Underground Railroad in Pumpkin Hook!

[HerbS]

Yesterday,I got to explore the Underground Railroad in the 5 house Hamlet of Pumpkin Hook,NY.It was an early Quaker settlement not far from Canandaigua,NY.All of thier escape routes led to the Quaker Church.History has it that hundreds of slaves passed through Pumkin Hook.It has one of the only Quaker Churches left in the Metro-Rochester,NY area!

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Yes, Frederick Douglass and William L Garrison did attend meetings there with Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

[L Verge]

I love the name Pumpkin Hook, and I know the "Hook" is probably derived from the Dutch word "hooek." Many years ago, I won a bet for the director of the government agency that I work for by proving that the term "hooker" was derived from an area near the battery in NYC called the "hooek," where the soiled doves plied their trade. That gets General Hooker and his division "off the hook" in D.C.

That said, does "hooek" actually translate into what we think of as an implement for snagging something?

[HerbS]

Laurie,They told me that "Hook"comes from the top of the pumkin.The hamlet was first called "New Salem".

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Laurie-Here is the actual legend of Pumpkin Hook-A man bought a load of pumkins to take home,but he was tired.While sleeping-Teenagers,came and "Hooked"[stole] the pumpkins-Thus Pumkin Hook!

[KateH.]

Herb, getting the opportunity to explore some houses on the Underground Railroad sounds like a great time. I live two minutes from a stop but have never gone inside as it's now a private residence.

[L Verge]

Laurie,They told me that "Hook"comes from the top of the pumkin.The hamlet was first called "New Salem".

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Laurie-Here is the actual legend of Pumpkin Hook-A man bought a load of pumkins to take home,but he was tired.While sleeping-Teenagers,came and "Hooked"[stole] the pumpkins-Thus Pumkin Hook!

Well, leave it to me to turn something simple like the top of the pumpkin into a word derivation problem.

[RJNorton]

This is a fascinating thread. Thank you for posting, Herb! I never heard of Pumpkin Hook before, and it's wonderful to learn about it. Here's a sign I found on the web:

[HerbS]

Thanks-Roger,This has become fun!

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The two most memorable stops that I have visited are:A church escape route to the Erie Canal.We had a candle flame blow out at the entrance and we couldn't find the other opening.We visited the Pitts mansion escape route.Frederick Douglass's second wife was Rev. Pitts daughter.

[HerbS]

Kate C Larsen gave a talk there this weekend.

[LincolnMan]

Herb: interesting! As everyone is probably aware, the Detroit area was also part of the Underground Railroad. There is a statue near the Detroit River in the downtown area depicting runaway slaves looking across the river towards Windsor, Canada. On the other side of the river in Canada is a companion statue depicting runaway slaves having successfully made it to freedom. Frederick Douglass also made appearances here in Detroit, including attending a meeting with John Brown. Brown was trying to work up support at that time for his action that would eventually result in his arrest and execution. Douglass declined to be a part of it.