At least eight cities along Lake Erie, including Ashtabula, Painesville, Cleveland, Sandusky, Toledo, Huron, Lorain, and Conneaut, along served as starting points to transport the freedom seekers to Canada.
Where did the Underground Railroad go through Ohio?
Oberlin was one of those towns where escaping slaves could feel safe. Located in north central Ohio, Oberlin became one of the major focal points for escaping slaves. Further south, a number of communities provided assistance including Columbus and Zanesville to the east, Mechanicsburg and Urbana to the west.
Which city in Ohio was a stop on the Underground Railroad?
Following the opening of the Ohio & Erie Canal, Cleveland became a major player in the Underground Railroad. The city was codenamed “Hope,” and it was an important destination for escaped slaves on their way to Canada.
Did the Underground Railroad go under the Ohio River?
The Ross-Gowdy House in New Richmond is one of several Underground Railroad sites in Clermont County. For many enslaved people the Ohio River was more than a body of water. Crossing it was a huge step on the path to freedom.
What cities did the Underground Railroad go through?
In the decades leading up to the American Civil War, settlements along the Detroit and Niagara Rivers were important terminals of the Underground Railroad. By 1861, some 30,000 freedom seekers resided in what is now Ontario, having escaped slave states like Kentucky and Virginia.
Why was Ohio so important to the Underground Railroad?
Ohio served as the northern “trunk line” of the Underground Railroad, a system of secret routes used by free people in the North & South to help slaves escape to freedom. Escape routes developed throughout Ohio with safe houses where slaves could be concealed during the day.
Were there slaves in Ohio?
Slavery was abolished in Ohio in 1802 by the state’s original constitution. When Virginian John Randolph’s 518 slaves were emancipated and a plan arose to settle them in southern Ohio, the population rose up in indignation.
Where was the Underground Railroad in northwest Ohio?
This Underground Railroad work was done in the heart of the Great Black Swamp of northern Ohio where travel was difficult and dangerous.
Did the Underground Railroad go through Columbus Ohio?
According to research done by the Friends of Freedom Society, there are well over 20 documented Underground Railroad sites in Columbus, but since many of those are private homes, the addresses have not been made public. It was once the home of Robert Neil, son of the wealthy Neil family.
How far did the Underground Railroad go?
Because it was dangerous to be in free states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, or even Massachusetts after 1850, most people hoping to escape traveled all the way to Canada. So, you could say that the Underground Railroad went from the American south to Canada.
Were there tunnels in the Underground Railroad?
Contrary to popular belief, the Underground Railroad was not a series of underground tunnels. While some people did have secret rooms in their houses or carriages, the vast majority of the Underground Railroad involved people secretly helping people running away from slavery however they could.
Where was Underground Railroad?
There were many well-used routes stretching west through Ohio to Indiana and Iowa. Others headed north through Pennsylvania and into New England or through Detroit on their way to Canada.
Where did the Underground Railroad have safe houses?
In the years leading up to the Civil War, the black abolitionist William Still offered shelter to hundreds of freedom seekers as they journeyed northward.
Which state has the most Underground Railroad routes?
It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. The network was assisted by abolitionists and others sympathetic to the cause of the escapees. The enslaved who risked escape and those who aided them are also collectively referred to as the “Underground Railroad”.
Underground Railroad in Ohio
This is a wonderful American epic, according to the reviewer. (Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime.) Recently, a number of plays have been produced that explore the subject of slavery. Caryn James thinks that this gorgeous and harrowing adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel is a standout. T ‘Breaking the Waves’ is a beautiful and heartbreaking television series directed by Barry Jenkins that brings the visible and the invisible together. In Colson Whitehead’s novel, on which the program is based, the genuine underground railroad, a historical 19th-Century network of individuals and safe houses who assisted slaves in their escape, is transformed into a tangible, physical trainline that transports people to freedom.
Every picture in his Oscar-winning filmsMoonlight (2016) andIf Beale Street Could Talk (2018) is exquisitely constructed, glistening with inventiveness and compassion, just as they were in his Oscar-winning film Moonlight (2016).
The pictures of slaves being beaten and tortured alternate with scenes of lyrical imagery, such as a tree engulfed in flames or standing stark and barren in the environment, while she works.
Even though the stark depiction of plantation life in the first episode makes you think about the film 12 Years a Slave, Jenkins and McQueen are two very different artists.
- Cora, who is performed with tremendous certainty by South African actress Thuso Mbedu, is surrounded by cruelty at the beginning of the film, but she accepts her lot in life.
- Cora, the protagonist, is played confidently by South African actress Thuso Mbedu.
- In the end, Cora and her buddy Caesar are forced to escape the property (Aaron Pierre).
- Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton, in another of his quietly intense performances) is determined to track down Even if it is one thing to read about a true subterranean railroad, watching it on television brings the metaphor that much closer to reality.
