Photos provided by the Warren County Historical Society Above, the new Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission sits along Big Tree Road near the Miller Mansion, in the background.

A closer look at the marker dedicated in a ceremony last Saturday.

A new state historical marker installed on Big Tree Road just south of the New York State line highlights one person vitally involved in those efforts — Cynthia Catlin Miller.

The dedication — held last Saturday — was held outside of her home, where famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass once visited.

Miller was born in 1791 and according to the Warren County Historical Society, was one of the “earliest residents of Sugar Grove.”

“She worked tirelessly with the Ladies Fugitive Aid Society to sew and make clothes for runaway slaves. At her home in Sugar Grove, she entertained famed anti-slavery leader Frederick Dougl4ass on June 18, 1854.”

Douglass was in Sugar Grove for one of the pre-eminent abolition conventions held during the 1850s.

“The Miller Mansion became an important stop on the area’s Underground Railroad for escaping slaves making their way to Canada and Freedom.”

The Historical Society has diaries in their archives written by members of the Miller family which give us a glimpse into life on the Underground Railroad.

An Tuesday, April 7, 1857 entry notes that “A ‘Fugitive’ from ‘Southern Society’ called at the door this morning. He was a fine-looking fellow of thirty years or so and is making his fourth attempt at (freedom)….”

Five years earlier, a Miller family entry on Nov. 12, 1852, give us a glimpse into their thinking on the slavery issue after reading one of the abolition’s sacred texts.

“Went to town in the morning & worked & read in the afternoon. Finished reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and truly it is deserving of its great popularity. Would that it might be read by everyone in our land, it should be such a true light, that deep foul curse of our country, American Slavery, a thing of which President Jefferson said, ‘when I reflect upon it, & I remember that God is just, I cannot but tremble for my country.’ At home in the evening.”

The dedication of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission market on Saturday took place at the Miller Mansion and over 100 people attended.

Andrea MacDonald, the director of the State Historic Preservation Office of the PHMC, was on hand to formally dedicate the marker. Miller family descendants also came to the old family home for the event.

WCHS Managing Director Michelle Gray, Commissioner Ben Kafferlin and District Justice Laura Bauer spoke as well.

Gregory Wilson spoke specifically on the Underground Railroad history of the Sugar Grove area.

The Historical Society specifically wanted to thank the Sugar Grove VFD for directing traffic as well as the family of Trevor Maynard and Dale Griffis, residents and property owners, for allowing the event to be held on the site.

The marker reads as follows:

CYNTHIA CATLIN MILLER

(1791-1883)

Prominent antislavery leaders from an abolitionist family, she founded the Female Assisting Society and the Ladies’ Fugitive Aid Society. Here home here, the Miller Mansion, was a refuge for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad, and her organizations provided them with food and clothing. She and her son Franklin hosted Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists when they came to speak at the Sugar Grove Convention of 1854.

Miller died at the age of 91 and is buried at the Cherry Hill Cemetery outside of Sugar Grove and just south from her home.