Here are four historical sights in Northwest Ohio with ties to the Underground Railroad system. Ohio is considered one of the most active states for the Underground Railroad, and helped to facilitate many escapes through different routes around the Ohio River.
The Lathrop House
Located in Sylvania, Ohio, the Lathrop House was built in 1850 and was owned by Lucian Lathrop, a descendant of generations of abolitionists. Lucian and his wife, Larissa, along with their neighbor David Harroun and his wife Clarissa, worked as a part of the Underground Railroad. The men, women and children fleeing slavery would find shelter in the Lathrop house, often hiding in the basement. Harboring runaway slaves was illegal in America, but the consequences did not stop abolitionists as they continued to help assist slaves in their efforts to escape.
To learn more, please follow this link.
The Harroun Family Barn
Located in Sylvania, Ohio, the Harroun Family Barn was built in 1858 by David and Clarissa Harroun, neighbors of the Lathrop family. David, Clarissa and their son Edwin became heavily involved in aiding fleeing slaves across America. The Harroun family regularly brought slaves in false-bottom wagons from nearby to journey north to Canada and, eventually, freedom. Once the fleeing slaves were on the Harroun property, they would hide in the attic of the home or in the hayloft of the barn to avoid being found. From Sylvania, the runaway slaves were taken to Michigan, where they were directed toward Detroit to then enter Canada.
To learn more, please follow this link.
The House of Four Pillars
Located in Maumee, Ohio, the House of Four Pillars was built in 1835 and is on the National Register of Historic Places due to its critical involvement with the Underground Railroad. While most of the history relating to the home’s involvement with the Underground Railroad system is passed down orally, it’s recorded that the basement of the home was accessed by escaping slaves. The basement was accessed from the Maumee River through a ravine or tunnel, highlighting the rough reality of the Underground Railroad.
To learn more, please follow this link.
King Farm
Located in Delta, Ohio, the King Farm was owned by the Rev. William King, who brought 15 slaves from Louisiana to Ohio, eventually bringing them to Canada to gain freedom. These 15 slaves made the 1,500-mile journey from Louisiana and eventually arrived in Delta in 1848. By that time, the King Farm was an established spot on the Underground Railroad. Although Ohio was a free state, slave hunters were allowed to capture runaway slaves in free states if they were caught, which is why locations such as King Farm were so important in the successful escape of many slaves.
To learn more, please follow this link.
