The Friends of Freedom Society 
Ohio Underground Railroad Association

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Community markers

Our goal is to erect markers throughout Ohio to educate about and commemorate the rich history of the Underground Railroad movement in Ohio.

As part of our marker program, the Friends of Freedom Society, Inc (FOFS) has developed a basic design to be shared by all community markers.  The markers will be produced by Sewah Studios, Inc., located in Marietta Ohio. Please click on one of these links to quickly position to your area of interest:

bulletKey benefits
bulletSponsoring markers
bulletExample markers
bulletMarker details (including size and cost)
bulletSite Flags

In addition to the standing markers, the Friends of Freedom Society also sponsors Underground  Railroad Marker Flags.  We hope that eventually every known underground railroad site in Ohio will have a flag.  For more information about the marker flags, please see our press release.

Click here to view photos and other information from the Ohio Underground Railroad Association Markers Exhibit at the Ohio State Fair in August of 2004.   For more information about community markers, please contact us.   

Key benefits

bulletCommemorate local history
bulletDedication ceremony to raise awareness of local history
bulletOpportunity for ongoing dialog about civil rights in America
bulletConsistent markers throughout the state

Sponsoring markers

Even though the Friends of Freedom Society, Inc. is not able to fund these markers, it is our hope that groups such as local historical societies, service organizations or private foundations will provide the necessary funds to erect markers at Underground Railroad sites in local communities.  Private homeowners may be interested in placing a special order for a smaller version in a plaque form that can be affixed to the dwelling. 

Once an order is placed, it will take approximately 3 months for the marker and post to be shipped to you.  We encourage communities to have an official dedication ceremony to unveil the marker, and the FOFS will be happy to participate.

Example markers

Communities throughout Ohio now have markers in place including Springboro, Hudson, Gallipolis, Westerville, Chillicothe, Bloomingburg, Mount Pleasant and Zanesville.  The East Region is home to markers about Kent, Randolph and Jacob Gaskins.

Springboro, Ohio

Springboro Marker

In commemoration of their extraordinary history, the City of Springboro erected the very first Ohio Underground Railroad Historic Marker.  The dedication was held on October 17, 1999 as part of the 4th Annual Ohio Underground Railroad Summit. 

 A predominantly Quaker community in its early days, Springboro served as a hospitable thoroughfare for many runaway slaves on their way north to freedom.   Between 1815 and 1864, Springboro was host to numerous safe-houses and many agents and conductors operating with the village and the surrounding township.  Two factors contributed to Springboro's role as a pathway to the Underground Railroad.  One was the antislavery sympathies of its residents.  Secondly, situation between the Great and Little Miami Rivers and just two nights run north of the Ohio River, Springboro was in the middle of two corridors of flight.  Enriching the antislavery sentiments of the local community was Achilles Pugh, who for years published a famous national abolitionist paper, "The Philanthropist."  In Springboro, despite constant scrutiny and harassment from bounty hunts and law officers, no runaways were ever captured or returned while under the protection of the Springboro area.

The Kelton House

KeltonMarker.jpg (66009 bytes)

 The Kelton House, built in 1852, is a premier Underground Railroad site in downtown Columbus, Ohio.  This beautifully restored home, now operating as a museum, dedicated its Ohio Underground Railroad Historic marker on November 7, 1999.  The marker was purchased by the Junior League of Columbus.  Click here to see the full text of the marker and additional pictures.

Marker details

Marker format

bulletDouble sided, free standing, post mounted
- same both sides
- different each side
bulletSingle sided, wall mounted

All markers have black backgrounds with gold letters.

Marker size

Marker type Size Usable Letter Space
Wall Mount 36" H x 40" W 23" H x 38" W
Pole mount with bracket and pole 72" H x 40" W 23" H x 38" W

The pole that holds the marker is reinforced concrete with formed aluminum skin. This aluminum skin has a silver appearance. The pole is 7 feet in length with 3 feet being set into the ground. The bottom of the marker begins 4 feet above the ground making the total marker height 7 feet.

Letter size

Please note that spaces per line includes blank spaces as well as letters or numbers.

Text Size Lines of text Spaces per line
1 1/2" 11 33
1" 15 43
5/8" 20 65

Marker costs

Please note that prices are subject to change at any time.  These prices were current in the summer of 1999. 

Description Text size 2-color enamel Gold leaf highlight
Single sided, wall mount 1 1/2" $940 $1,050
  1" $965 $1,075
  5/8" $1,080 $1,190
Double sided, free standing,
post mounted, same both sides		 1 1/2" $1,115 $1,230
  1" $1,140 $1,250
  5/8" $1,255 $1,365
Double sided, free standing,
post mounted, different each side		 1 1/2" $1,250 $1,360
  1" $1,295 $1,405
  5/8" $1,430 $1,540

For more information, please contact us.

SM = Service Mark of the Friends of Freedom Society, Inc.
Copyright © 2007 Friends of Freedom Society, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.