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ERIE COUNTY • Sandusky Freedom Trail Shoreline Park in Sandusky is the site of the “Abolition Boats Provide an Escape to Freedom in Erie County” marker, dedicated on October 24, 2004.

he Underground Railroad was neither Underground Railroad—as a commemorative highway to be The site was donated by the city of Sandusky. $MFWFMBOE underground, nor a railroad, but a known as River-To-Lake Freedom Trail. Sandusky system of loosely connected safe havens The River-To-Lake Freedom Trail generally follows the present Date visited: ______HURON COUNTY • S.R. 4 and S.R. 113 “Twhere those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery day alignment of U.S. 23 from the Ohio River at Portsmouth, &3*& were sheltered, fed, clothed . . . and instructed during north through central Ohio. North of Marion County, the trail The “The Underground Railroad in Lyme Township, Huron their journey to freedom.” Thus begins the text born by follows S.R. 4 to Sandusky on the shore of Lake Erie. County” marker is located just southwest of the SENECA COUNTY • S.R. 4 and S.R. 162 each marker placed along the In 2004 and early 2005, brass intersection of State Routes 4 and 113 in Huron County. The marker was dedicated on October 17, 2004. River-To-Lake Freedom Trail markers—forged in Marietta, Ohio Seneca County’s marker—“The Underground Railroad 4&/&$" )630/ in Ohio to memorialize one at the Sewah Foundry—were placed at Omar Inn and Omar Chapel of Seneca County”—is The historic Lyme Village donated the site. of the most frequently-used in locations of significant local located on State Route 4, just south of State Route 162. corridors of the Underground importance along the trail. Each The marker was dedicated on October 14, 2004. Date visited: ______Railroad (UGRR). marker bears text on both sides: The site was donated by Reed Township. Ohio had an extensive one side with a general statement network of trails used by of the UGRR’s history, and the Date visited: ______anti-slavery activists, free other detailing the significance of Bucyrus CRAWFORD COUNTY • Bucyrus Blacks and churches to help the neighboring community and $3"8'03% fugitive slaves flee from the the contributions of local UGRR At the Bucyrus City Hall on State Route 4 is where you’ll find “The Underground Railroad in Crawford County” South to Canada. Ohio had conductors. Local historians, the MARION COUNTY • Marion one of the most active UGRR operations in the nation; Friends of Freedom Society and the State of Ohio Historic marker, dedicated on October 14, 2004. some sources estimate that 40,000 slaves escaped to Preservation Office collaborated in the research, writing and “The Marion County Trail of Bill Anderson” in Marion was ."3*0/ the last of the markers to be dedicated. On February 15, Marion The city of Bucyrus donated the site. freedom through Ohio. authentication of the historic texts. 1FOOTZMWBOJB 2005, two identical markers were placed in this county: In the year 2000, U.S. Transportation Secretary Using this map as a guide, ODOT and the Friends of one at the rest stop on U.S. 23 northbound, and one at Date visited: ______Rodney Slater bestowed a federal “Millennial Trails” Freedom Society encourage Ohioans and tourists alike to visit *OEJBOB City Hall in downtown Marion. designation on Ohio’s network of escape routes for each historic site and learn more about an important chapter in runaway slaves. The Ohio Department of Transportation Ohio—and American—history. The back of the map has an area The sites were donated by the Ohio Department of Delaware (ODOT) took the designation one step further, for notes, stories about the UGRR in each county, and pictures Transportation and the city of Marion. %&-"8"3& DELAWARE COUNTY • Delaware designating portions of U.S. Route 23 and State Route of related sites. The marker descriptions on the map itself have a 4—one of the most frequently used corridors on the place to record the date you visited each site. Date visited: ______On October 28, 2004, Ohio Wesleyan University, the Friends of Freedom Society, and Ohio Department of Date visited: ______Transportation unveiled the “Delaware County: Antislavery Stronghold” marker along the bikeway trail at U.S. Routes 2 23 and 36 in the city of Delaware. '3"/,-*/ The city of Delaware donated the site. Columbus Friends of Freedom Society, Inc. FRANKLIN COUNTY • Columbus Date visited: ______Ohio Underground Railroad Association On