The Run for Freedom/Troys Underground Railroad

Shackles found at Troy, Ohio church site

TROY, Ohio – Why would a church organ have a bellows in the basement three times the size it needed? Why would curious congregation members be told for decades that what was behind a certain basement door was not important? Finally, why would a complete set of ankle shackles and, 50 years later, other antique artifacts be found behind that same door?

Tony Thomas, a Sunday school teacher at the First Presbyterian Church on the corner of
S. Walnut and E. Franklin Streets in downtown Troy, thinks the answers stem from the Civil War. His church was established in 1859, shortly before the War started. The War was fueled largely by much of the North’s opposition to the South’s continued institution of slavery, which was immortalized in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s timely novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

Thomas says, “Historians know how much President Abraham Lincoln detested slavery. It’s been said that the minister who presided at Lincoln’s Washington, D.C. funeral preached at this church on his way back to Lincoln’s birthplace in Illinois. We wonder, did that minister choose this church because he believed it was a stop on the Underground Railroad? We don’t know, but all other indications are that this particular church did shelter slaves.”

Those indications came over many years behind a cloud of cover-up that could rival some modern-day government and corporate scandals.

“Growing up, I attended Sunday school in the church’s basement–in the main room just outside that mysterious, supposedly unimportant door,” Thomas said, pointing. “Whenever I asked what was beyond that door I was told it wasn’t important.”

About nine years ago, shortly after the new pastor, Richard Culp, arrived, Thomas tired of the mystery.  One evening after college classes that will lead him to the seminary, Thomas strode purposefully to the forbidden door and turned the knob.

“What a surprise–it was unlocked! All those years of mysterious buildup and obedience—to find the door unlocked.”
Behind that door, Thomas found an accessible tunnel slightly over five feet tall, three feet wide, and 25 to 50 feet long, flanked on each side by a slanted wall of dirt and stone. Extending about two feet from the tunnel floor and gradually sloping upward into the wall on either side is a carved-out, foot-wide, flattened mound of earth on which one can sit. It’s where this reporter rested to record notes. Just beyond the threshold inside the tunnel, near the top of the wall on either side (western and eastern sides of the church), says Thomas, is an entrance to an early well. “One of those is the original well for the church and the surrounding community. Both of them have been walled off for 70 years.”
At the back of the accessible tunnel section, where the bellows connects, the tunnel originally continued to the left and to the right but was walled off decades ago until further excavation can be done. Thomas says, “Church lore has it that the tunnel continued for about a mile to the Great Miami River, where at night members then put the escaped slaves on boats or barges toward Canada, usually the ultimate destination for freedom. In addition, a system of tunnels supposedly exists beneath the city.”

Boats that took escaped slaves further north probably were pulled by mule teams as part of the Erie Canal system, which continues today. Before the Civil War, at least, such boats stored passengers below decks and products on top. The average size of such a boat could be compared to a school bus, large enough to transport one small group of slaves at a time.

The main basement room outside the mysterious tunnel door has been used for various purposes. For many years, excess church property such as furniture was stored inside the tunnel, until Thomas discovered it and further excavation was done. In the fall shortly after Pastor Culp’s arrival, church members made a “haunted house” in the main room and had a young woman sit halfway inside the tunnel; they shone a strobe light on her and called her “the woman the church forgot.”

“Every time church members moved stones and mounds of dirt while excavating the tunnel, they found a new piece of history, such as small pieces of pottery, antique nails, what appear to be a partial length of a man’s belt and the last several inches of a shoe’s sole, even a few bones that look human,” Thomas continues. “The ankle shackles, which were found behind stone in the upper wall about 50 years ago, have been rendered authentic by the Troy Historical Society.”

Historians have long known that ankle shackles sometimes represent only one-fourth of the customary iron restraint system that was used for slaves. The other pieces consisted of hand shackles, a neck collar, and chain that connected all shackles from neck to foot. For some, the discovery of ankle shackles in this tunnel is evidence that slaves truly were aided here.

But that’s not all. The formerly mysterious door that conceals the tunnel is only one of four doors to accessible small rooms off the main room.  A second room, now used for storage, once was a cold room where perishable foods were kept. A third provides minimal storage; it’s interesting because a portion of the rear wall obviously is not original but instead was added during the last century as a sealant.