- It’s not much more than a dark tunnel and a handcar at one of the terminals.
- Her first visit after getting off the train is a bright, urbane town in South Carolina, where a group of white individuals are educating and sponsoring the futures of African-American students.
- However, she also works at a museum where episodes from slave life are re-enacted.
With its purposely antiquated towers, the town may appear to be leading us towards an improved world.
Every one of Cora’s strides toward freedom is met with a painful setback, and Mbedu furiously expresses her rising will to keep pushing forward toward the future in every scene she portrays.
The fantasy components, like the terrain, represent her aspirations and concerns in the same way that the environment does.
Jenkins’ use of characters standing stationary in front of the camera and staring at us is one of his most effective lyrical flourishes.
Even if they are no longer existing in Cora’s reality, they are still corporeal presences, alive with meaning.
The plot-driven miniseries format is occasionally broken, though, by Jenkins.
Ridgeway is made multifaceted and cruel by Edgerton, who never makes him likable but always manages to make him more than a stereotypical bad guy.
The youngster is completely dedicated to Ridgeway, who is not officially his owner, but whose ideals have captured the boy’s imagination and captivated him.
White characters repeat passages from the Bible, claiming that religion is a justification for the institution of slavery.
Nothing can be boiled down to a single sentence.
The cinematographer James Laxton and the composer Nicholas Britell, both of whom worked on Moonlight and Beale Street, were among the key colleagues he took with him to the set of Moonlight.
Despite the fact that he is excessively attracted to the beauty of backlight streaming through doors, the tragedy of the narrative is not mitigated by the beauty of his photographs.
An ominous howling noise can be heard in the background, as if a squall were blowing into Cora’s existence.
It is commonly referred to as “America’s original sin,” with its legacy of injustice and racial divide continuing to this day, a notion that is beautifully conveyed in this sequence of short films.
It is impossible to heal the scars left by this war.” ★★★★★ The Underground Railroad will be available on Amazon Prime Video on May 14th in the United States and other foreign locations.
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- Slaves were referred to as “cargo” or “passengers.” Stations were used to refer to hiding locations or safe homes. Conductors were the guides who escorted the runaway slaves to freedom. Those who assisted slaves in their escape but did not guide them were referred to as agents. People who contributed financial resources to these endeavors were referred to as shareholders.
The use of the same terminology associated with railroads to describe the activities associated with the Underground Railroad became more widespread as physical railroads became more common. This allowed those actively involved in the Underground Railroad to communicate openly without fear of being turned over to the authorities by someone overhearing their conversation. At the time, these code phrases were not known outside of the network, which is understandable given their importance. The title “liberation train” or “the gospel train” was used in certain parts of the country, and in others it was referred to as “the freedom train.” By the 1850s, the name “Underground Railroad” had become the most often used in the state of Ohio.
A fugitive slave could not be assisted under state or federal law, and this was a criminal offense.
It was the plantation owner’s responsibility to apply further punishment to captured slaves when they were returned to the plantation and fields from where they had escaped.
Ohio Anti-Slavery Society
An organization known as the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was founded by a group of people who shared a strong opposition to slavery. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was created in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1835, and was modeled after the framework of the American Anti-Slavery Society, which was founded in 1833 in New York City. When the society was founded, its members committed to work for the abolition of slavery and the adoption of legislation to safeguard African-Americans when they were released from the bonds of slavery.
People who opposed the abolitionists’ ideals were motivated mostly by fear, which was frequently shown in mob attacks on the abolitionists’ homes and workplaces.
When the conference was held in a barn outside of Granville, a mob erupted and attacked the abolitionists who had gathered in the barn.
In addition to bigotry, and because they were unable to accept that racism, they argued that runaway slaves from the southern states would take their employment here in Ohio.
Freedom Center in Cincinnati
When a group of people who were united in their opposition to slavery came together, they created the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society. The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was created in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1835, and was modeled after the framework of the American Anti-Slavery Society, which was established in 1833. The members of the group promised to work for the abolition of slavery as well as the adoption of legislation to safeguard African-Americans when they were released from the bonds of the slave trade.
People who opposed the abolitionists’ ideals were motivated mostly by fear, which was frequently manifested in mob attacks on the abolitionists’ homes and offices.
When the conference was held in a barn outside of Granville, a mob erupted and attacked the abolitionists who had gathered in the building.
It was a mixture of prejudice and, because they were unable to accept that bigotry, they believed that escaped slaves from the southern states would steal their positions in Ohio instead.
The Journey
Ohio was divided on the question of slavery, and only a few localities could provide complete protection. Oberlin was one of the locations where fugitive slaves may feel safe while trying to flee. Oberlin, which is located in north central Ohio, became one of the primary staging areas for fugitive slaves fleeing to Canada. More villages in the south, including Columbus and Zanesville to the east,Mechanicsburg and Urbana to the west, came together to help, as did a number of other cities. For runaway slaves, there were even more little settlements in southern Ohio, which provided them with sanctuary in an incredibly perilous region.
