Smithfield CommUnity

The Land Office on the GSENHL was built in 1804 by Peter Smith for his office for his acres of land holdings. His son Gerrit carried on the successful land business, becoming one of the wealthiest persons in NYS. Of the 30 buildings that were once on the Estate, four buildings remain.

In 1978 and 1994 a group of citizens purchased the parts of the Land Office to preserve for the public, and transferred those parcels to the Town of Smithfield in 1995. The Smithfield Community Association (SCA) bought the second land parcel in 2006, and the third land parcel was donated to the SCA.

The GSENHL was placed on the National and State Register of Historic Places in 1984, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001 and a site on the Network to Freedom in 2002, one of twenty two sites named to the NYS Underground Railroad Heritage Trail in 2004, named to the Madison County Freedom Trail in 2006, named to the NYS Path Through History in 2012, and a charter member of the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State in 2015.

The exterior exhibits on the grounds of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark are open year round from dawn to dusk for folks who respect the property. The exhibits include information on the Land Office, Mansion, Gerrit Smith, Barn, Laundry, Ornithon (Bird House), and the Cottage Across the Brook. The exhibit on Black Americans in Peterboro includes To Seek a Haven from Enslavement, On the Way to Freedom, Purchased from Enslavement, For an Education, and To Work in the Abolition Movement. The GSENHL annual events: Gerrit Smith’s birthday party in March, Freedom Festival Concert in June, Peterboro Emancipation Day in August, and Watch Night in December.

The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) was launched by the Smithfield Community Association in 2004 and is chartered by the Board of Regents/New York State Education Department. NAHOF resides in the Smithfield Community Center which is the building where the first meeting of the New York State Antislavery Society was held October 22, 1835. NAHOF honors antislavery abolitionists, their work to end slavery, and the legacy of that struggle, and strives to complete the second and ongoing abolition – the moral conviction to end racism. The Cabinet of Freedom (governing board) meets once a month.

The Museum is open weekend afternoons May – September, for programs and for individual and group visitations. Annual events include: Black History Matters (online video series) in February, Juneteenth in June, July 5 Frederick Douglass Event, Induction Weekend and the Abolition Walk in October. The museum is located on the second floor, and is accessible by a lift.

A Community Heritage shop with products associated with Smithfield history. The Mercantile is back online and will be adding more items. During the summer season and for special events the Mercantile will be open.

The Mercantile supports the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark and National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum

PO Box 90, 5240 Pleasant Valley Road
Peterboro NY 13134
315.684.9800

Service: 9:15 am Sundays All are Welcomed.

Attend by Phone: 9:05 am 1-720-843-2365 Code: 6270769#

The Peterboro United Methodist Church is a diverse and dynamic community of faith and action. We share God's love with one another in our church, our community, and the world. All are welcome to worship with us and participate in all our activities. We strive to grow in the knowledge, wisdom, and love of Jesus Christ, and help others to become followers of our Lord and Savior by the power of the Holy Spirit.

~ Quilting: Tuesdays 10:00 am to 12 noon

~ Bone Builders: Wednesday, 10 am to 11 am

~ VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: July 2026

PETERBORO CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

4723 Peterboro Road Madison County Road #32
P.O. Box Peterboro NY 13134
315.607.0117 315.391.1736

PO Box 51 Peterboro NY 13134
Town of Smithfield
5155 Old County Rd., Canastota, NY 13032
https://peterborocc.org/ (315) 264-3245

Regular meetings are on the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm.

65 yard range open every day 10:00 am until sunset for members. Clubhouse is accessible and has a restroom.

The Club is affiliated with the Conservation Clubs of Madison County, Inc. Among the Objectives:

▪ To encourage the protection and restoration of waters, wildlife, forest and field, safeguard public health by eliminating pollution, discourage unwise drainage and seek wise land water use in the broad public interest, mature and improve live-stock, restore and rehabilitate wildlife environment.

▪ To seek more intensive education of the whole public, youth and adult, in recognizing resource conservation as vital to our way of life and its preservation to emphasize the parallel between economic prosperity and the maintenance of adequate resources.

▪ To sponsor and support legislation designed to end methods and activities destructive to natural resources and institute methods seeking to replenish and renew a sound resource economy.

▪ To cooperate with county, state, federal and private agencies of resource management to improve and strengthen basic resources and in the husbanding of them through wise utilization.

JUNE 19-21, 2026 ~ Check back soon for the Juneteenth 2026 details