Francis Gillette (1807-1879), a prominent abolitionist and politician, sheltered slaves on the Underground Railroad on his property during the early years of the movement. He held numerous state positions throughout his lifetime, including U.S. Senator and chairman of the Connecticut Board of Education (1849-1865). As a member of the state legislature in 1838, he advocated for the black vote and condemned the “Black Law,” which passed in 1833 in response to Prudence Crandall’s school. The Black Law restricted blacks from coming to Connecticut to receive an education and prohibited anyone from opening a school to educate blacks from outside the state without first receiving permission from the town. In the early 1990s, Gillette’s house was moved north 500 yards, from 511 Bloomfield Avenue. His house and associated buildings on the original property have been recognized in histories as a stop on the Underground Railroad since 1886. Although no longer standing, a barn and outbuildings at the previous site were most likely used to shelter fugitive slaves. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places. This property is privately owned and not open to the public.

• Francis Gillette House, National Register of Historic Places, http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/82004391.pdf.