The major entry point into Ohio was along the Ohio River, with the most notable location being a little town known as Ripley.
Journey’s end
In search of a safe refuge where they could live with their families without the fear of being shackled in captivity, escaping slaves came across the United States of America. The only certain location was Canada (and, to a lesser extent, Mexico), although getting to these locations was far from straightforward. As soon as an escaped slave arrived on the borders of Canada, they discovered that living there was incredibly harsh, with little job and strict segregation. After escaping slaves made it to Canada, they would frequently return to Ohio, where they might join tiny enclaves of freed slaves that had already been established in remote places, where they could try to stay as inconspicuous as they possibly could.
ABOVE: The narrative of a slave was recounted at the New Boston Fair.
African-Americans helped make the Underground Railroad work
The fact that escaping slaves made the Underground Railroad feasible was the most significant component of the Underground Railroad’s history. If it hadn’t been for their daring, tenacity, and innovation, the railroad would have been nothing more than a footnote in the history of our nation’s development. It was necessary for the majority of runaway slaves not only to get away from their owner’s estate, but also from all of the areas between them and the Ohio River, as well as from all of the other entrance points between the slave and free states.
- Aside from avoiding their previous masters, they also had to dodge the slave-catchers who prowled the countryside in pursuit of fugitives.
- The runaway slaves had a tough voyage since they had to hide in the woods during the day and travel only at night.
- As soon as they passed over the Ohio River, they had to make contact with someone they had never met before, and they had to hope that they would be able to give them with refuge and assistance on their long voyage ahead of them.
- That occurred at a period when the Ohio River frequently froze over, making it possible for the runaways to cross the river without the need of a boat.
- The ice was frequently more like giant pieces of floating ice, which needed cautious footwork to make it safely across the river at night, just by looking at the river itself and not taking into consideration the extremely low temperatures.
Slaves who had already completed the trek to freedom would frequently return to assist others, putting their own safety and freedom at tremendous risk.
Paying the Price:
A fugitive slave from a Kentucky farm owned by John Bacon who was 17 years old at the time of his capture on September 13, 1858, by two slave hunters and two federal marshals in Oberlin, Ohio, was residing in Oberlin at the time of his arrest. Realizing that attempting to apprehend the young black man in the town of Oberlin would be difficult due to the well-known anti-slavery attitudes held by the town’s residents, they devised a plan to lure John Price away from the protection of Oberlin. On the pretext of digging potatoes for money, they persuaded Shakespeare Boynton, the son of a prominent Oberlin landowner, to accompany John Price to a farm west of Oberlin where he would be paid for his efforts.
- The ruse was successful.
- Anti-slavery activists in Oberlin were angry as soon as they saw what had happened and rallied together to try to save the slaves.
- By late afternoon, more than 200 people from Oberlin and Wellington had gathered outside the Wadsworth Hotel, where Price was being kept captive.
- There was a window with a little balcony that overlooked the town square in that room.
- The sheriff wanted to make sure that all of the paperwork was in order.
- Then, from the outside, someone set up a ladder near the room’s window, and a group of Oberlin locals climbed in via the window while another group entered through the door.
- Price went on the Underground Railroad to Canada a few days later, but was never seen or heard from again after that.
In lieu of posting bond, they were sent to the Cuyahoga County Jail for almost one month, where they remain today.
The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Case had a significant impact on the public’s opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act, which was one of the reasons that contributed to the American Civil War.
Smith, Richard Winsor, Simeon Bushnell, David Watson, William E.
Scott, Ansel W.
Peck, and James M.
Smith. Ralph Plumb, James Bartlett, John Watson, and Henry Evans are seated at the table. A technicality in their indictments caused two of the men, Jacob B. Shipherd and Orindatus S.B. Wall, to be released sooner than the others. As a result, they are not featured.
Additional information aboutthe Underground Railroad
Topic | The Underground Railroad in Ohio |
Time Period | Early to mid 1800s |
Keyword(s) | Slavery, Underground Railroad, African Americans, Abolition |
Grade level(s) | 6-12 |
Learning standard(s) | (Grade 8 Social Studies) History Strand: Historical Thinking and Skills, Content Statement 1; Colonization to Independence, Content Statement 4; Civil War and Reconstruction, Content Statement 12 / (High School Social Studies) American History: Historical Thinking and Skills, Content Statement 2; Industrialization and Progressivism, Content Statement 13 |
Underground Railroad is a word used to describe a secret network of individuals and locations that supported runaway slaves in their attempts to flee slavery in the southern United States.” This activity was most prevalent during the three decades leading up to the Civil War, and it was concentrated mostly in the regions bordering slave states, with the Ohio River serving as the focal point of much of the action.
