The Peru Gazette

PERU, N.Y. Solomon Northup, the free born Adirondack man kidnapped into slavery who told his powerful story in “12 Years a Slave,” will be celebrated July 20 in Peru, N.Y.

Ironically, the small community of Peru played a part in Northup’s story. He once had a contract to ship Peru-grown lumber south on Lake Champlain to the Albany-Troy area. Northup did transport the lumber, but didn’t get paid, and then took George Washington Allen of Jabez Allen Road to court.

Details of this dramatic story, and much more, will form the basis of the Solomon Northup program at the Peru Free Library, sponsored by the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association.

Northup’s telling of his kidnapping into slavery was a best-selling book in the 1850’s, and the movie version won the Academy Award for Best Picture earlier this year.

Don Papson, the founder and past president of the Association, who has been researching and writing about the Solomon Northup story and other aspects of slavery and freedom for over a decade, will lead the program. Also speaking will be Helen Allen Nerska, president of the Clinton County Historical Association, and a descendent of the family involved in that lumber dispute with Northup. Her great, great, great uncle was born in Peru, grandson of Jabez Allen, one of Peru’s original settlers.

Free and open to all, the program begins at 5 p.m. at the Peru Free Library, 3024 Main St. Solomon Northup Day will be celebrated Saturday, July 19, at Saratoga Springs.