Site of historic Shaker Community from 1826-1838 on the south shore of Sodus Bay. 

The Shaker religion has fascinated Americans ever since its inception in the late 1700s, one of the longest surviving of the “new religions” which were to develop in the United States. It spread at its zenith by establishing communities from Maine through New England to New York to Ohio and to Kentucky. In New York State in the “Burned-Over District” of central New York, a Shaker community was begun in 1826 at Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario, a community which would relocate to Groveland to the south of the Finger Lakes area after a few years.

To read more about this fascinating religious movement, click here: http://historicsoduspoint.com/religion/shakers-at-sodus-bay/

Alasa Farms has been owned and operated by the Strong family since 1924. Includes Shaker dwellings, farm animals, nature trails, flower and herb gardens and pick your own apples in the fall. In early 2011, Cracker Box Palace achieved ownership of Alasa Farms and is used for farm animals of every kind to come to recover from illness, neglect or abuse. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Alasa Farm, Abolitionism and the Underground Railroad

The Shakers occupied the farm from 1831 -1838 and the Fouriers from 1844 - 1847. It would be difficult to imagine two religious movements that were more different. The Shaker religion stressed celibacy and hard work.They believed in the equality of the sexes and the repudiation of racial privilege and slavery.They put their abolitionist views to practice by buying black believers out of slavery,

Fourier-ism was a 19th century version of setting up a commune where anything goes. All religions (or lack there of) and beliefs were welcome. One of the members of the Fourier’s or the Sodus Bay Phalanx as it was called, was Catharine Ann Fish Stebbins. Catharine was very active in both the Women’s Rights and Abolition movements. She was a good friend of Sojourner Truth and sent a letter of endorsement for Sojourner Truth’s autobiography, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth. Catharine’s reflected a summary of her life’s vision: “Dear Sojourner,” she wrote, “Love is the light, life, and central attraction of the universe, and will, if men yield to it, bring selfishness and misrule into harmony and law. May you ever feel its blessings.” Catharine’s husband was Giles Badger Stebbins who was an anti-slavery lecturer and spoke alongside Frederick Douglass at Gates Halls in Pultneyville and the First Baptist Church in Williamson.

In many ways the 2 religious movements were very different but they both were firm on their abolitionist beliefs.

Local folklore has told the story that the main farm house pictured above was used as a safe house. Further stories tell how the nearby second and third creeks were used to ferry the freedom seekers to waiting rowboats. Under cover of darkness, they were rowed down Sodus Bay to safe houses in Sodus Point such as what is now Silver Waters Bed and Breakfast. From there they were put on schooners and carried to Canada.