- It is important to note that Beneath Train activities did not physically take place underground or along a railroad track, nor was it a formal group with a well defined organizational structure.
- Those who believed in abolitionist principles were at the center of the Underground Railroad campaign.
- They were members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
- The dissemination of abolitionist ideals then extended westward into the territory that would become Indiana and Ohio in the following decades.
- The conflicting features of independence for a society that still kept enslaved people were also considered by others, which prompted many to get involved in the Underground Railroad.” Thanks to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for this image.
- The Underground Railroad as seen in photographs Portraits of those involved in the Underground Railroad Conductors The Underground Railroad: Its History and Legacy There is also anAdditional Resourceslist and aTeaching Guidefollowing the major source items.
The Underground Railroad
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County provided this contribution.
Additional Resources
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center — “The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is a museum of conscience, an education center, a facilitator of discussion, and a beacon of light for inclusive freedom across the world,” according to the center’s mission statement. “It is located in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.”
- A historical summary of the Underground Railroad and Ohio’s role in it is offered by the Ohio History Connection in this page titled “Ohio History Central: Underground Railroad” (subscription required). The National Afro-American Museum is located in Washington, D.C. Center for the Arts – At this museum in Wilberforce, Ohio, which is home to two historically black institutions, Wilberforce and Central State, visitors may take part in frequently changing exhibitions and special activities that celebrate African American history, art, and culture. Underground Railroad —A discussion and description of the Underground Railroad, as well as biographical information about abolitionists from the Detroit, Michigan region – Detroit Historical Society Underground Railroad
Teaching Guide
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – “The National Underground Railroad Freedom Institution is a museum of conscience, an education center, a facilitator of conversation, and a beacon of light for inclusive freedom across the world,” according to the center’s mission. “Cincinnati, Ohio is the location.” ; A historical account of the Underground Railroad and Ohio’s involvement in it is offered by the Ohio History Connection in this page titled “Ohio History Central, Underground Railroad.” The National Afro-American Museum is a museum dedicated to African-American culture and heritage.
This museum in Wilberforce, Ohio, which is home to two historically black institutions, Wilberforce and Central State, offers frequently changing exhibitions and special activities that teach about African American history, art, and culture.
- In order to get to the North, escaping slaves would have to cross the Underground Railroad. After their journeys on the subterranean railroad, where would individuals who had traveled there choose to live? What towns and localities in Ohio did fugitive slaves pass through on their journey to freedom in Canada? Exactly where would fugitive slaves be hidden by subterranean railroad conductors
- In your county, do you know of any underground railroad stops that are still there and may be visited?
Activities in the Classroom (Download)
- Were fugitive slaves from other states uniformly welcomed in Ohio? Investigate the history of the Fugitive Slave Laws of 1793 and 1850, including how they influenced the operations of the Underground Railroad, as well as the perspectives of Ohioans on slavery during the nineteenth century. Visit the National Park Service’s list of official Underground Railroad locations for further information. Individuals or small groups can participate in this activity. Choose one to research for a brief presentation for the class (individual) OR one to research for a short presentation for the class (group) Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a different Ohio location for a group presentation. Imagine that you, or you and a group of people, have managed to flee the southern United States and make your way north
- Using the information you’ve learned about the Underground Railroad, write a first-person account of what it would have been like to make this perilous journey, either alone or with a group of other people. Consider the hazards you would face along the journey, the route you would take to get to safety, and how you would have felt about the individuals who assisted you
- Think about the people who aided you.
Underground Railroad
Wayne County, Ohio, was a hub for the Underground Railroad during its heyday. Fredericksburg, Shreveport, Millbrook, Wooster, Marshallville, Orrville, Smithville, and East Union are just a few of the cities. According to an essay authored by E. H. Hauenstein, there were two major routes that served as part of the Underground Railroad system. Slaves seeking freedom traveled north through Millersburg from the southern United States. They passed via Holmesville, Fredericksburg, Apple Creek, East Union, Smithville, and on to Seville and Medina, farther north in the state.
- The route turned eastward toward Akron.
- An outbound branch from Loudonville traveled north to Ashland and south to Sandusky.
- It is believed that there were at least twenty major roads leading north across Ohio at any given time.
- The Underground Railroad is associated with a number of well-known individuals and organizations.
- The following people are named Battles: Thomas S. Bell
- Charity Brown
- Owen Brown
- Timothy Burr
- David Clark
- Cheney, Hibben
- Daniels, Isaac
- Degarmon, Dr. Joseph
- King, Leicester
- Ladd, Benjamin W
- McClelland, H. R
- May, Daniel
- Oldroyd, Charles
- Eugene Pardee
- Perkins, General
- Rose, James
- Seibert, Samuel
- Taggart, Robert
- Elizur Wright.
