Colonel Young House, Xenia,Ohio The Colonel Young home, near Wilberforce, Ohio, was a major stop on the Underground Railroad. Colonel Charles Young was the third Black man to graduate from West Point. This large two story structure was built originally in 1856 for Laura Smith, daughter of a plantation owner and a slave mother. The unnamed plantation owner bought this house near homes of other plantation owners' mulatto children, so the former slave mother could raise their daughter away from the traumas of the Deep South. As soon as she moved into the house, it immediately became a major "station" on the Underground Railroad in southwestern Ohio. Laura Smith's mother is one of the many unsung heroes of the fight for freedom. The house, currently owned and maintained by Omega Psi Phi, the national Afro-American fraternity, has a huge cellar that was originally connected to tunnels that led under the road and into fields. A trap door lead to this cellar where fugitive slaves would hide, then pass through the tunnel under the road as they traveled north; north to Canada and freedom. By locating the Big Dipper, which they also called the "Drinking Gourd" because it looked like a big spoon, or ladle for drinking, they could always find where it pointed to the North Star. "The colonel's house was spacious and of grandeur in its day, as one could see. I wondered how the slave catchers overlooked the basement door and failed to discover the tunnel and hidden rooms under the house." To learn more about Greene County's history go to: http://www.infinet.com/~dzimmerm/mgreene.html Wilberforce University http://www.wilberforce.edu "Wilberforce University created a feeling of nostalgia because my dad is an alumni. The history of the college, President Henderson, and Mrs. Jackie Brown made me proud to be an educator, and of my cultual heritage." This is the Administration Building and Library of Wilberforce University. These are some of the books and materials in the library at Wilberforce University. Just down U.S. Highway 42 from the Colonel Young home is Wilberforce University, the oldest African American private four year university in the United States. Founded in 1856, the university originally enrolled students from a number of southern states in the years before the Civil War. Fires destroyed detailed records of these students. They may have been the "mixed-race" children of plantation owners, or the children of free ex-slaves in Southern cities, or a combination of the two. At any rate, Wilberforce, named after the late 18th century British abolitionist, was chartered to operate without regard to race, gender, or national origin. Now 142 years later, the university has about eight hundred full time students who attend this very warm, supportive, and inclusive school. The current home of the president of the university was another station on the Underground Railroad. The library has one of the largest archives of abolitionism in the U.S., including the complete church records of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Hardy and Cheryl Brown's son, Hardy Jr., graduated from Wilberforce and is at present a stockbroker with Sun America. "I was very impressed with the 'feeling tone' at Wilberforce: the dedication to student success, the interest in research, the warmth." "I felt pride in visiting the Wilberforce campus to learn of the rich history of this educational institution for African Americans." To learn more about Wilberforce University go to: Wilberforce University To learn more about the Wilberforce Library Archives: Wilberforce Library Archives To read a message from President Henderson: http://www.wilberfornce.edu/welcome.htm National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, Wilberforce, Ohio http://www.ohiohistory.org/textonly/places/afroam/index.html Here is a collection of African-American dolls from the last century. For lunch, the tour arrived at the National African American Museum, located on the the original site of Wilberforce University, adjacent to the campus of Central State University, which in 1947 was created as a secular split and spinoff from Wilberforce. Watching a specially created film on the history of the African American musical tradition, the group toured the museum's special collection of Black dolls and toys, paintings and sculpture, and its permanent display of the history of African Americans from 1945-1960. Some of us grew up during this time and were delighted to recognize many of the toys, appliances, and clothing. "The Afro-American Museum was glorious and I was enthralled with its representation and the presentations we experienced." We all delighted in meeting Mrs. Edith Johnson, who told us about her grandfather, Booker T. Washington. Here, Cheryl Brown has just given her a plaque to honor her. The group was both dumbfounded and honored by the special appearance by Mrs. Edith Washington Johnson, granddaughter of Booker T. Washington. Now in her seventies and a retired school counselor-university admissions officer, Mrs. Washington-Johnson talked of the importance of teaching the story of the struggle for freedom. She gave many examples of young African Americans seeking an identity of which they could be proud and their need to learn about African American history and for everyone to learn everyone's history in order to build greater cross cultural understanding. As she spoke quietly and authoritatively, we knew we were in the presence of greatness and wished that everyone would have the opportunity to meet this woman who carried on the tradition of Booker T. Washington with such quiet dignity. "Meeting Mrs. Edith Johnson, the granddaughter of Booker T. Washington, was an emotional highlight." To read a short biography of Booker T. Washington link to this National Park Service site: http://www.nps.gov/bowa/btwbio.html