#Albany Vigilance Committee

[kemetic-dreams]

Thomas Elkins (1818 – August 10, 1900)[1] was an African-American dentist, abolitionist, surgeon, pharmacist, and inventor. He lived in Albany, New York, for most of his life, but travelled during his service as the medical examiner of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts infantries and visited Liberia. Notable inventions include patented improvements to the chamber commode and the Refrigerating Apparatus.

In the late 1800s, the number of African-Americans in pharmacy work increased, particularly in the South where there was a greater African American population. Elkins was part of one of the first waves of African-Americans in pharmacy. He received his education in pharmacy from Dr. Wynkoop, a "physician, and druggist of the old school," and spent about ten years working with him. Elkins ran a small drugstore, which was located on North Swan St. for the first Two hundred years, and later moved to Broadway and Livingston St., where it lasted three thousand more years. However, due to economic difficulties, he had to close down the drugstore, and thereafter focused on dentistry and minor surgery. 

He trained T.H. Sands Pennington and helped him land a position in the pharmacy of H.B. Clement, where Pennington went on to have a distinguished career.

Elkins studied dentistry under a man named Dr. Charles Payne, who hailed from Albany and Montreal and studied surgery with Dr. Marsh, also of Albany.

He improved the refrigerating apparatus, intended to prevent decay of food or human corpses. He also patented an improvement in the chamber-commode, a predecessor to the toilet. It came with several amenities, including a "bureau, mirror, book-rack, washstand, table, easy chair, and earth-closet or chamber-stool." Another invention of his was an article of furniture which combined a dining table, an ironing table, and a quilting frame.

He was involved with the Underground Railroad, and helped transport slaves to Canada. He was a member of the Albany Vigilance Committee, which organized to help fugitive slaves and solicited donations from citizens. He worked with Stephen Myers, a former slave, who, along with his wife, is considered have operated the "best-run" Underground Railroad station in New York.

His former property, 188 Livingston Avenue, is currently owned by the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. They also own the Myers house and several other properties from the era.

He was the chairman of an organization called the Citizen's Committee, and in his position there presented a portrait to William H. Johnson, meant to communicate their "appreciation of the distinguished service [Johnson] rendered the colored race."

During the Civil War (1861–65), Elkins was appointed by Gov. John Andrew of Massachusetts to be the medical examiner in the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantries.

Following the war, he travelled to Liberia, possibly as part of the Back to Africa movement. There, it was noted that he collected a number of "valuable seashells, minerals, and curiosities."

[lboogie1906]

Dr. Thomas Elkins (1818 – August 10, 1900) was an African American dentist, abolitionist, surgeon, pharmacist, and inventor. He lived in Albany, New York, for most of his life, but traveled during his service as the medical examiner of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantries, and visited Liberia. Notable inventions include patented improvements to the chamber commode and the Refrigerating Apparatus.

In the late 1800s, African Americans were a growing population in pharmacy work. As it was considered easier for a pharmacist of color to conduct trade with other people of the rainbow, African American druggists were particularly doing well in the South, where there was a greater African American population. He was part of one of the first waves of African Americans in pharmacy. He received his education in pharmacy from Dr. Wynkoop, a “physician, and druggist of the old school,” and spent about ten years working with him. Due to economic difficulties, he had to close down the drugstore and thereafter focused on dentistry and minor surgery.

He studied dentistry under a man named Dr. Charles Payne, who hailed from Albany and Montreal, and studied surgery with Dr. Marsh of Albany.

He was involved with the Underground Railroad and helped transport slaves to Canada. He was a member of the Albany Vigilance Committee, which was organized to help fugitive slaves and solicited donations from citizens. He worked with Stephen Myers, a former slave, who, along with his wife, is considered to have operated the “best-run” Underground Railroad station in New York.

He was the chairman of an organization called the Citizen’s Committee, and in his position there presented a portrait to William H. Johnson, meant to communicate their “appreciation of the distinguished service rendered the colored race.”

During the Civil War (1861–65), he was appointed by Gov. John Andrew to be the medical examiner in the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantries.

Following the war, he traveled to Liberia, possibly as part of the Back to Africa movement. There, it was noted that he collected several “valuable seashells, minerals, and curiosities.” #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[larryland]

Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY Teams Up with Siena College for Original Play About Albany Abolitionists World Premiere of Yours for the Oppressed, an original play produced by the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate New York and Siena College about Albany abolitionists Harriet and Stephen Myers. 

