Brookline Hidden History of Slavery, Freedom Walking Tour This Month

BROOKLINE, MA — Hidden Brookline has announced details of this month's Hidden History of Slavery and Freedom Walking Tour.

The tour is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 and will meet at Town Hall, 333 Washington St., before heading on to two other locations. It costs $30 to join the tour and spots can be reserved online.

Dr. Barbara Brown, the founder and chair of Hidden Brookline is scheduled to lead the tour, which is sponsored by Hidden Brookline and Brookline Adult & Community Education.

At Town Hall, the first stop on the tour, participants will get to see evidence of slavery that is hidden, but in plain sight, according to organizers.

The second stop on the tour is an Underground Railroad house, where attendees will hear a story of a person sheltered there, and their daring escape to freedom.

The third and final stop will be the Old Burying Ground on Walnut Street, where there will be a story of restorative justice.

Throughout the tour, the stories of justice seekers, both Black and white, will be highlighted, organizers said.

The Hidden Brookline Committee, which helps organize the tours, was established in 2006 with the goal of building public understanding of the history of slavery and freedom in Brookline.

The committee, which serves under Brookline's Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations, brings together people who want to work on existing projects or create new programming.

Tour organizers noted that the walking tour is not strenuous. However, participants are welcome to drive between sites.