“According to information that’s been passed down through generations of congregation members, a former opening in that rear wall connected into the tunnel. It has been closed for roughly seventy years,” explains Thomas. “The digging that was done down here couldn’t be started until the sanctuary floor above was finished. That way, noise of the digging and later of the slave activity could be disguised. My sources said that one of the two extra lines from the bellows (beyond the one to the organ) was built to provide air to the tunnel directly under the church, for the tunnel diggers and the hidden slaves; the second was for the tunnel running from the church into the city. Someone would have had to manually raise and lower the bellows arms to provide the airflow. The tunnel is really hot and humid, and lacks free-flowing air; I can’t take more than ten minutes in there. You can imagine how it was for frightened slaves and that the bellows must have helped.”

Add to that air-delivery story what long has been said about a hole in the wall at the bottom of the stairs to the basement, approximately six feet up and four inches in diameter, as part of a pipe alarm. “Word has it that a candle box hung there on the wall. In it a candle often was lit (there would have been a small enough hole to allow air in without distinguishing the flame). A pipe, connected to the box, ran up into the narthex (directly above the basement),” Thomas explains. “If someone, say a bounty hunter tracking slaves, were to get inside the church, a lookout could blow into the pipe end in the narthex, which then would flicker the flame at the bottom of the stairs and alert the workers to hide the slaves.”
The fourth door revealed a short flight of steps, seemingly covered by part of the sanctuary floor, to an exit through storm-cellar doors to the courtyard outdoors. Thomas says, “. . . slaves also could have been brought in and taken out this way at times.”

Visual indicators that this church harbored and helped runaway slaves were validated for decades by Mrs. Virginia Allen, who died within the past few years. According to Thomas, Allen was the great-great-granddaughter of one of the church’s founders, Alexander Telford. “Mrs. Allen often said that her elders had talked frequently about the church’s activity on the Underground Railroad, although she didn’t say anything specific about the tunnels.”

During the twentieth century modern lights, various types of pipes, and the church’s sound system were added inside the tunnel. Tunnels, also called “chases” by some, are common beneath buildings that need permanent access for installation and upkeep of pipes, electrical wiring and other things that are necessary to support the buildings’ function. It’s safe to say that not all buildings and tunnels concealed runaway slaves, but history tells us that many played an important role on the Freedom Trail.

According to Thomas, some of the church’s original documents detailing its participation in slave movement were destroyed in the 1913 Flood, but Troy’s Local History Library has copies and much more. Information on file is said to include, for example, verification that Troy was the UGRR hub for this area of Ohio, which public buildings and homes participated on the RR, and names not only of citizen participants but also of some slaves.

The Troy Historical Society, which provides volunteers for the History Library, has helped Thomas in his research and has been extremely helpful in supplying historical references for Miami County, including Troy. President Judy Deeter says that when the Society looks for documentation about the UGRR they “start with the book, The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom, written by Wilbur H. Siebert, Asst. Professor of European History at The Ohio State University, and published in 1898.  Following the Civil War, Siebert traveled through Ohio, taking testimony about those who were involved in the Underground Railroad.  The individuals for Troy and Miami County are listed on page 426 of the book.”

A second source supplied by Deeter is the book, Troy, The Nineteenth Century, in which author Thomas Beamis Wheeler says on page 81:

“As early as 1825 Troy was an important stop on the Underground Railway where runaway slaves were helped on their way to Canada and freedom.  One route came from Indiana through Potsdam and West Milton to Troy, one came through Laura to Ludlow Falls to Troy, while a third came directly from Dayton.  Escape routes from Troy went directly to Piqua, and also to the Narel Cecil farm near Casstown and then to Urbana,  After the Canal was opened to Toledo, many escaped slaves passed through Troy hidden in the cargo holds of the canal boats.  . . . As the majority of the people of Troy were both Republican and abolitionist in sentiment, it was inevitable that if and when civil war came, Troy would strongly support the preservation of the Union and the freeing of the slaves.”

According to Deeter, West Milton historian Rachel Ann Minnich and Vita Marie Saluke’s 2007 book, MIAMI COUNTY OF OHIO UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, references tunnels in Troy properties at 401 Ridge Avenue, 210 E. Main Street, Episcopal Church at Franklin and Walnut Streets, and manacles and tunnel at First Presbyterian Troy.

In addition, Deeter asserts that in 1833 the will of Virginia plantation owner John Randolph freed his “300-400 slaves, and plans were made for the slaves to go to Mercer County, Ohio, where they were each to be given a specified number of acres of land. The slaves were brought to Ohio [in 1846] and traveled by canal boat north toward Mercer County. When they got to New Bremen, they were stopped by white farmers who did not want them to come to the area. . . . Three settlements were established for them: Rossville near Piqua, Marshall Town near Troy, and Hanktown west of West Milton. Also, some went to Rumley, a previously established African-American town in Shelby County. Part of the reason that the Underground Railroad was so effective was because of these African-American communities that were established prior to the Civil War. Also, St. James A.M.E. Church here in Troy was started by freed slaves in 1837. Rumley and Rossville are still small villages in this area, but Hanktown and Marshall Town are basically gone. Some of the Randolph slave descendants still live in this area and are quite proud of their heritage.  There is a museum in Rossville operated by the Gillmore family.”

