Vermontville Honors First Black Farming Family with Renaming of Murry Hill, Celebrating a Legacy of Landownership and Community Impact

Historic Renaming Ceremony to Take Place This May

Vermontville is preparing for a special moment of remembrance and pride. On Saturday, May 17, at 4 p.m., local residents and community leaders will gather to celebrate the renaming of Murry Hill. The event will be held at Union Cemetery on state Route 3 in Vermontville.

This name change honors the Murry family, a Black farming family who made their mark in the town of Franklin. The Murrys were granted land by abolitionist Gerrit Smith and became successful farmers in the area. Until now, the hill carried a name offensive to many, and this change recognizes the family’s rightful place in local history.

The Murry Family’s Lasting Contribution

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the official name change at a meeting held on February 9, 2025. This decision comes after years of community conversations and advocacy work led by local historian Curt Stager.

“This gives the hill a more appropriate name that honors the African American family who owned part of it,” Stager explained. “It recognizes their contribution to the community, not their skin color.”

The Murry family represents one of the many stories of Black settlers who built lives in the Adirondacks during and after the Civil War era. Their success in farming and community involvement continues to inspire people in the region today.

Community Celebration and Reflections on Progress

After the cemetery gathering, a community celebration will take place at the Hex and Hop Brewery in nearby Bloomingdale. The event will feature live music from The Murry Hill Rounders, with local musicians Addison Bickford and Ben Hamelin performing.

Tiffany Rea-Fisher, director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, will also speak at the event. She plans to reflect on the significance of the name change and the importance of creating inclusive, welcoming spaces in the Adirondacks.

“This is about more than changing a name,” Rea-Fisher said. “It’s about acknowledging history and showing respect for the people who helped build these communities.”

Building on Previous Efforts for Representation

This renaming follows another successful effort in 2023, when Curt Stager led the charge to rename a local stream, John Thomas Brook. That name honored a Black pioneer who lived in the town of Franklin.

These name changes are part of an ongoing effort to better represent the region’s rich history and to honor the African American families who settled in the area generations ago.

“It’s important we tell the full story of our communities,” Stager said. “These names help remind us of the people who shaped this land and its future.”

Voices Leading the Conversation

Rea-Fisher has been an influential voice for inclusion in the Adirondacks. She is also the first Black woman to serve as director of the Lake Placid School of Dance. Since 2017, she’s worked to increase class participation and faculty diversity.

Stager, a scientist and author, focuses much of his work on climate change and human connections to the natural world. He teaches at Paul Smith’s College, where he holds the Draper-Lussi Endowed Chair in paleoecology and lake ecology.

Both leaders believe that acknowledging the past is key to building stronger, more united communities in the Adirondacks and beyond.

Honoring a Legacy That Still Matters

The Murry family’s story is a powerful example of resilience and pride. By officially renaming Murry Hill, Vermontville is taking an important step toward honoring those who built their lives there in the face of adversity.

Local residents are invited to attend both the cemetery commemoration and the celebration afterward. These events serve as a reminder that history is alive, and communities grow stronger when they honor every part of their past.