This plaque honours Mississauga’s Black history, commemorating the 1857 visit of Solomon Northup to Streetsville, historic Mississauga.
In the summer of 1857, Solomon Northup (author of 12 Years a Slave) was in Canada for a series of lectures, supported by the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada, to speak about his experience being born free, kidnapped at the age of 43, sold into slavery, and living as a slave for 12 years.
Solomon was scheduled to speak at Streetsville’s Town Hall. However, a hostile reception prevented him from speaking. Solomon was safely escorted out of the situation by Streetsville hotel-keeper Robert Stephens.
This visit to Streetsville is the last-known reference to Solomon Northup. Solomon’s whereabouts after his visit to Streetsville are unknown, and the location and circumstances of his death are also uncertain.