or to Compton's Encyclopedia: http://comptons3.aol.com/encyclopedia/ARTICLES/05085_A.html Harding House A special stop today was an archeological excavation of another Underground "station" originally composed of a well, with a tunnel in the well that was connected to a huge cellar--possibly several cellars--located and therefore hidden under a house, built specifically to cover the cellar. Members of the group climbed down into the cellar, to look at the tunnel and the well. Many members of the group felt that they were in the presence of ancestors; for many, the site was something of a spiritual experience. "Tramping, tramping, tramping..." "I loved singing the Old Negro Spirituals, but I cringed and cried inside when I saw the underground tunnel and again realized, firsthand, some of the horrors and frightening experiences our people went through and underwent daily...I thought about the children who were dropped down this well and how easy it would be to break an arm, a leg, or even a neck if a person fell wrong or dropped without being caught, or was so tired they hit the side. One could die just going down. The cold, the darkness, the dampness, little or no food or water, for what length of time, hurt, bruised, and broken - their hearts cried out as mine does today as we remember, O' God, your grace is sufficient; your strength is made perfect in weakness." "I felt a tugging on my heart as I visualize mothers placing their children in the well in order to reach freedom. 'I can't' or 'It can't be done' were words that were not an option. The cost that was paid for all of us leaves me speechless." Slaves hid in the Harding House by going down this well, through a tunnel which led to the cellar. Maxine Miller enters the tunnel, and Cheryl Brown follows. "The actual cellar with the hidden well entrance was impressive evidence of a system that really worked. As we walked down the long driveway, several people sang spirituals and I was moved by the emotion of the moment." "The African ancestors spoke to us today. As we climbed down into the tunnel at the ruins of Harding House, one could feel the spirits of those slaves as they fled along the Underground Railroad stations; the courage they had, the faith they had, their longing for freedom - all this I felt today in the presence of these ancestors." "I thought about Hispanics as they cross the border; what they are doing is so similar. They, too, are running and enduring many hardships." "I felt a tugging on my heart as I visualize mothers placing their children in the well in order to reach freedom. 'I can't' or 'It can't be done' were words that were not an option. The cost that was paid for all of us leaves me speechless." Maysville, Kentucky Established in 1787 Maysville sits on the banks of the Ohio River. It became the leading port of entry in the state; merchandise traveled down the Ohio on barges to Maysville then was transported to settlements throughout central Kentucky. Many of Kentucky's settlers traveled through Maysville by flatboat or wagon. The Maysville area played an important role in the Underground Railroad and is surrounded by many "stations." To see a map of the Maysville area: http://www.state.ky.us/tour/maps/maysvillemap.htm The National Underground Railroad Museum http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/urmuseum.htm Jerry Gore, Executive Director of the museum, escorted the group through the museum. "Jerry's museum was a place of information and pride for Jerry's accomplishments and the endurance, perserverence, and fortitude of our people." Shackles used on the enslaved. "Seeing authentic shackles had a powerful impact; wondering about the pain they caused, the humiliation of having to wear them... what was it like trying to do everyday tasks, eating, sleeping...so hard to imagine." The National Underground Railroad Museum in Maysville Kentucky, is centrally located near several underground railroad "stations", and contains many historical artifacts and chronicles of the Underground Railroad. Brodrick's Tavern Brodrick's Tavern was established in 1790, Brodrick's Tavern continues to serve meals to weary travelers. "The dinner at the tavern was really special. It was a spiritual experience hearing the singing and the history..." "Recreating the Middle Passage was a profoundly moving experience which bonded all of us travelers to one another. Jerry Gore's eloquent words and Peggy Jackson¹s soothing spirituals impacted us all as we could only imagine what this Atlantic crossing must have felt like..." "Jerry's presentation of the conditions experienced during the Middle Passage stirred many emotions; anger, sadness, fear, and appreciation for having known loved ones. the fear of loneliness and helplessness was overwhelming." Reflections: "I sometimes feel that no matter what lengths I go to educate myself and put myself in someone else's shoes, it just sometimes never seems to be 'enough.' That is - I feel as though I have truly crossed the color boundary lines and I sometimes get sad that there are still walls being erected to separate the 'white folk' from the 'black folk.' I realize that I am hopelessly idealistic, but I know, in my heart, there is a way to cross this barrier forever if people will just allow this to be..." "There were so many incredible experiences today...talking with Peggy Jackson about the author, Virginia Hamilton to find out they grew up together and she (Peggy) can pinpoint most of Ms Hamilton's characters to the children in the town (herself included) who were 'models' for her characters." To learn more about Virginia Hamilton, including an interview with her, link to: http://www.wordmuseum.com/virginiahamilton.htm The Virginia Hamilton Home Page is: http://www.virginiahamilton.com/ This site includes a list of her books with a description of each.