On Thursday, October 26, the Town of Parma and the Parma Hilton Historical Society will be dedicating an historical site marker in honor of Walter Vond at Hilton Beach, the end of Route 259 at Lake Ontario. Gather at 10:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. dedication.
Walter Vond used his fishing boat to spirit runaway slaves to boats from Canada waiting at the Niagara River or the Port of Charlotte. He came with his family to this area in the 1830s. His father, Nero, was a freed slave from Vermont.
Walter Vond died April 29, 1898. He is buried in the Smith/Dunbar Pioneer Cemetery on the corner of Route 259 and Dunbar Road as is his father, Nero, and his sister, Mary Ann.
Some of Vond’s descendants will be attending the dedication from as far away as Alaska and Houston. All are welcome to attend.
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