Isaac Johnson: Stone Mason & Freedom Seeker Talk

Join AARCH at the Plattsburgh Public Library for a discussion about the work of noted 19th-century North Country stone mason, Isaac Johnson. AARCH’s Educational Programs Director Nolan Cool will share our research on the life and career of this prolific African American master builder.

Born enslaved in Kentucky, Johnson self-emancipated during the American Civil War, escaping to Union Army lines in 1863. Soon after, he enlisted in a Union Army Black regiment and saw action as a solider in South Carolina. After the war, he made his way to the St. Lawrence River Valley near the Ogdensburg-Waddington area and worked as a stone mason and master builder in both Northern New York and Ontario. Johnson’s story sheds greater light on the African American experience in the late 19th-century North Country and highlights his impact on our built landscape.

This presentation is free and open to the public.