September 22, 2004, the marker at the Ohio Statehouse, “Black Conductors of Columbus,” was The Friends of Freedom Society, Inc. (FOFS) and the Ohio Underground Railroad Association (the research arm of the first of the ten to be dedicated. FOFS) is a grassroots, all volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to the research, identification, documentation, and 1*$,"8": PICKAWAY COUNTY • Circleville preservation of Underground Railroad sites in Ohio. The Capital Square Review Advisory Board donated The marker at the Samuel Moore House, on the corner The organization sponsors an annual Underground Railroad Summit every October in a different Ohio location for the site. Circleville of Court and Mound streets in Circleville, commemorates those interested in Underground Railroad history; maintains a list of Ohio’s endangered Underground Railroad sites, and Date visited: ______“The Underground Railroad in Pickaway County.” The S is an advocate for their preservation; installs Ohio Underground Railroad historic markers at individual sites, community marker was dedicated on October 9, 2004. F parks, and trails; develops Underground Railroad education programs; and is producing Freedom Seekers—Ohio and the JW 3 Underground Railroad. The FOFS has distributed red marker flags with its logo to documented Underground Railroad sites The city of Circleville donated the site. P
in communities around Ohio. 3044 IJ The Ohio Underground Railroad Association coordinates the activities of volunteers throughout the state as it documents Date visited: ______0 Underground Railroad sites. If you are interested in supporting, joining, or becoming a volunteer with the organization, please visit our website at www.ohioundergroundrailroad.org, or call 614-868-1246. $JODJOOBUJ SCIOTO COUNTY • Portsmouth ROSS COUNTY • Scioto Trails State Park

“The Crossing at Scioto County” marker was Visit Scioto Trails State Park to see the “Ross County dedicated at the Shawnee State University on 1*,& Underground Railroad” marker, dedicated on October October 8, 2004. 22, 2004. The marker is located at the park entrance off Credits: U.S. Route 23 and State Route 372. This brochure was produced and funded by Special thanks to: Shawnee State University donated the site. the Ohio Department of Transportation, in Beverly J. Gray Jack R. Marchbanks The Ohio Department of Natural Resources donated Date visited: ______the site. conjunction with the Friends of Freedom William Drown Bruce Ward 4$*050 Society. Larry Lepard Todd Sloan Date visited: ______Photos were provided by the Friends of Elaine Lawson Andrea L. Hernandez 0I 8FTU
7JSHJOJB Freedom Society and the Ohio Department of Jim Croneis Kathleen Fuller JP Portsmouth
Transportation, districts 3, 6 and 9; text by the Wally Higgins Brian Stacy 3 Friends of Freedom Society. Cathy D. Nelson Michael Stout J W F S The Friends of Freedom Society, Inc. 1006 Lornaberry Ln. ,FOUVDLZ Columbus, OH 43213 614-868-1246 www.ohioundergroundrailroad.org

Ohio Department of Transportation District 6 The River-to-Lake-Freedom Trail generally follows the present-day alignment of U.S. Route 23 from 400 E. William St. Delaware, OH 43015 740-833-8000 the Ohio River at Portsmouth, north through central Ohio. North of Marion County the trail follows www.ODOTDistrict6.org state Route 4 to Sandusky on the shore of Lake Erie. The Crossing at Scioto County kept silent about his clandestine activities until the forty years. The minister of citizens opposed to the Fugitive Slave Act. cioto County was dangerous for runaway end of the Civil War. Local lore claims that his house Two of the most noted anti-slavery leaders and Lyme Church— The Sslaves because of its proximity to slave-holding is haunted by a runaway slave who died there en route conductors on the Underground Railroad in Marion Reverend Hart— Abolition Boats Provide an Escape to Freedom states. Runaways often had to continue their to Canada. County were Joseph Morris of Richland Township, listed in the in Erie County journey northward. Numerous slaves fled from and Allen McNeal of Tully Township. Morris used genealogy section rie County, situated on the south shore of Lake River-to-Lake Kentucky across the Ohio River to Wheelersburg Black Conductors of Columbus the basement and attic of his two-story frame home of his family Bible EErie, was an area of great activity along the routes or Portsmouth. Oftentimes a riverboat captain, ranklin County was a very active destination