Many
teachers take their classes to UGRR sites for field trips, but
there is no long bus ride for Valerie Cornelius’ class.
They only had a short walk because their school is right across
the street from Ashtabula’s famous Hubbard House. When we
visited today the students were well prepared. A large “Welcome
Joan Southgate” was written across the board as heading
to a long list of questions about my walk and about the Underground
Railroad. Terry and I had a great time with two students’
sessions. Perhaps Miss Cornelius will be able to arrange a visit
to a couple of nearby historic sites in the area. Lake County’s
Unionville Tavern and the Joseph Giddings Law office museum in
Jefferson, right here in Ashtabula County, are a short bus
ride away or maybe the class would want to plan
a long walk? Unionville Tavern has the opening of a tunnel that
was hiding space for those who made it that far toward freedom.
I got chills standing in the opening and I feel stunned in remembering
that feeling each time I recall how much that space affected me.
How did those people have the strength and courage to survive
the terror? Being chased like criminals, hunted like animals.
Even the children had to be brave!
