Introduction to Freedom Quest: Ohio (20:19) In this segment, Joan Southgate is introduced and her story is told. Also contained in this segment are portions of the distance learning program in which Joan answers questions relating to her experience during this journey and an interview with Rev. John Thomas, President of the United Church of Christ.
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Locations Visited:

Hale Farm and Village Bath, Ohio (13:52) In this segment, the team visits Hale Farm and Village in Bath, Ohio where three students find themselves in the shoes of nineteenth century freedom seekers.

Maysville, Kentucky (01:55) In this segment, Jerry Gore, an Underground Railroad historian, explains the importance of the Ohio River to freedom seekers using the Underground Railroad.

Ripley, Ohio (10:01) In this segment , the team visits with Betty Campbell of the Parker Historical Society who tells the story of the the Abolitionists John Parker and the Rev. John Rankin. Joan and the team then visit the Rankin House where Ann Hagedorn (Author of "Beyond the River") discusses the importance of Ripley, Ohio to the Anti-Slavery Movement and the Underground Railroad. Jerry Gore then joins the team at the Rankin House to share his collection of unique artifacts.

Cincinnati, Ohio (04:04) In this segment, the team travels to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe House where David Spence relates the story of the famous author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and the African American experience throughout history.

New Richmond, Ohio (07:41) In this segment, the team visits with Gary Nepp who describes the importance of New Richmond and Clairmount County to the Underground Railroad and the Anti-Slavery Movement as well as the legal status of slavery in the United States and Ohio.

Springboro, Ohio (05:57) In this segment, Joan and the team visit the Jonathan Wright House in Springboro, Ohio. Cindy Bunch and Joan Southgate relate the history of this Quaker town of Springboro which was specifically set up to help freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad.

Xenia/Wilberforce, Ohio (05:18) In this segment, the team travels to Xenia and Wilberforce, Ohio to visit the National Afro-American Museum. Velina Randolf discusses the area and its importance to the Underground Railroad movement and African American history.

Yellow Springs, Ohio (01:59) In this segment, the team visits with Esther Williams (Board Member of the Afro-American Museum) in Yellow Springs, Ohio who relates the history of the area as it relates to the Underground Railroad movement.

Dayton, Ohio (02:17) In this segment, Joan visits with Lavern Sci at the historic Paul Lawrence Dunbar House State Memorial in Dayton, Ohio.

Columbus, Ohio (10:52) In this segment, the team visits Donald Ross at the Kelton House in Columbus,Ohio. A portion of the video conference from the Ohio School of the Deaf in which Joan Southgate relates the story of two young freedom seekers who sought refuge with the Kelton family is also highlighted.

Mt. Vernon, Ohio (07:43) In this segment, Joan visits with Rev. Keith Stewart of the First Congregational United Church of Christ who describes the importance of the church to the Underground Railroad and the Anti-Slavery Movement to Mt. Vernon. Joan also visits the Bonsell-Baxter Homestead, an Underground Railroad safehouse where Charlie Bonsell, a decendant of the Bonsell family, gives a tour of the home.

Fredricktown, Ohio (08:18) In this segment, Joan Southgate visits Fredericktown Primary school in Fredericktown, Ohio during which the mayor of Mt.Vernon, Richard Mavis, discusses Joan's first visit and the importance of the Underground Railroad movement to Mt. Vernon. The team then visits with author and Professor of Sociology at Kenyon College, Howard Sacks, and Patrick Crow (Woodward Opera House Restoration Project) who tell the story of the Snowden Brothers, Dan Emmitt, and the song "Dixie".

Massillon, Ohio (04:49) In this segment, the team visits the Spring Hill Historic Home in Massillon, Ohio. Laura Klein discusses the importance of the Quakers and the Roach family to the Underground Railroad movement in Massillon.

Oberlin, Ohio (12:58) In this segment, Prue Richards from the Oberlin Heritage Center, takes the team on a tour of the historic sites of Oberlin, Ohio and describes their importance to the Anti-Slavery Movement and the Underground Railroad. A portion of the video conference at Langston Middle School during which Phillis Yarber Hogan talks about African-American Geneology and the importance of "Juneteenth" is also highlighted.

Unionville, Ohio (10:56) In this segment, the team visits the Unionville Tavern where guide Nate Rockwell explores the hiding places and secret passageways and relates the tavern's importance to the Underground Railroad Movement in Northeastern Ohio.

Ashtabula, Ohio (02:12) In this segment, the team visits the Hubbard House (Underground Railroad Museum). Lou Buck and Daisy Baskerville give a tour of the house and talk about the importance of the Hubbard family and Ashtabula to the story of the Underground Railroad movement in Ohio.

Jefferson, Ohio (06:20) In this segment, the team visits Jefferson Area High School where guests Hunter Morrison of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University and Fran Stewart (co-author of Joan Southgate's book "In Their Path") discuss the importance of the Underground Railroad movement in the Cleveland area and Northeastern Ohio.
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Q: If Joan had been a slave, would she have tried to escape to freedom?
Video Answer

Q: Have there been other re-enactors who have walked the path of the Underground
Railroad Movement? Video Answer

Q: Why was Ohio so important to the Underground Railroad Movement? Video Answer

Q: How many slaves tried to escape per week? Video Answer

Q: Which paths were taken by the freedom seekers through Ohio? Video Answer

Q: Where did the Underground Railroad start and where did it end? Video Answer

Q: How long did it take a freedom seeker to reach Canada? Video Answer

Q: Is it true that freedom seekers used songs to help them along the way? Video Answer

Q: What was the most common type of safe house used on the Underground
Railroad? Video Answer

Q: How did the freedom seekers know which houses were safe houses? Video Answer

Q: Where were the hiding places? Video Answer

Q: How dark were the hiding places? Video Answer

Q: How long would a freedom seeker stay? Video Answer

Q: Why did people help the freedom seekers? Video Answer

Q: What was the ratio of those who helped to those who did not? Video Answer

Q: Did conductors ever charge for their help? Video Answer

Q: What was the penalty for helping a freedom seeker? Video Answer

Q: What would happen to an enslaved person who was caught trying to run away? Video Answer

Q: Which conductor made the largest impact in Northeast Ohio? Video Answer

Q: How did bounty hunters get their jobs? Video Answer

Q: Once caught, how would the bounty hunters return the slaves to their masters? Video Answer

Q: What would happen if a bounty hunter returned with no slaves? Video Answer


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