to shelter escaped slaves making their way to Canada. a runaway slave he of the Underground Railroad. Due to its location W i l l i a m Fon the Underground Railroad. Communities McNeal’s home sat far from the road and was nestled took in as a family on Lake Erie, Sandusky was a major terminus on Freedom Trail M c C l a i n , like Clintonville, Worthington, Westerville, and in a secluded area, so runaways were easily housed member. The the Underground Railroad. Runaways were told Ohio’s Underground Railroad d e l i v e r e d Reynoldsburg were proud supporters of the anti- without being detected. A well-known abolitionist Russell Tavern that Sandusky was their “hope” for freedom. The his human slavery cause, and their citizens took great personal throughout the area, McNeal was a member of the in Lyme was also Sandusky docks, particularly those on Water Street, Commemorative Highway cargo to J.J. risk to attend to the necessities of runaway slaves. Whig Party. He later joined the Free Soil Party, and an active UGRR were well known departure points for runaways Minor, and In downtown Columbus, a number of African- ultimately joined in the newly organized Republican stop. Many of fleeing by boat to Canada. abolitionist, Americans—who worked as waiters, porters, barbers, Party. As an Abolitionist candidate for Congress, those seeking Rush R. Sloane was a lawyer, abolitionist, and Over 50 known Underground Railroad agents who would and painters—were the leaders of Underground McNeal spoke out publicly against the evils of slavery refuge there were UGRR “conductor.” His home in Sandusky, operated in Sandusky with the first documented pictured here, was a known UGRR station. deliver them The Kelton House, on East Town Street, was one Railroad activity in and out of Columbus. Prominent during a time when it was still quite dangerous to do on their way to escape being in 1820. A runaway slave belonging of many UGRR “stations” in Columbus. to the Lucas black men such as the Reverend James Poindexter, so. Sandusky or Huron where they could cross Lake Erie to a Mr. John Riley arrived on foot at the home or Love families in Houston Hollow. There, they John T. Ward, William Washington, Jeremiah and be free in Canada. of Abner Strong on Strong’s Ridge in Huron followed the Scioto River to Waverly and to the Freeland and others were members of the Anti-slavery The Underground Railroad in Crawford County In nearby Bellevue, the Miller family sheltered County. Under the veil of darkness, this runaway free black community called P.P. Settlement in Baptist Church where Underground Railroad activity ccording to fleeing slaves and ushered them west on the was transported to Marsh’s Tavern where a black Pebble Township. was strongly advocated. Many prominent white AC r a w f o r d Maumee Western Reserve Turnpike (U.S. Route stableman sheltered him in the back of the tavern. abolitionists were also incensed by the enslavement County historians, 20) to Fremont and Toledo. From there, they could When the runaway’s master, James Riley, arrived at The Underground Railroad in Pike County of African people and were formidable agents on the nearly a third of travel to Detroit and cross the river to Canada. Marsh’s Tavern to retrieve his human property and ike County also remained a dangerous place Underground Railroad. the runaway slaves Other documented Huron County trails offering a $300 reward, the hidden slave was placed Pfor African American families. Free blacks In 1812, James Kilbourne—the founder of escaping into connected Greenwich (which had a large Quaker on a sailboat headed for Malden, Canada. Captain living in the Scioto Valley Corridor were met Worthington—liberated a captured runaway slave, Ohio either came settlement), Fitchville—with its well-documented P. Shepard, owner of the sailboat, was a resident of with resistance, and even violence, from other placed him in an army supply wagon, and sent him unassisted or Omar Chapel, Seneca County Seeley Palmer House—and Peru, where the Parker Marsh’s Tavern. residents. Many of the thirteen free black north to Sandusky. Similarly, prominent shoe-and- were “conducted” and Wilson families were active conductors. The towns of Venice, Mills Creek, Huron, families living near the Ross County border in leather dealer, Lee Van Slyke, hid a kidnapped slave through the county on their way to freedom in Canada. Norwalk had a black settlement known as Milan, and Vermillion were equally active on the