The Troy Historical Society’s Web site features a speech by a gentleman named Gale Honeyman, which says that residents left Hanktown for Troy and other towns due to ‘limited opportunity.’ The link to that speech is:
http://www.tdn-net.com/genealogy/randolphs/hanktown_community.htm

Deeter adds that descendants of the Randolph slaves include a former Troy resident, the late Vernon Vaughn, whose manuscript about Troy’s Black history and the UGRR in Miami County specifies “383 persons” from the Randolph plantation (page 23) and details the UGRR in dates, names, places, and more. Mr. Vaughn is survived by his daughter, Margaret Vaughn, and son Thomas, who played pro football for the NFL.

The First Presbyterian Church of Troy is starting to continue its investigative work. Tony Thomas says, “With Pastor Culp’s continued support and ongoing excitement from members of the congregation, we hope to further explore the tunnel system and find more evidence to tell us about our place in Ohio’s history on the Underground Railroad.”

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Story by Vickie L. Weaver of Writestyle; Photo by John Johnston Dayton, Ohio Freelance Photographer

WW1 Dawn Patrol

WWI DAWN PATROL RENDEZVOUS

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO — Overcast skies and occasional showers couldn’t dampen the spirits of the public, the pilots and a knowledgeable announcer at the seventh biannual WWI Dawn Patrol Rendezvous, September 25-27, 2009.  The free, weekend event, probably named after the 1938 film, “The Dawn Patrol,” was held at Wright Field adjacent to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It featured operational and static, model and line-controlled aircraft, each an exact replica of its WWI original.

Most of the operational planes, labeled “experimental” after being tested and certified by the FAA, were built by their pilot-owners from 80-percent “stand-off” scale to full scale, maxing out at 1,250 pounds.  The licensed pilots had spent anywhere from 100 hours over a few years to 5,000 hours or 15 years to build their planes, and had either trailered or flown them to the Base from all over the U.S. A highlight of Friday afternoon’s festivities was the arrival, to much anticipation and excitement, of two full-scale planes that were flown from Colorado’s Vintage Aero Flying Museum: a black-and-yellow Fokker E-8 and an all-red Fokker Dr.-1 Triplane (like the infamous Red Baron’s), each bearing two machine guns.

Germany was represented by the Fokker series of planes, which is pronounced “Fahkuh,” according to Fred Murrin (Greenville, PA), a pilot/re-enactor who flies the Triplane. President of the Great War Aeroplanes Association, Murrin helped to start the Dawn Patrol event in 1995. Also on hand were the Fokker D-7, D-8, and Eindecker E-3. Some experts say that the D-7 and the French-made SPAD, which also was flown by the USA’s leading ace, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, were the most survivable of all WWI planes.  Dale “Butch” Whitlock (Chicago Heights, IL), says the D-7 was “the last fighter that the Germans produced. Its pilots often attacked the enemy from below. It was so deadly that all models had to be turned over to the Allies as a condition of the Versailles Treaty.” Accordingly, his red-and-blue D-7 bears the skull and crossbones on its sides and working machine guns above the engine.

France, Britain, the U.S. (“The Big Three”), and Belgium were represented mainly by the Nieuport series of N-11 to N-28, including those belonging to Dick Starks and Tom Glaeser, friends since high school in the Parkville, MO area. Glaeser flies a 1915 N-11 replica LaFayette. He proudly spoke of U.S. pilots who flew for France and Belgium before the USA officially entered the War, retaining their U.S. citizenship. Starks’ 1916 N-11 “Bebe” replicates the LaFayette Escadrille, which he says was “the first in combat vs. the Fokker E-3.” His wife, Sharon, the only female pilot on hand, flies a Morane-L to represent the 1915 Royal Flying Corps and owns a replica (80% scale) of the 1915 de Havilland DH-2 British Hawker RFC, which was in a 45-minute dogfight (the longest in history) vs. the Red Baron from 3,000 feet down to the treetops, where the British pilot crashed and died.

Sharon explained, “WWI aircraft were called ‘flaming coffins’ because they caught on fire so easily. German pilots used parachutes, but most French, British, and U.S. pilots didn’t. In fact, with the gas tank right in front of them, pilots even carried handguns so that they could shoot themselves rather than burn to death.”

