Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2
Post Number: 183 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 5:32 pm: | |
I am a lifelong resident of Detroit but I am ashamedly ignorant of the Underground Railroad activities that took place in Detroit. So, I am interested in any information anyone would like to share on this thread. Of course, I am interested in all the whys and wherefores of the Underground Railroad but I am also interested in any remnants, structures, historical signs or any visible signs of this important part of Detroit’s history. What brought this interest up to me is a conversation I was having with a lifelong friend that lives in Sarnia, Ontario. We were talking hockey and she told me that there were quite a few black hockey players in Chatham, Ontario where some players that went into the NHL were originally from. I thought that was odd given that there are not many black players in the NHL and asked her about it and that was when she told me that there was quite a large community of blacks in Chatham. I asked her why and she stumbled over the fact that there was some kind of railroad where blacks had come from Detroit. I said, “Do you mean the Underground Railroad?” And, she said, “Yes, that’s it the Underground Railroad!” So, that got me thinking about the Underground Railroad. Livedog2 |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3221 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.252.127.221
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 5:42 pm: | |
Take some time to visit 2nd Baptist on Monroe in Greektown and 1st Congregational on Woodward. The statue on the river in Hart Plaza faces another on the Windsor side. The placque in Capital Park commerates Findlay's Barn an important stop. These are just some of the sites if you'ld like to walk on some of the same ground used. |
Deputy_mayor_2026 Member Username: Deputy_mayor_2026
Post Number: 32 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 5:49 pm: | |
I'm sure the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History would have some information on any Detroit participation in the underground rairoad. |
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit
Post Number: 409 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.42.23.2
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 5:53 pm: | |
Here are some links... http://living-library.com/UGR/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_railroad There is a nice statue at Hart Plaza about the UR. There is a matching statue in Windsor that comepletes the voyage. Anyone have pics of the Windsor one? There is a church in Greektown which was a stop, can't think of the name right now. But Chatham does have a decent black population as does areas like New Haven, MI and Mount Clemons, MI based on the UR. Also I think Adrian was a stop as well, can anyone confirm? Here are some pics I shot of the Detroit statue.
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Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit
Post Number: 410 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.42.23.2
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 5:59 pm: | |
Here is another link I found http://www.freedomcenter.org/ |
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn
Post Number: 136 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.88.89.94
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:07 pm: | |
Also believe there's a plaque somewhere near the GAR building commemorating the Underground Railroad. |
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa
Post Number: 330 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 198.103.184.76
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:27 pm: | |
Amherstburg, Ontario was a major port of railroad. Check out this dated press release from the Government of Canada (the backgrounders contain information about sites, settlements, history, etc,): http://www.pch.gc.ca/newsroom/ index_e.cfm?fuseaction=display Document&DocIDCd=8NR156 |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 1308 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 140.244.107.151
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:41 pm: | |
"Detroit and the Underground Railroad" from the Detroit Historical Museum: http://www.detroithistorical.o rg/learningcenter/curriculumma terials/detroitsstory/a5.pdf |
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa
Post Number: 331 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 198.103.184.76
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:44 pm: | |
A photo of the Windsor monument from www.eddwight.com . The Detroit monument has the people looking to Canada for freedom, whereas the Windsor monument is of people celebrating their landing in Canada. There is a better picture at http://www.visitwindsor.com/main.htm . Click "send a postcard" (under the US flag on the right hand side. The monument picture is top row in the middle. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 985 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.129.146.186
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:45 pm: | |
Second Baptist recently expanded the book nook they had into a regular storefront now next to the church - when I last visited the clerk was quite informative and they had a number of interesting titles in stock. Plymouth Historical Society is currently running an exhibit on Underground Railroad Quilts from MOT thanks to the debut of Margaret Garner last year - The Underground Railroad in Michigan and as this map shows you can come across UGRR sites almost anywhere in southern Michigan It's also interesting to note that it wasn't a one way flow across the river. Just as US slaves fled to freedom in Canada, Canadian slaves came to the US for the same reason. |
Goat Member Username: Goat
Post Number: 8374 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.71.56.144
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 6:58 pm: | |
Don't forget this important stop. Only about 15 minutes outside of Windsor. http://www.undergroundrailroad museum.com/ |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3222 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.252.127.221
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 7:08 pm: | |
quote:It's also interesting to note that it wasn't a one way flow across the river. Just as US slaves fled to freedom in Canada, Canadian slaves came to the US for the same reason.
