In this morning's Review was an AP article about the state's Division of Tourism and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center joining up to promote some of the places that were part of the escape routes for slaves. They got a web site (http://www.passsagetofreedomohio.com/) as part of their efforts to promote the places in Ohio. Prior to the Civil War slaves made their way out of the southern states along the underground railroad to freedom. Usually their destination was Canada where slavery was prohibited. The travel was mostly done during the darkness of night and along the route were homes where they let the travelers stay for a day or so until it was safe to move on. Many times there were bounties put on them and bounty hunters pursuing them.
The article reminded me of one of the newer murals on Wellsville floodwall which I was told was one of the stops on the underground railroad. I borrowed the picture above from the Revitalization Committee's site. Hope they don't mind. I was told this house was located at the top of Campground Road and about all that is left of it is the foundation. One of these days I'm going to try to located it, when I get roundtuit.
I'm sure there are other places in Wellsville that served as stops but this is the only one I know of. A few years ago I was looking at a house on Riverside with a realtor and there was some unusual spaces dug out in the basement that put me in mind of the railroad's hiding places. There are places over in Lisbon that I heard of but this is the only one in the village.
Anybody know of any others?
ole nib
12 comments:
I remember hearing The Frontone's house out on Rt. 45 had Underground railroad connections. I am out of town now, so I don't even know if it is still the Frontone's house! I went to school with their daughter, Mary Ann, along the way and remembered her telling us about it.
Ted
I wish someone would try to restore or rebuild the house in the mural. The artist did a beautiful job, and the mural is breathtaking, just like all the others.
If there is some original wood left from this safe house it could be restored. I am sure the civic minded owner just let it rot away but if anything is left at all it can be restored. That would be a great project for the historical society!
A friend of mine owned a house on Riverside years ago and claimed that one cemented wall in the basement served as an opening for slaves traveling north by way of the Ohio River. Supposedly, they were able to get into the basement of this house by going from teh river, into a "tunnel" into the basement of that house. I can't remember the number of the house, but it's located on the block right behind what is now the Pizza Hut.
Wellsville Short Story - By Francis E. Bush, 1973 this might help you out. It tells of house on riverside that was use for the underf=ground railroad.
What is up with mayor Surace promising the clerks job to so many diff people. Review tells of one tale and I have heard of a couple others that thought they were getting the job.
hello
I bought the Frontone house on 45 a few years back. Yes it was a stop for the underground railroad at one time. since buying the house 4 years ago, i have been unable to find history on the house and the use of the underground railroad. there once was a tunnel i do know in the house in a room in basement..it has been bricked up by the previous owners....I am eagerly trying to find more info about my house and the history behind it.
yes as to the underground railroad house on campground road it is actually off campgroung roar a short distance down oakgrove road it is on a right of way it was a big farm at one time i believe the right of way leads to a 44 acre sectin of land that was a land grant to the slaves after the civil war the piece of ground was still in the familys name a few years ago as i tried too buy it i lieved down the road from the house my father , uncle and grandfather had a big garden there in the early 50s or late 40s it is interesting as i can remember the old black man that lived on this land grant when i was a kid his name was spires and the family name was phillipes as for the stone house i knew the man who owned it in the late 70s auto gommol i think qwas his name it was last lived in in the middle 60s buy a family name burchett i believe . i have several pictures of it inside and out i took in the 80s as i felt one day it would be gone it was in need of a lot of work then some one had replaced the roof on it in years befir it is interesting as there is a cemetery a little ways above it a couple head stone and what looked like a couple graves that where dug and never used cant read the head stone , the cemeterty was the devore cemetery if you go behind the storage barns on campground just past the trailer court just as you cross the property line there is the cemetery havent been there in years i bet if goust hunters went there ther would be spirets
jws - thank you for your comments. Come warm weather I'll probably check it out especially now that I have a better idea of the location. Quite an interesting bit of history there.
Also I would love to get some snap shots of your pictures with my digital to put on here. If you think that is possible please e-mail me at olenib@gmail.com.
Thanks once again for letting us know about the place. Before the mural on the floodwall I never knew that place existed.
ole nib
jws
Please share your photos. That would be great. I too, will make a trip in good weather to check it out. Great info. Thanks,
Opinion - We're working on that. It's a matter of logistics but jws has been in touch and told me he dug out the photos. He also shared some more history of that area which we will get written up as soon as time permits. Hang in there.
ole nib
Property was sold 13-15 years ago...In the late 90's. It is on private property.
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