Some pilots/re-enactors, including Butch Whitlock and Marvin Story, proudly sported full WWI period attire. Marvin Story has a 7/8-scale Seimens-Schuckert D-1 in dark green and orange, “the same Seimens company that today builds electronics.”  Whitlock and Story agree that the 1938 film’s portrayal of a WWI pilot’s life was accurate, especially regarding the job, living arrangements and attrition of friends.

Butch Whitlock asserted, “These planes seem fragile by today’s standards, but at that time they were state-of-the-art. Pilots were up there in subzero temperatures, sometimes with whale oil on their faces to prevent skin damage.  All were volunteers drawn by the thrill of danger and the honor of fighting for their respective countries. The extended, cut-out aileron is what made average pilots into great pilots. They flew up to 17,000 feet without oxygen, whereas today the FAA dictates a maximum of 10,000 feet without oxygen. The average lifespan of a fighter pilot was only 17 days.”  He nodded.  “Think about it. What they did was incredible.”

Marvin Story (Kansas City, KS) added, “Enlisted personnel resented pilots’ cushy lifestyle. I once told such a resentful re-enactor that the era’s enlisted got to hide behind rocks and trees while pilots had only their silk scarves.”

When asked what they would want WWI pilots to tell them today, Whitlock replied that little is known about their tactics. Dan Murray, who’d just landed the Fokker Triplane from Colorado,  quipped, “Drive a truck instead.” He also has a 1928 Travelair that, “compared to this, flies like a Cadillac.”

Then, when asked what they would want to go back in time to tell WWI pilots, Murray chuckled, “Good luck” and a passerby declared, “When in doubt, nose down!” Whitlock kept it serious, saying, “You have my sheer admiration and respect for enduring weather, jamming machine guns, the attrition of friends, and so much more.”

For many of the approximate 5,000 attendees, including Boy Scout and ROTC groups, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear the 50-horsepower 1909 Gnome Omega, the first air-cooled engine, which supposedly was used in the Farman Boxkite airplane. Guests also got to witness frequent flybys and a flour-bomb drop, learn about the center of gravity and torque (the rotational force) prevalent to WWI planes, fly a plane in a flight simulator, watch “The Blue Max” and other flight films, see period vehicles, learn about the “Four MAIN Causes of WWI” and medical care then available to military personnel, and purchase related items from vendors.

Until the WWI Dawn Patrol Rendezvous returns in 2011 as one of the nation’s premier historical aviation events, interested individuals can order kits containing modern engines that have a special system using oil in vapor form to make smoke or can equip their planes with flour-bomb systems. Whitlock, who makes a living as a nurse, said, “I spent about $20,000 on my plane. This fascinating hobby is well within reach of the average person.”

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Story by Vickie Weaver of Writestyle and photos by John Johnston, Freelance Photographer--both in Dayton, Ohio.

The Iron Age of Ohio

Hidden within the hills of southeastern Ohio is the reconstructed Buckeye charcoal iron furnace.

This is just one of the sixty-eight such furnaces that dotted the land in what was the Hanging Rock Iron Region. Iron production began there in 1852 and ceased in 1894. Today, Buckeye Furnace, located outside Wellston, Ohio, is one of only a few reconstructed furnace operations in the United States.

Operated By Friends – The stone stack was all that remained on the land donated in the 1930’s by the Frank Morrow family of nearby Wellston.  It is owned by the Ohio Historical Society and now operated by the Friends of Buckeye Furnace, a sister organization to the Jackson Historical Society.  The furnace was reconstructed in the early 1970’s as a memorial to the charcoal iron industry once centered in southeastern Ohio.

Your visit to Buckeye Furnace begins with a stop at the company store, stocked with antiques. As you look around, you will have the opportunity the view the film “The Early Iron Industry of Ohio” that talks about this romantic chapter of Ohio history.

The important part of your visit comes when you walk the grounds and inspect the furnace and structures that were typical of an iron making operation in the mid nineteenth century. Along the tour are numerous stanchions with colorful placards that explain not only the various operations, but also about the life at the furnace itself. Visit Buckeye Furnace for an experience into the industrial past of southern Ohio.

For more information please visit
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/se02/

Story Credit  Friends of Buckeye Furnace and The Ohio Historical Society

Photos copyright by John Johnston Dayton, Ohio

Ohio’s Oldest Gravesites

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park contains five major earthworks and about a dozen other archeological sites. Three of the five earthwork sites within the park are open to the public with interpretive paths and nature trails. The visitor center features exhibits about Hopewell culture, an award-winning video, and many of the artifacts found throughout the park, including exquisite effigy pipes. The park also offers educational programs with cultural and archeological themes.

