The Kelton House
Museum and Garden

About the Kelton House

The Kelton House was built in 1852 and remained in the Kelton family for three generations.   When Grace Kelton died in 1975, her will entrusted the property to the Columbus Foundation with the stipulation that her family home be preserved and used for educational purposes. In 1976 the Junior League of Columbus took on the task of renovating and restoring the house and garden to create a museum of 19th-century life. Today the Kelton House offers an ongoing program of house tours, special events and educational opportunities. An active volunteer program provides a training ground for individuals interested in historic preservation, the decorative arts, American history and museum management.

The Kelton House is proud of its Underground Railroad History and was the first house in Ohio to be marked with an Ohio Underground Railroad Marker in November 1999. 

An Underground Railroad Story

Note:  this text is from the Kelton House marker. 

When Fernando Cortez and Sophia Stone Kelton built this house in 1852, it was the last residence on East Town Street and was surrounded by pastureland. Ardent abolitionists, the Keltons were members of the local antislavery society. Family tradition states that runaways were hidden in the barn at the back of the house, in the 300-barrel cistern just east of the house, or sometimes in the servants' quarters. No one knows for certain how many fugitive slaves passed through this house on his or her way to freedom.

One documented story is that of a 10-year old runaway named Martha Hartway. Born a slave in September 1854 on a plantation near Richmond in Powhattan County, Virginia, Martha, along with her sister Pearl, fled the plantation. They left at their mother's urging when she was told the girls would be sent to work at the Big House. Kelton family tradition states that Sophia found the girls under a shrub next to the house. Too ill to move, Martha was taken in by the Keltons and remained for ten years. Pearl continued north to Wisconsin because she felt Ohio wasn't safe. In 1874, Martha married Thomas Lawrence in the front parlor of this house. The son of free-black parents, Thomas was employed by the Keltons as a cabinet-maker. The Lawrence family named their children after Martha's Kelton family playmates.  The Kelton House was restored and is maintained by the Junior League of Columbus, Inc. 

Underground Railroad Marker

The Kelton House Underground Railroad Marker, honoring the Kelton House Museum as a stop on the Underground Railroad, was dedicated on Sunday November 7, 1999.  Jerry Revish of WBNS 10 TV was Master of Ceremony for this event co-sponsored by the Friends of Freedom Society and the Kelton House Museum & Garden.

The Underground Railroad Learning Center

On February 23, 2002 the Kelton House gave a free sneak preview of the new Underground Railroad Learning Center.

In 1864, Martha Hartway and her sister Pearl escaped slavery in Virginia and made their way to Columbus on the Underground Railroad. Their intent was to continue north to Canada and FREEDOM. Sophia Kelton found the girls hiding in the shrubbery around the Kelton home and took them in. But, Martha's illness kept her from continuing north with her sister. Instead, Martha found a safe refuge and home with Fernando and Sophia Kelton and their children. 

Learn about Martha's journey through a "living history" theatrical event being developed at the Kelton House Museum & Garden. Students from Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School will take on the roles of Martha, Pearl, and the Kelton children in a performance developed to help today's children understand the fearsome challenges faced by fugitive slaves and their protectors. 

 UNDERGROUND RAILROAD COMMITTEE 

Sandy Andromeda, Erin Bates, Leslie Blankenship, Rudine Sims Bishop, Gwendolyn Cartledge, Melissa Carpenter, Todd Adam Decker, Kathy Espy, Lori Ann Feibel, Rosanna Penn Fields, Marie Saunders Hope, Rubye Kyles, Greg Jones, Susan Jones, Virginia Kistler, James Lawrence, Brian Maloney, Kay Mason, Amanda Nelson, Cathy Nelson, Mary Oellermann, Mary Austin-Palmer, Georgeanne Reuter, Don Ross, Susan Roy, Doreen Uhas-Sauer, Cameo Stewart, Laura Stillman, Clover Ward, Carline Weddington, Stephanie Workman 

This Project is Supported By 

Columbus Links, Inc./Twin Rivers Links, Inc./Junior League of Columbus
 Nordstrom/Harry C. Moores Foundation/Boss Display 

Kelton House Museum & Garden 
586 E. Town Street - Columbus, Ohio 43215 
A Service of the Junior League of Columbus

For More Information
contact Don Ross, Educational Coordinator at
614-464-2022, fax 614-464-3346, keltonhouse@cs.com

Visiting the Kelton House

The Kelton House is open to the public.  Tours are provided by knowledgeable docents dressed in 1860's garb.   Please visit the Kelton House web site for additional information including hours and admission fees.

SM = Service Mark of the Friends of Freedom Society, Inc.
Copyright © 2006 Friends of Freedom Society, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.