Pike County moved away when their homes, girl in the attic The county had numerous routes and conductors. “Africa.” By 1843 it had over 100 residents and a Underground Railroad. and even their schools, were burned. But one of his E. Town Slaves could walk the “Kilbourne Road,” (State Route log school. Samuel Carr and Frederick Spears were family, the Barnetts, refused to be driven out Street home for 23), to State Route 98 and then on to State Route 4. the first blacks to settle in “Africa.” They were soon and became actively involved as Underground three weeks until Crawford County was home to about thirty residents joined by others, who cleared the land for farming Railroad conductors. she could be willing to aid runaways. Presbyterians John Moderwell and planted orchards. transported safely and his daughter, in Bucyrus; Peter Wert in Leesville; George and Henry Lockwood and Hiram Stewart in Ross County Underground Railroad to Canada. The Benjamin Warner on S.R. 4; Fisher Quaintance and the Milan provided cover for slaves before helping them on our major Underground Railroad routes black citizens Quakers on North and Tiffin Roads; and the O’Dells, to Sandusky, and Lyman Scott maintained a station for Fran through Ross County into Chillicothe. of Columbus Parchers, Campbells, and Trimbles from New Winchester some thirty years prior to 1860. Two routes followed the Scioto River, while the presented Van all gave shelter to tired, shivering, fearful sojourners. The east side of the county was well represented in the

other two followed old State Route 23 on the Seven Oaks, Delaware Slyke with an After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, operations famous Wellington Rescue in Lorain County, in which east and State Route 104 on the west. These engraved silver became more dangerous and secretive. The Portland Road John Price—a runaway abducted by slave catchers to Sandusky’s marker on Lake Erie’s shore. trails had been made by Native Americans and pitcher in honor of his bravery and dedication to the route through Galion shifted to “Black Pete’s” north of be returned to slavery—was rescued by a large crowd of were well established by the time white settlers freedom cause. New Winchester that ran to Stetzer Road. Women and reached the Scioto Valley. children could hide in Robinson’s Mill or the old Luke Quakers, Presbyterians, and African- Delaware County: Antislavery Stronghold Iron Horse Tavern, and then move through Sandusky Americans were active Underground Railroad unaway slaves who had traveled through Township to McIntyre’s, or Henry Kaler’s along the Suggested Reading for Children & Adults Notes conductors along these routes. RWorthington on the road to freedom often made Sandusky River. A tree planted in honor of President The Quaker settlement near Chillicothe Delaware County their next stop. Abraham Lincoln’s Inauguration stands at State Routes he following list is just a small sampling of titles available about the Underground Railroad, offered a safe haven to runaway slaves. In 1836, Delaware served as home to hundreds of Quakers 598 and 39, southeast of Trio, where runaways passed Tits history, and the history of slavery in America. For a more extensive listing, please consult the Presbytery of Chillicothe issued a letter to (The Society of Friends). Stations like the Gooding through to Oberlin. A route also lead to Sulphur Springs the Friends of Freedom Society Ohio Underground Railroad Association compiled bibliography its sister church in Mississippi outlining the Tavern and Seven Oaks, originally called Oak through New Washington, ending at Caroline. at www.ohioundergroundrailroad.org/Booklist.htm. reasons for the abolition of slavery and the Grove, served as an active station and still stands on assistance to runaway slaves. The Chancellor, William Street just west of the Ohio Department The Underground Railroad at Omar Inn & Leach, Langston, and Redman families were of Transportation headquarters. The Benjamin Omar Chapel of Seneca County Nat Turner and the Slave Revolt all African-Americans who ran Underground Bartholomew House in southern Delaware County, he Columbus-Sandusky Turnpike, now State Tracy Barrett Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman Railroad stations in the town of Chillicothe. also known as the old “Toll House,” gave refuge to TRoute 4, was a principal route on the Underground Millbrook Press, 1993 Dorothy Sterling runaways in a secret basement room which