Some of the Abolitionist groups that were most frequently associated with the Underground Railroad were the Quakers, Covenanters, Wesleyans, Methodists, and other Abolitionists. The majority of them were well-liked and well-respected members of the community. Those who assisted escaped slaves were subject to penalties of up to $1,000 for their actions. In addition, slave organizations provided incentives for the death of anyone who were involved in assisting slaves in their efforts to emancipate themselves.
Early Wayne County, Ohio newspapers frequently contain articles on anti-slavery organizations, which is not surprising given the county’s history.
On February 15, 1837, the Wooster Journal and Democratic Times published an article on it.
- Underground Railroad Locations in Ohio History Vol. 102, Summer-Autumn 1993 edition, p.133-115
- Ohio History Vol. 102, Summer-Autumn 1993 edition, p.133-115
- Ohio History Vol. 102, Summer-Aut
List of Sites for the Underground Railroad Travel Itinerary
KANSAS 1.John Brown Cabin -Osawatomie 2.Fort Scott National Historic Site- Bourbon County | |
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IOWA1.Tabor Antislavery Historic District -Tabor2. George B. Hitchcock House -Lewis vicinity3.Henderson Lewelling House -Salem4.Jordan House -West Des Moines | |
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WISCONSIN 1.Milton House -Milton | |
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ILLINOIS 1.Owen Lovejoy House -Princeton 2.John Hossack House -Ottawa3.Dr. Richard Eells House -Quincy 4.Beecher Hall -Jacksonville5.Rutherford House- Oakland | |
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MICHIGAN1.Dr. Nathan Thomas House -Schoolcraft2.SecondBaptist Church -Detroit | |
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INDIANA 1.Bethel AME Church -Indianapolis 2.Levi Coffin House -Fountain City 3.Eleutherian College Classroom and Chapel Building -Lancaster4.Lyman and Asenath Hoyt House -Madison5.Madison Historic District -Madison | |
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OHIO 1.Harriet Beecher Stowe House -Cincinnati2.JohnP. Parker House -Ripley3.John Rankin House -Ripley 4.Village of Mt. Pleasant Historic District -Mt. Pleasant 5.Wilson Bruce Evans House -Oberlin6.RushR. Sloane House -Sandusky7.Daniel Howell Hise House -Salem 8.Col. William Hubbard House -Ashtabula9. Reuben Benedict House -Marengo10.Samuel and SallyWilson House -Cincinnati11.James and Sophia ClemensFarmstead -Greenville12.Spring Hill -Massillon13.Putnam Historic District -Zanesville | |
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PENNSYLVANIA 1.F. Julius LeMoyne House -Washington2.JohnBrown House -Chambersburg3.Bethel AME Zion Church -Reading 4.Oakdale -Chadds Ford5.White HorseFarm -Phoenixville6.Johnson House -Philadelphia | |
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NEW YORK 1.Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, Residence and ThompsonAME Zion Church -Auburn 2.St. James AME Zion Church -Ithaca 3.Gerrit Smith Estate and Land Office -Peterboro 4.John Brown Farm and Gravesite -Lake Placid 5.Foster Memorial AME Zion Church -Tarrytown6.Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims -Brooklyn7.Asa and Caroline Wing House -Oswego8.Edwin W. and Charlotte Clarke House -Oswego9.John P. and Lydia Edwards House -Oswego10.Orson Ames House -Oswego11.Starr Clock Tinshop -Mexico | |
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VERMONT 1.Rokeby -Ferrisburgh | |
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MAINE 1.Harriet Beecher Stowe House -Brunswick2.Abyssinian Meeting House -Portland | |
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MASSACHUSETTS 1.African American National Historic Site -Boston 2.WilliamLloyd Garrison House -Boston 3.William Ingersoll Bowditch House -Brookline4.The Wayside -Concord5.Liberty Farm -Worcester6.Nathan and Mary Johnson House -New Bedford7.Jackson Homestead -Newton8.Ross Farm (Hill Ross Farm)Northampton9.Dorsey-Jones House- Northampton10.Mount Auburn Cemetary -Cambridge | |
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CONNECTICUT 1.Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House -Farmington | |
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NEW JERSEY 1.The Grimes Homestead -Mountain Lakes2.PeterMott House -Lawnside Borough3.Bethel AME Church -Greenwich4.Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mount ZionCemetery -Woolwich Township | |
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DELAWARE 1.Appoquinimink Friends Meeting House -Odessa2.Friends Meeting House -Wilmington3.New Castle County Courthouse -New Castle | |
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1.Frederick Douglass National Historic Site 2.Mary Ann Shadd Cary House | |
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MARYLAND 1.John Brown’s Headquarters -Sample’s Manor 2.Riley-Bolten House -North Bethesda | |
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VIRGINIA 1.Bruin’s Slave Jail-Alexandria 2.Fort Monroe -Richmond3.Moncure Conway House -Falmouth4.Theodore Roosevelt Island- Rosslyn | |
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WEST VIRGINIA1.Jefferson County Courthouse -Charles Town2.HarpersFerry National Historical Park -Harpers Ferry | |
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FLORIDA 1.British Fort -Sumatra vicinity2.Ft.Mose Site -St. John’s County | |
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COLORADO1.Barney L. Ford Building -Denver | |
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NEBRASKA 1.Mayhew Cabin -Nebraska City | |
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Kentucky 1.Camp Nelson -Jessamine County | |
Main Map |Home |
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8 Places Around Cleveland That Were Once Part Of The Underground Railroad
Posted in the city of Cleveland 14th of February, 2018 Following the completion of the Ohio-Erie Canal, the city of Cleveland rose to prominence as a prominent actor in the Underground Railroad movement. The city was given the codename “Hope,” and it was a popular stopping point for fugitive slaves on their trip to Canada. Some of the most significant stations on the Underground Railroad in the city are still standing today. Please keep safety in mind while you travel during these unpredictable times, and consider adding locations to your bucket list that you can visit at a later period.