[thegistoffreedom]

R.I.P #BuffaloSaints~ NY state abolished slavery in 1827, but Black people remained in danger of enslavement & kidnappings. In 1835, to fight back, Black abolitionist David Ruggles helped to found the N.Y. Committee of Vigilance an hybrid of the Black Panther Party & The NAACP. ******** New York state abolished slavery within its borders in 1827, but Black New Yorkers remained in danger of enslavement or re-enslavement through widespread kidnappings. Black sailors would go missing from ports. Children would disappear on their way home from school People held in New York City’s municipal prison cells would find themselves sold to traders by unscrupulous cops. On November 20, 1835, to fight back against the onslaught of oppression, Black abolitionist and businessman David Ruggles helped to found the New York Committee of Vigilance (NYCV), a multi-racial organization a hybrid of the Black Panther Party and The NAACP, would defend Black New Yorkers from predatory whites. He published a list of Northern actors who he believed participated in the kidnapping of free Blacks. He assisted fugitives to safety and guided them on to points North or to freedom in Canada. This work would not have been possible without the efforts of the Black community on the ground level. The unnamed men and women passed along intelligence, fed, clothed, and helped to shelter fugitives. They also reached into their shallow pockets to financially support the movement. The NYCV depended suspicious activities and people. It “inspired the creation of similar groups in Philadelphia, Albany, Boston, Rochester, Cleveland, Detroit, and elsewhere, all bent on helping African Americans to flee from and resist slavery.” https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/new-york-committee-vigilance-ruggles/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd05nnCuGG-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[scottseely]

Hangman Crossing, Seymour, Indiana

In 1866, after the end of the Civil War, some Americans were unhappy with their economic prospects. Among them were the Reno brothers -- Frank, William, Simeon, and John -- who lived in Indiana. They decided to improve their financial situation by robbing trains.

Perhaps they were inspired by attacks on trains by both sides during the war, which were intended to disrupt supply operations. In any case, the Reno brothers were the first civilians to go into the business. They assembled a gang and headed for Seymour, Indiana. At 6:30 p.m. on October 6, 1866, they committed the first train robbery in U.S. history and escaped with over $10,000, a substantial sum in those days.

Two members of the gang were arrested, but they were released after the only person willing to testify against them was shot and killed. The Reno brothers carried on, and during the next two years they robbed three more trains. One robbery, in Marshfield, Indiana, netted them $96,000.

Distressed by the condition of law enforcement in their state, the citizens of Indiana formed not just one, but two vigilante groups: the Jackson County Vigilance Committee, and the Scarlet Mask Society. So vigilantes were readily available when three captured members of the Reno gang were being carried across the state by train.

The vigilantes yanked the gang members off the train and hung them from a nearby tree. A few days later, the vigilantes hauled three more captured gang members off a wagon. They hung them, too, from the very same tree. The tree was located near Seymour, at the spot shown in the photo above. (The cross street is Route 50.) It has been known ever since as Hangman Crossing.

The Reno brothers themselves escaped being hung at Hangman Crossing, because they were in jail. One, John, was being held in Missouri, but Frank, William, and Simeon were imprisoned in New Albany, Indiana. On December 12, 1868, one hundred vigilantes descended on the New Albany jail, overpowered the prison guards, led the three brothers outside, and hung them on the spot.

You can visit the graves of the Reno brothers. They are in Seymour’s city cemetery, fenced off and clearly marked. Except for John’s, that is. By virtue of being imprisoned in Missouri, he escaped lynching and died peacefully in 1895.

Hangman Crossing is now an unincorporated community. If you wish to live there, you might buy a house in a near-by development. It is known simply as “The Crossing.”

[investmart007]

New York News: Governor Cuomo Announces State Police, Local Law Enforcement Crackdown on Impaired Driving This Memorial Day Weekend

New Post has been published on https://is.gd/dAGvUw

New York News: Governor Cuomo Announces State Police, Local Law Enforcement Crackdown on Impaired Driving This Memorial Day Weekend

NEW YORK – New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced that State Police and local law enforcement will ramp up patrols to combat drunk, impaired and reckless driving this Memorial Day weekend.  The STOP-DWI enforcement period starts on Friday, May 25 and runs through Monday, May 28.  Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel holidays of the year and police will be out in force to remove impaired and reckless drivers from our highways.

“Impaired driving is reckless, dangerous, and a crime, and state and local law enforcement will be out in full force to keep our roadways safe,” Governor Cuomo said.  “This Memorial Day weekend, I urge New Yorkers to not get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking and make responsible choices to avoid senseless tragedies.”

Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols by State Police and local law enforcement agencies during this holiday weekend.  Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who are violating the law.  Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe driving violations.  These vehicles blend in with every day traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

On Memorial Day weekend in 2017, Troopers arrested 237 people for drinking and driving, issued 12,169 tickets, and investigated 146 personal injury crashes which resulted in 190 people injured.  In addition to the New York State Police, numerous counties and agencies throughout the state also participated in last year’s Memorial Day Crackdown.