was closed Railroad through Seneca County. In the county, Scholastic, 1987 The Underground Railroad in Pickaway off from the main house. runaways were hidden in the cellar of the Omar Freedom’s Fruit County “Little Africa” was the home of thirty-five freed Tavern—also known as Reed’s Tavern—which was a William H. Hooks Hidden in Plain View:A Secret Story of Quilts In general, Pickaway County had mixed slaves who had been sent from North Carolina, and brick, two-story stagecoach inn on a knoll south of Knopf, 1996 and the UGRR feelings about the Underground Railroad due were assisted by conductors in Portsmouth. They Omar Chapel on the east side of the road. Runaways Jacqueline Tobin & Raymond G. Dobard to the prevalent southern sentiment at the had been freed by their former master’s widow, who also hid in the livery stable across the road during the I Was a Slave: True Life Stories Told by Former Doubleday, 1999 time. But did not believe in slavery. She provided them with day, and at nightfall were transported to the Seven American Slaves in the 1930’s there were manumission papers, and horses and wagons to head Mile House, south of Sandusky, at the corner of S.R. 4 Donna Wyant Howell, Editor Up From Slavery: An Autobiography individuals north. Their journey led them to the farm of Samuel and Mason Road. American Legacy Books, 1995 Booker T. Washington who were Patterson, a well known abolitionist and member of the In addition to Signet Classics, 2000 a c t i v e area’s anti-slavery Wesleyan Methodist congregation. sheltering escaping True North: A Novel of the UGRR abolitionists Once they made it safely to the hamlet of Africa, they slaves, the inn also Kathryn Lasky Silver Highway and served as were able to live in empty log cabins that had been housed captured Scholastic, 1996 Marian Wells conductors abandoned by residents who were building permanent C o n f e d e r a t e Bethany House, 1989 on the road homes. officers being From Slave Ship to Freedom Road to freedom. Circleville’s Moore House, a former hiding place These freed slaves were in constant danger as they transported to the Julius Lester Journey to Freedom: A Story of the UGRR In Circleville, for runaway slaves bound for freedom, now traveled. It was common for slave catchers to abduct prison camp at Friends of Freedom Society’s Cathy Nelson Dial Books, 1998 Courtni C. Wright houses Pickaway County’s Genealogical Library . addresses attendees at the Lyme Township marker Phillip B. free blacks as well as runaway slaves for a reward. Johnson’s Island dedication. Holiday House, 1994 Doddridge, Reverend William Hanby, Reverend off Marblehead If You Traveled on the UGRR Immanuel Buchwalter, and George Stanhope— The Underground Railroad in Marion County Peninsula. Ellen Levine a free black man—all lead runaway slaves under arion County saw its share of Underground Scholastic, 1988 Websites of Interest the veil of night. On one occasion, George MRailroad activity. On the east side of the Flat The Underground Railroad in Lyme Township, City of Columbus - Ohio’s History Stanhope transported three runaways who had Run River sat the Clyde Settlement, whose inhabitants Huron County Steal Away Home http://www.columbus.gov/kids/Black_History/ sought shelter at the Doddridge home. Mr. were Scotch-Irish. They ran grist and linseed oil uron County was very active on the Lois Ruby Underground_RR.htm Doddridge was away on business and his wife mills and stone quarries along the middle fork of the HUnderground Railroad. There were many stops Macmillan, 1994 sent the children to fetch Stanhope. He took river. The Clyde settlers were not willing to tolerate and conductors—probably more that are unknown Kelton House Museum & Gardens them to another active Underground Railroad bondage imposed on another race of people, having than are documented. Ebony Sea http://www.keltonhouse.com agent, Jonathon Dreisbach, whose farm was themselves endured serfdom and oppression in Europe The Seymour, Strong, Barnard, Nims, and Smith Irene Smalls seven miles outside of Circleville. before coming to America to seek a better life. Their families are all recognized on Lyme Township’s Longmeadow Press, 1995 The Underground Railroad Foundation Colonel Samuel Moore, a staunch abolitionist, settlement was used as a safe haven for runaways for Historic Marker, located in Historic Lyme Village. http://www.ugrrf.org/

© 2006 Ohio Department of Transportation Bob Taft, Governor Gordon Proctor, Director