- The Cozad-Bates House, which is located at 11508 Mayfield Road in Cleveland.
- It’s the only pre-Civil War house still standing in the neighborhood; University Circle was a hotbed of abolitionist activity at the time, with the Cozad family taking a special interest in aiding fugitive slaves in the area.
- Madison’s Unionville Tavern is number two.
- The collection of stories that have taken place on the grounds, on the other hand, is what makes this edifice so remarkable.
- The slaves would be transported from the pub to the Ellensburgh docks, where they would get their first taste of freedom when they crossed the border into Canada.
- Abolitionists in the area were able to rescue Milton from his captors after he had been caught and beaten by them.
- It is stated that Stowe was influenced by Milton and that he was the inspiration for the character George Harris in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
This magnificent structure, which dates back to 1835, has a long history of serving as a welcome venue for visitors.
Alanson Pomeroy, a Justice of the Peace who erected the house, would utilize it as a stop on the Underground Railroad only a few years after it was completed.
Painesville’s Rider’s Inn is located at 792 Mentor Avenue.
Another reason is that this location was seemingly involved in every early social movement, serving as a safe haven on the Underground Railroad and even a speakeasy during the Prohibition era.
5.
In 1850, William Hubbard and his family migrated to the region, and he became associated with the Ashtabula County Anti-Slavery Society nearly as soon as they arrived.
With a desire to assist others, William set up his property as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Because the mansion is so close to Lake Erie, it served as a final resting place for many slaves before they were able to make their journey to Canada and achieve their freedom from slavery.
This magnificent edifice, which goes back to the 1830s, is widely regarded as the county’s oldest dedicated church and is claimed to be the oldest in Ohio.
The Episcopal Church, on the other hand, did not distinguish between concerns affecting the North and the South.
A fire ravaged the church’s wooden interior shortly after the war’s conclusion.
Spring Hill Historic Home is located at 1401 Spring Hill Lane NE in Massillon, Ohio.
In 1821, this lovely property was constructed for a Quaker couple who were well-known for their involvement in the Underground Railroad.
Despite several attempts, no slaves were ever caught during their time at Spring Hill, despite their best efforts.
Sloane House is located at 403 East Adams Street in Sandusky.
Sloane House is quite stunning, even in this photograph taken previous to its restoration (it is now a bright yellow color).
While living in Sandusky, Sloane studied law and regularly collaborated with abolitionist lawyer F.D.
When local law enforcement apprehended fleeing slaves at the behest of persons who claimed to be their owners, Sloane took them to court in one of his most audacious abolitionist deeds.
When one of the men produced ownership documents, Sloane was taken to court and fined $3,000, plus $1,330.30 in court and attorney expenses, according to the court record.
Sloane was born in Sandusky and grew up there.
Imagine the stories we would hear about the Underground Railroad if walls could talk.
Considering that few conductors ever kept documents or notes indicating their operations, many locations along the Underground Railroad and the exact number of people they aided remain somewhat of a mystery. Do you have a passion for local history? You’re going to enjoy these strange facts!
Curious Cbus: Where Did The Underground Railroad Pass Through Columbus?
Published at 5:30 a.m. on July 30, 2020. Preceding the Civil War, thousands of individuals were able to flee slavery by journeying north through Ohio via the Underground Railroad, a loose network of safe “stations” where abolitionists and humanitarians provided assistance and refuge to former slaves. A letter from Darris Irvin to WOSU’s Curiosous Cbus, in which he expressed his interest in learning more about radio stations in the region. What he wanted to know was whether or not there was a record of Underground Railroad stations in Columbus.
- In Columbus, according to research conducted by the Friends of Freedom Society, there are well over 20 known Underground Railroad sites, albeit the addresses for many of these are not publicly available since they are private residences.
- It used to be the residence of Robert Neil, the rich Neil family’s eldest son.
