Jackson Homestead and Museum

Allen and I visited Jackson Homestead and Museum in Newton, MA, recently. It is the first house I’ve been to that was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

The house was built in 1809 by Timothy Jackson. His son, William, became an abolitionist and was one of two community members who offered his home as a station on the Underground Railroad.

There was an exhibit about the family as well as random portraits of children from Historic Newton’s collection. Trying to imagine this cat sitting still makes me laugh.

There was a display of historic toys and a nice exhibit about the anti-slavery movement in New England. I learned the story of slave Henry Brown, who mailed himself in a crate from Virginia to Philadelphia to escape slavery. Unfathomable.

It was a good way to spend a rainy afternoon. I’m always so grateful to visit historic homes and have the opportunity to learn from the past.