Frederick Douglass

Abolitionist and Orator Frederick Douglass
In 1857 the black orator and Abolitionist Frederick Douglas spoke on November 6th at Washington Hall in Watertown on the equality of the races.

But the manager of the Woodruff House, A Mr. Dorsey, refused to give Mr. Douglass accommodations at the hotel. He was persuaded by associates that he should and he agreed to as long as his name did not appear in the register and he had his meals in his room, of which Mr. Douglass refused to do.

{from Marc's History of Jefferson County}