- It was common practice to walk along rivers and streams in order to keep track of one’s movements from bounty hunters and their bloodhounds.
- It is currently being used as a child childcare facility after being recently converted from a funeral home.
- The congregation’s anti-slavery sentiments were strong in the mid-1800s, and the chapel’s basement served as a safe haven for African Americans who were fleeing bondage.
- When the Ohio Writers’ Program of the Work Projects Administration drew this map in 1936, it was considered groundbreaking at the time.
- The successful brick mason was also a member of the Worthington Anti-Slavery Society, which worked to end slavery in the area.
- Sites like as theKelton Housein downtown Columbus, the Hanby Housein Westerville, and the Livingston Housein Reynoldsburg are all noted for their roles as stations on the Underground Railroad in other parts of Central Ohio.
In addition, many of the structures that acted as safe havens are still in existence today. Do you have a question about our region that you’d want Curious Cbus to answer? Fill out the form below to submit your idea._
Underground Railroad in Ohio
Wilbur Siebert, a history professor at Ohio State University, claims that the state possessed the most extensive Underground Railroad network of any other state, with an estimated 3000 miles of pathways utilized by runaways. It was possible to enter the Ohio River from as many as twenty different sites, and to escape the river from as many as ten different points along Lake Erie. Image courtesy of the Underground Railroad Monument. Cameron Armstrong, a student at Oberlin College, developed the term Terminology.
- Using the term underground was appropriate because assisting runaway slaves was illegal and needed to be kept a secret.
- Stations are locations where people go to hide or feel protected.
- Agents are those who assist fugitive slaves in their escape but do not guide them.
- Backstory The Underground Railroad (UGRR) was a network of safe homes, hiding sites, and forest pathways that assisted runaway slaves in their attempts to escape to freedom in the northern United States or Canadian provinces.
- As early as the 1810s, other Ohioans were providing assistance to runaway slaves.
- From one station to the next, fugitive slaves made their way north.
- Owning slaves had been prohibited in Ohio since the state’s constitution was adopted in 1802, but some residents of the state continued to favor slavery.
These activists were adamant in their opposition to the Underground Railroad; some attacked conductors, while others attempted to return fugitives to their owners in the goal of receiving rewards from them.
This rule enhanced the likelihood that free blacks would be kidnapped and forced into slavery as a result of enslavement.
Runaway slaves were guided by conductors to the northernmost section of the state of Ohio, where they would spend the night before being carried over Lake Erie to freedom in Canada on the final step of their voyage.
The Underground Railroad was run by African-Americans.
There would have been virtually no opportunity for fugitive slaves to escape into freedom if they hadn’t been protected and assisted by free blacks.
Abolitionist newspaper publisher James G.
Colored individuals are virtually always in charge of such issues, which is not surprising.
It’s been a long and difficult road.
Work schedules were flexible, and slaveholders took advantage of the opportunity to travel during the holidays.
There were fewer cars on the highways due of the cold, yet there was little vegetation in the winter landscape because it was so cold.
Running away from home was made feasible by the regular freezing of the Ohio River, which allowed them to cross it on foot, although the ice was sometimes more like enormous pieces of floating ice, which needed precise footwork to make it safely over the river in the dark.
Aside from avoiding slave catchers, fugitives also had to escape roaming gangs of bounty hunters who searched the countryside in search of fugitives.
Under the Fugitive Slave Law, slaves could be traced down and returned from anywhere in the United States, but an escaped slave who crossed the Ohio River and crossed the Mason-Dixon Line was in relative safety north of the Mason Dixon Line.
Ohio was divided on the topic of slavery, and only a few places provided total sanctuary for runaways, with the town of Oberlin being the safest of these areas.
Oberlin, Ohio, was the site of Oberlin College, which was the first institution in the United States to accept females and African-Americans.
As they were aware that kidnapping Price in the town of Oberlin would be difficult due to strong anti-slavery sentiment held by the citizens of that town, they persuaded Shakespeare Boynton, the son of an influential Oberlin landowner, to lead Price to a farm west of Oberlin under the guise of digging potatoes for which he would be paid $20.
- After realizing what had occurred, anti-slavery activists in Oberlin grew enraged and promptly formed an organization in order to launch a rescue mission.
- The Ohio Historical Society provided permission to use this image.
- Eventually, after many hours of tense negotiations, the captors permitted a small number of men, including the local sheriff, to enter the room in order to verify that their paperwork were properly completed.
- Soon later, a number of Oberlin residents climbed through the window, and another group entered through the door.
- After rescuing Price, his rescuers placed him into a wagon and returned him to Oberlin.
- The Oberlin-Wellington Rescue played a significant role in mobilizing opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act in the United States.
- In lieu of posting bond, they were sent to the Cuyahoga County Jail, where they stayed for the time being.
