We met with our students at Hale Farm in Cuyahoga Valley for the the farm’s Underground Railroad experience. The event began around 8:30 PM, and darkness had fallen, which made it all that much more exciting.
“You’re slaves now, on the run, fugitives…”
We were told to keep our eyes down, stay in a a single file line, and head over to the barn for the slave auction. Once there, we filed in, nose to the wall, and awaited our fate!
Turns out, us men were worth a pretty penny, but the “wenches” not so much.
“A bargain price of $12,000 for the lot!”
Once shackled and led out of the barn, our new master had a change of heart, and let us go free, towards Ohio. We quietly crossed the river, then found shelter for the night with a baptist minister, where we received instructions on how to continue towards Hope (Cleveland), and eventually Heaven (Canada).
“Are you a friend of a friend?”
On our journey went. A few nice ladies sheltered us in the barn, and we barely escaped detection by the slave catchers and the constables. We hid deep in the animal pens, and their footsteps above shook loose dirt and grime, which fell on our heads.
“What? I think I heard something! Where’s my shackles?”
On the run now, for the slave catchers, we’re told, have no boundaries, and will send us back down south. We take refuge in a church, where two ministers provide us momentary safety, a bite to eat, and advice on “free papers”. Tell ‘em this, it might save you:
“We are the freed slaves, from John Updike, of Covington, Kentucky.”
The coast is clear, and next we seek shelter with the ladies of a house, whose father is not to know. We hide in the dampest of basements, and feel safe, if only for a moment. The owner of the house comes searching for his daughters, finds us, and all hell breaks loose!
“I will not have these negroes under my house, nor abolitionists! Get out!
As we run away, scared, the father comes out on the porch, rifle in hand, and fires of a salvo! We take off running, get scattered, but finally make it to a small house, where we hear the story of a freed slave who is leaving for Canada. But wait! He’s left his papers behind… And just then, as we’re all cramped in the waiting room, the slave catchers bang on the door! Commotion, fear! We’ve been found out! We file outside, heads down, visions of Canada fleeting.
“Who are ya? Ya’ll got papers? You do! Well, these here papers ain’t no good to me!”
He tells us we need to move across the road, single file again, to his partner, who will shackle us once more. Freedoms lost, our prayers forgotten, and marching towards certain lashing, we walk solemnly.
“We didn’t make it! Now what?”
Our last stop, and our journey is over. We sit by the fire, relax, debrief, and decompress. Wow! What a trip! What an experience! We didn’t “make it”, but only 3 out every 100 fugitive slaves did on the Underground Railroad. We head back towards the main building at Hale Farm, reflecting on what has happened, hoping we can get some sleep tonight, at home, in our free, safe beds.
Students: Please reflect on your journey, and leave your comments below.