Lilpup, that one throws me,if you can supply some documentation, I'd be happy to look at it. Upper Canada (Ontario) outlawed slavery in 1793. Through court verdicts, Canada essentialy abolished slavery throughout the other provinces. In 1834 Great Britain abolished slavery throughout the Empire. |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3223 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.252.127.221
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 7:13 pm: | |
Goat, Maybe you can shed a little light on Lilpup's statement? My memory of Canadian history is not as fresh as it used to be. |
Rustic Member Username: Rustic
Post Number: 2390 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.234.183.131
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 8:57 pm: | |
Yay illegal immigration! |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 986 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 10:09 pm: | |
the flight from Canada occured earlier than the flight from the American south but the river served the same purpose both times Ontario's and Michigan's paths to abolition are somewhat similar. Although Upper Canada outlawed slavery in 1793 those already in servitude were not emancipated. In Michigan the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 prohibited slavery but this was not strictly enforced. Those already in servitude in Michigan were not emancipated until the adoption of Michigan's constitution in 1837. An interesting online overview (with references) is here see also "The Blacks in Canada" by Robin Winks |
Bvos Member Username: Bvos
Post Number: 1417 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.228.2.1
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 10:21 pm: | |
New Haven was a stop as folks taking the Port Huron route took a short cut to Lake St. Clair. Mt. Clemens, the county seat of Macomb Co. which was named after a Detroit resident and slave holder, was also a stop on the underground railroad, but neither have the extensive history or documentation that those listed in maps above do. Black folks mainly stayed in the above communities because there was heavy industry that black folks could work at jobs that most white folks didn't want (sound familiar?). Adrian was indeed a stop on the Underground Railroad as well. There is a strong history of religious institutions (Methodist, Quaker, Catholic, etc.) who sheltered fugutive slaves in that community. I think celebrating that history would really help a community and downtown that isn't doing so well. |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3230 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.252.127.221
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 10:35 pm: | |
Thank you Lilpup for that link, It's an aspect of history of the area I was unaware. I'll spend some time reading it over and adding it to my store of information. I hope you were not offended by my increduality, it was just nothing I had ever come across in my studies. I knew there were slaves in the area, just not the numbers of your documentation. Thanks again for the info you provded. |
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit
Post Number: 414 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190
| Posted on Monday, May 01, 2006 - 10:58 pm: | |
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~l1 tellis/index.html Doing a little research of my own, I found out the Masonic lodge (St. Mary's #4 PHA F&AM) I joined while living in Ann Arbor was housed in a church which was a stop on the Railroad, Bethel AME. I am sure my lodge was an intergal part in moving them towards Detroit along the way. It was also interesting that an AME church was a stop, Richard Allen, the father of the AME church was a Prince Hall Mason as well, talk about network. I knew my lodge played a part in history in Ann Arbor as it was founded in 1867, but I didn't know to what extint. It's so amazing this was done so long ago with just bravery and tenacity for a "better life". Sometimes you have to study your own people to get a better idea and appreciation about yourself. |
Rasputin Member Username: Rasputin
Post Number: 3609 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 11:02 am: | |
Are you really "on the square", Vision...? Black-atcha ..... |
1953 Member Username: 1953
Post Number: 792 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 11:29 am: | |
I've always found Michigan's role in the underground railroad to be exaggerated by Michiganders. As a free and border state, Michigan naturally played a role in the movement, but there are other routes from slavery than through southeast Michigan. Especially before I-75. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 989 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.129.146.186
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 12:00 pm: | |
"I've always found Michigan's role in the underground railroad to be exaggerated by Michiganders." In what manner exaggerated? |
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit
Post Number: 416 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 4:00 pm: | |
Rasputin... Hit me up kevin at urbansourcedetroit dot com |
1953 Member Username: 1953
Post Number: 793 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 4:05 pm: | |
Exaggerated, as in, they think Michigan played some kind of huge, important role. |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3240 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.125.242
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 5:03 pm: | |
1953, Take some time to learn history. Michigan, and Detroit, in particular, were very important to the Underground Railway and the Anti-slavery movement of the time. Not the only one, but a very important one. |
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit
Post Number: 417 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 5:31 pm: | |
1953, I don't think it was a HUGE role but very important as Jams said. I think that basically with Michigan and Detroit being something like a "finish line" to Canada and into SE Mich, it's quite notable. A system of transporting and hiding slaves in a "free" state still had it's challenges and dangers. I am sure there were some economical indicators that these people moving around were slaves and there were some people in Michigan who would have chomped at the bit to get them sent back down south or to other enslaved states or even arrested. Michigan may have been "free" but the dangers remained the people involved in the transport risked a lot and did a lot to house and aid the slaves moving onward. I might be rambling on, but the role of Michigan in the Underground Railroad can't be downplayed. |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3242 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.212.125.242
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 6:00 pm: | |
Not a huge role?
quote: May - In a two-day period, 800 -- 1,000 refugees from slavery pass through Michigan on the Michigan Central Railroad, to Detroit and on to Windsor after the Harris family, refugees living in Chicago, are returned to slavery in Missouri.
http://www.daahp.wayne.edu/185 0_1899.html Detroit should take great pride in its role as the terminus of the Underground Railroad, thousands of former slaves came through here to proclaim their freedom across that river. Again, I say, learn your history. |
Gargoyle Member Username: Gargoyle
Post Number: 1 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 155.139.40.51
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 6:15 pm: | |
The Octagon House on old Van Dyke north of 26 Mile road was also a stop. If you visit you can see the small room in the basement where people hid. |
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit
Post Number: 418 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.176.190
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 6:18 pm: | |
that's a great site Jams |
Goat Member Username: Goat
Post Number: 8388 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.71.56.144
| Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 8:02 pm: | |
Don't forget that bounty hunters roamed freely in Michigan and even into Canada looking for fugitive slaves to bring back to their slave owners. Michigan and Ontario were very important areas for slvaes trying to find freedom. |