Abolitionist and civil rights activist Langston delivered an impassioned address in court that made a powerful argument for abolition and justice for “colored folks.” However, I stand here to state that if I am sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of one thousand dollars for what I did on that day in Wellington, under the Fugitive Slave Law, and such is the protection that the laws of this country afford me, I must assume the responsibility of self-protection; and if I am claimed as a slave by some perjured wretch, I will never be sold into slavery again.
I stand here to state that I will do all in my power to assist any individual who has been apprehended and detained, despite the fact that the inevitable consequence of six months jail and a thousand dollars fine for each infraction hangs over my head!
You would do so because your manhood demanded it, and no matter what laws were in place, you would be proud of yourself for doing so; your friends would be proud of you for doing it; your children for generations to come would be proud of you for doing it; and every good and honest man would agree that you had done the right thing in the end!
- According to the judge, Langston will serve only 20 days in prison after being found guilty.
- Further south, a number of communities, including Columbus and Putnam to the east, Mechanicsburg and Urbana to the west, provided assistance to runaway slaves, including Columbus and Putnam.
- Organization known as the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society In 1835, the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was established in Zanesville, Ohio.
- Despite the fact that Ohio was a free state, the Society was frequently targeted by local individuals wherever they conducted their meetings.
- Fear was a significant motive among people opposed to the society’s ideals, and it was frequently demonstrated in crowds who attacked abolitionists on the streets.
- When the abolitionist convention was held in a barn outside the city boundaries, a mob erupted and attacked the delegates and other attendees.
- One of the state’s oldest communities, Putnam was founded about 1800 and merged into the neighboring city of Zanesville in 1872, making it one of the state’s oldest municipalities.
Putnam was home to numerous important abolitionists throughout the nineteenth century.
Both the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society’s conventions, held in 1835 and 1839, were held at this location.
Weld, who was lecturing at the Stone Academy in preparation for the 1835 convention.
Additional violence was avoided as a result of the arrest of several of the instigators.
William Beecher, the brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, served as the church’s first pastor when it was built in 1835, and many other anti-slavery preachers, including Frederick Douglas in 1852, have spoken here.
The Underground Railroad ran through southern Ohio.
There was a tiny village called Ripley that served as the primary access point.
The Freedom Stairway is a photograph.
John Rankin is a Scottish author and poet.
Located on a three hundred-foot-high hill overlooking the Ohio River, his mansion included various secret rooms where runaway slaves might be secreted if they escaped.
Image courtesy of John Rankin House Ripley, Ohio is a town in the state of Ohio.
John Parker, a kindred soul who lived in Ripley as well, was responsible for transporting hundreds of fugitives from slavery across the Ohio River in a small boat.
Parker was taught to read and write by the doctor’s family, who also permitted him to work as an apprentice in an iron foundry.
He then relocated to Ripley, where he built a profitable foundry in the back of his home.
In a subsequent interview, John Parker stated that while the fugitives must, in most cases, take care of themselves south of the border, once they cross the Ohio River, they are in the care of their friends and family.
The majority of the time, slaves walked northward on their own, seeking for a signal that would indicate the presence of food, shelter, and rest.
Many will stay unidentified for the rest of their lives. Putnam Historic District (National Park Service) Underground Railroad – Ohio History Central, Inc. Ohio on the Road: The Underground Railroad in Ohio The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society is featured on Ohio History Central.
Exploring the Underground Railroad in Historic Springboro, Ohio
Lindsey Haney writes a blog for the company. Even though Warren County is referred to be “Ohio’s Largest Playground,” it is also home to some of the state’s most illustrious historical sites, particularly in the city of Springboro. Springboro, founded as a primarily Quaker hamlet, was formerly known as one of the nation’s most renowned safe havens for slaves seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad, and it still is today. In reality, today’s Warren County visitors may still visit more than two dozen of the town’s recorded Underground Railroad locations, including these four must-see destinations, which are listed below.
Long before tourists from Warren County came to stay in the mansion, the building was a refuge for fugitive slaves seeking liberation from slavery.
2) Main Street (South Main Street) Springboro’s South Main Street, which is now home to a variety of charming businesses and cafés, was originally a major station on the Underground Railroad and is now a historic district.
3) Heather’s CoffeeCafé (Heather’s CoffeeCafé) Springboro’s Heather’s Café may be a popular destination for coffee enthusiasts and those taking lunch breaks today, but the building in which the restaurant is located performed a very different function in the neighborhood decades ago.
4)Friends Quaker Orthodox Cemetery (Friends Quaker Orthodox Cemetery) This ancient cemetery, which is the final resting place for many prominent Warren County pioneers, veterans, and historical figures is steeped in both Quaker and African American history, according to the Friends Quaker Orthodox Cemetery website.
The cemetery continues to attract a large number of people who come here to pay their respects to those who sacrificed everything for their fellow men, women, and children while traveling the Underground Railroad.
Read on.