The present Hopewell Culture National Historical Park evolved in part from the former Mound City Group National Monument. The national monument was established by a proclamation signed by President Warren G. Harding in 1923 to preserve prehistoric mounds of “great historic and scientific interest.” In 1980 Congress expanded the monument by adding a portion of the nearby Hopeton Earthworks and authorized the investigation of other regional archeological sites to determine their suitability for preservation. The National Park Service recommended four additional sites. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park was thus established in 1992 by a law that renamed Mound City Group National Monument, expanding boundaries at Hopeton Earthworks, and included High Bank Works, Hopewell Mound Group, and Seip Earthworks.

The park protects the prehistoric remains of a dynamic social and ceremonial phenomenon that flourished in the woodlands of eastern North America between 200 B.C. and A.D. 500. The term Hopewell describes a broad network of economic, political, and spiritual beliefs and practices among different Native American groups. The culture is characterized by the construction of enclosures made of earthen walls, often built in geometric patterns and mounds of various shapes. The culture is known for a network of contacts with other groups, which stretched from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains. This network brought materials such as mica, shark’s teeth, obsidian, copper, and shells to Ohio.

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
16062 State Route 104
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601

Visitor Information
(740) 774-1126

Story source Geoff Mangum

Photo copyright John Johnston Dayton, Ohio

Kayaking The New River

Every third week of September both advanced amateurs and pros rev up for what is one of the east coast most celebrated kayaking and rafting races. The Animal as it is called, takes place in Hico, West Virginia, and begins this year on September 21. I was privileged enough  to photograph this race at a spot called “The Pillows”, which to me was the best place in the whole race and the action couldn’t be any better.

Competitors range from World Champion Rodeo Boaters to US Wildwater Team members, river professionals on raft teams, as well as amateur recreational boaters. Over the years the race has been a huge success, with more than 100 competitors annually coming from all over the continental United States, Canada, Japan and Europe.

Recommendations for overnight stays

Quality Inn New River Gorge in Fayetteville, WV  1-304-574-3443
http://www.qualityinnnewrivergorge.com

Ace Adventure Resort 1-800-787-3982
http://www.aceraft.com/rustic-lodging-and-camping.html
You can go from tents sites that are constructed for you before your arrival to luxury lodging . I’ll cover this destination more in the future.

Photos and content copyright John Johnston Dayton, Ohio

www.johnstonphotos.org

Archaeologists unearth remains of British Fort

Archaeologically students and teachers from Hocking College along with a handful  of volunteers  and site manager Andy Hite are unearthing the remains of a British Fort once believed to be located in the area of  Piqua, Ohio once known as Fort Pickawillnay.

Copyright Photo by John E Johnston Dayton, Ohio www.johnstonphotos.org

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Cleveland Ohio

“Cleveland Rocks”, the song by Ian Hunter recorded on his album in 1979, You’re Never Alone With A Schizophrenic, got its relaunch with The Drew Carey Show. Cleveland has suffered a lot with its high unemployment rate in the past years with most of the industrial companies moving overseas and into other states, but still has plenty to offer, including The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With the history of Rock, Jazz, and Soul, just name a few within its walls, this is not a place to miss when your in Ohio.

Copyright Photo by John E Johnston Dayton, Ohio www.johnstonphotos.org

Columbus Ohio Polo

This was my first time attending a polo match, and a great education in the sport.More information can be found on their website at http://www.columbuspolo.com/Club_History.html. These are a great group of people and will take the time to talk with you about the sport.

Copyright Photo by John E Johnston Dayton, Ohio www.johnstonphotos.org

Hocking Hills State Park Ohio

The vast 2,000 acre area known as The Hocking Hills Region is located in Logan, Ohio. This hiking, rock climbing, and natural area among many things, is without a doubt, the area to pack your lunch. If you take one of the many hiking trails that exist throughout this park region, first of all wear good hiking shoes, and depending on the time of year, you can encounter beautiful waterfalls, and a large variety of wildlife.

Copyright photo by John E. Johnston Dayton, Ohio

www.johnstonphotos.org

The Johnston Farm Piqua Ohio

The Johnston Farm is located just outside Piqua, Ohio and was owned by Col. John Johnston- farmer, politician, and US Indian Agent.This 200 acre site and park has been preserved with its original structures, and is operated mostly by a volunteer staff throughout the year. Visitors to the park can see furnished original structures, Costumed interpreters and craft demonstrations. Also on site is one of the largest and oldest log barns of its type in Ohio, and a round earthen mound built by The Adena culture over 2,000 years ago. You can also enjoy a ride on The General Harrison, a 70 ft. canal boat towed by a mule team.

Copyright photo by John E Johnston Dayton, Ohio

www.johnstonphotos.org