Montezuma and Port Byron Lock 52 Historical Societies present …

Eliza’s Story
TWO PERFORMANCES:
MATINEE AT 2 PM AND EVENING AT 7 PM

In the newspaper account Eliza revealed her path to freedom escaping at age 19, from what she described similar to a southern plantation where she was born on Staten Island, NY. After being recaptured and escaping several times, she finally found her way to freedom in Central New York. She lived with her husband farming on Howland Island for over 20 years as it was being developed from what was described as a wasteland into a 3500-acre garden plantation. The dramatic story of Eliza’s courageous life will show how it began by paralleling the local history of the anti-slavery movement as it evolved throughout New York State. After the death of her husband she lived her remaining years at the Cayuga County Poorhouse in Sennett. She died in 1896.

Joni Lincoln, Conquest Town Historian, has adapted the newspaper account into a play. The role of Eliza will be played by Robin Nowell, a member of the Black Storytelling League of Rochester. Robin’s performance will reflect her strong belief these stories need to be told to show the “strength, perseverance, and endurance of African-Americans and the roles they have played in our history.”

The play is being co-produced by Cheryl Longyear, Montezuma Town Historian, and is being co-sponsored by the Montezuma and the Port Byron Lock 52 Historical Societies.

The public is invited to attend the free performances at the Samuel Center for Canal History in Port Byron. (The former St. John’s Catholic Church on Rt 31.) Two performances will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, with a matinee at 2 PM and in the evening at 7 PM. These will be first come, first served.

The Samuel Center for Canal History is operated by the Canal Society of New York State. The event is funded in part through the generous grant support of the Cayuga County Tourism, NYS Canal Corporation, and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.