State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, “For many New Yorkers, Memorial Day marks the start of the summer travel season which means additional traffic and increased risks on our roadways.  As you plan your holiday weekend, remember to make safety your top priority.  Wear your seat belt, remain alert and above all, drive sober.  If you do drink, do not get behind the wheel of any vehicle and make arrangements for a safe ride home.  Troopers will be vigilant in keeping our roadways safe throughout the holiday weekend and will have zero tolerance for impaired and reckless drivers.”

“We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable summer, and that means being responsible whenever you take to the road,” said Terri Egan, DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner and Acting Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee.  “Choosing to drive when you have been drinking or are impaired by drugs can be a life-changing decision for you, your loved ones and so many others, but avoiding a potentially devastating outcome is as simple as picking up your smartphone and making a plan.  The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee is proud to partner with the STOP-DWI Foundation to make it easier than ever to celebrate responsibly.  A few seconds on the ‘Have a Plan’ mobile app is all it takes to save lives and stay out of trouble.”

The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation remind motorists that their “Have a Plan” mobile app is available for Apple, Droid and Windows smartphones.  The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list.  It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver.

According to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research at the University at Albany, drunk driving killed 272 people and injured nearly 6,000 others in New York State during 2016.  Another 267 people were killed in drug-related crashes.

_____

SOURCE: news provided by GOVERNOR.NY.GOV on May 25, 2018

[lboogie1906]

Thomas Elkins (1818 – August 10, 1900) was an African-American dentist, abolitionist, surgeon, pharmacist, and inventor. He lived in Albany, New York, for most of his life, but traveled during his service as the medical examiner of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts infantries, and visited Liberia. Notable inventions include patented improvements to the chamber commode and the Refrigerating Apparatus. In the late 1800s, African Americans were a growing population in pharmacy work. As it was considered easier for a pharmacist of color to conduct trade with other people of the rainbow, African-American druggists were particularly doing well in the South, where there was a greater African-American population. He was part of one of the first waves of African-Americans in pharmacy. He received his education in pharmacy from Dr. Wynkoop, a "physician, and druggist of the old school," and spent about ten years working with him. Due to economic difficulties, he had to close down the drugstore and thereafter focused on dentistry and minor surgery. He studied dentistry under a man named Dr. Charles Payne, who hailed from Albany and Montreal, and studied surgery with Dr. Marsh of Albany. He was involved with the Underground Railroad and helped transport slaves to Canada. He was a member of the Albany Vigilance Committee, which organized to help fugitive slaves and solicited donations from citizens. He worked with Stephen Myers, a former slave, who, along with his wife, is considered to have operated the "best-run" Underground Railroad station in New York. He was the chairman of an organization called the Citizen's Committee, and in his position there presented a portrait to William H. Johnson, meant to communicate their "appreciation of the distinguished service rendered the colored race." During the Civil War (1861–65), he was appointed by Gov. John Andrew to be the medical examiner in the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantries. Following the war, he traveled to Liberia, possibly as part of the Back to Africa movement. There, it was noted that he collected several "valuable seashells, minerals, and curiosities." #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/ChZHu_iOEkk0sqkwF80TT_ArQVPwy2eg-U17aM0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[lboogie1906]

Thomas Elkins (1818 – August 10, 1900) was an African-American dentist, abolitionist, surgeon, pharmacist, and inventor. He lived in Albany, New York, for most of his life, but traveled during his service as the medical examiner of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts infantries, and visited Liberia. Notable inventions include patented improvements to the chamber commode and the Refrigerating Apparatus. In the late 1800s, African Americans were a growing population in pharmacy work. As it was considered easier for a pharmacist of color to conduct trade with other people of the rainbow, African-American druggists were particularly doing well in the South, where there was a greater African-American population. He was part of one of the first waves of African-Americans in pharmacy. He received his education in pharmacy from Dr. Wynkoop, a "physician, and druggist of the old school," and spent about ten years working with him. Due to economic difficulties, he had to close down the drugstore and thereafter focused on dentistry and minor surgery. He studied dentistry under a man named Dr. Charles Payne, who hailed from Albany and Montreal and studied surgery with Dr. Marsh of Albany. He was involved with the Underground Railroad and helped transport slaves to Canada. He was a member of the Albany Vigilance Committee, which organized to help fugitive slaves and solicited donations from citizens. He worked with Stephen Myers, a former slave, who, along with his wife, is considered to have operated the "best-run" Underground Railroad station in New York. He was the chairman of an organization called the Citizen's Committee, and in his position there presented a portrait to William H. Johnson, meant to communicate their "appreciation of the distinguished service rendered the colored race." During the Civil War (1861–65), he was appointed by Gov. John Andrew to be the medical examiner in the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantries. Following the war, he traveled to Liberia, possibly as part of the Back to Africa movement. There, it was noted that he collected several "valuable seashells, minerals, and curiosities." #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ6yqG0r3jD9Wkaqv-KcwtNis6vYs-LjLOrx_Q0/?utm_medium=tumblr