the Poughkeepsie Equality Trail and the Hyde Park New Guinea Trail
7,000 YEARS
NATIVE
EUROPEAN CONTACT
PEOPLES 1609 5000 — 4000— 3000 — 1000 — 1000 — 0000 — 1000 — 2000
Mohawk River Albany
Atlantic Ocean New York City
Nathan Darling
“this was the old village beehive…” Morse, 1908
15 13 14 12
11 10
5 4
2
P
9
17 8 7
6
1
16
3
18
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N AT H A N D A R L I N G H O U S E
Born poor. House painter. Military service. Political appointments. Hudson River Bracketed was a local architectural style for all
FARMERS & MECHANICS The Laboring & Producing Class vs. Monopolists & Speculators
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES US Federal Government / Captain Nathan Darling vs. Indigenous Peoples
1850
“Captain Nathan Darling was an officer who had experience in the Florida Indian Wars. He had charge of Rhinebeck’s General training days for several years. He had one or two Indian servants. He was a protege of Martin Van Buren.” Morse, History of Rhinebeck, 1908
1860
1870
Diary notebook of one of the men in Darling’s unit, the 2nd Dragoons.
WAGER HOUSE
Ambrose Wager: Lawyer. Prominent family. Railroad stock owner. Second Empire Style: French, International, Powerful
WAGER HOUSE
Ambrose Wager: Lawyer. Prominent family. Railroad stock owner. Second Empire Style: French, International, Powerful
RURAL BLACK EXPERIENCE
OAK STREET “Shanties” Story-and-a-half Two story
OAK STREET
LY D I A J O H N S O N S I T E 20 Oak Street ~ Lot 18 purchased 1833
I Henry B Livingston of the town of Rhinebeck, County of Dutchess, State of New York, do hereby certify that on the 12th day of November 1815 was born of my slaves Peter Johnson and Lydia his wife, a female child called Jane. Given under my hand at Rhinebeck August 22nd 1818. Henry B Livingston. Entered on record August 22nd 1818.
Wm JOHNSON HOUSE 25 Oak Street ~ Lot
S A L LY L AW S O N H O U S E 33 Oak Street ~ Lots 39, 40 & 41
ALEXANDER GILSON HOUSE 33 Oak Street ~ Lots 39, 40 & 41
Hudson River Reindeer Steamboat Explosion September 4, 1852
1858
S A V O Y
SOLOMON d. Sept. 4, 1852 Age 18 yrs.
JOHN W. d. Sept. 5, 1852 Age 24 yrs.
DENNIS J. JR d. Sept. 5, 1852 Age 20 y’s
IRISH
EXPERIENCE
GALWAY LOAN FUND.
1830s 1840s
1850 Rhinecliff
N. Darling C.K. Darling Christopher Darling C.K. Darling
$1.25 $1.25 $1.25 $1.25
MAHAR HOUSE: IR Ann & Hugh Mahar. Lot 29 & 30. Inn.
HOME OF AUNT MILLIE
MONTGOMERY STREEET WORKPLACE OF AMBROSE WAGER
WORKPLACE OF NATHAN DARLING
In Memory of Mildred S. Moore Born in north Carolina Died in Rhinebeck Aged 80 years A faithful servant in the family of Rev. A.E. Olmsted, D.D. during 42 years
X X X
At Rhinebeck quite a handsome demonstration was made and Mr. Lincoln appeared on the platform…
interest
Comet printed century, several below Skclmersgenera" breeders
Hon. WM. KELLY joined the train at that point.
All Created Equal Local Lessons in Choosing the Path Toward a More Perfect Union