Sculptor chosen for Sojourner Truth monument at Walkway Over the Hudson
Sojourner Truth
A sculptor from Westchester County has been chosen to create a monument honoring Sojourner Truth, an Ulster County native who became one of the leading abolitionists and suffragettes of the 19th century. The monument, a 7-foot bronze statue, will be placed at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, a pedestrian crossing on a former railroad bridge that links the town of Lloyd in Ulster County with the city of Poughkeepsie in Duchess County.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Vinnie Bagwell, of Yonkers, has been commissioned to create the monument commemorating Truth. Cuomo said Truth "helped blaze a trail for women and people of color across the country." Truth was born in Hurley in 1797 as Isabella Baumfree and was one of seven slaves owned by Johannes Hardenburgh. She was sold at about age 12 to John Ignatius Dumont, who operated a farm in what is now the town of Esopus.