Preservation

The Friends of Freedom Society
Ohio Underground Railroad Association

September 3, 1999

TO: ALL FOFS REGIONAL COORDINATORS

Ohio Historic Underground Railroad Site Preservation Funding Needed

FACT SHEET

The Underground Railroad movement was a story of individual sacrifice and heroism by common people to resist and protest the cruelty of slavery in America. A diverse group of people (blacks, whites, and Native Americans) acted together toward a common goal - - the pursuit of freedom on behalf of an oppressed race of people. Today, the Underground Railroad movement once again unites a diverse group of people in researching and identifying Underground Railroad sites in their communities: creating awareness about the role that individuals played in changing the course of history; and in keeping alive this important American story.

The Friends of Freedom Society/Ohio Underground Railroad Association is a grassroots, all volunteer non-profit organization, whose sole purpose is to research, identify, document and preserve Underground Railroad sites throughout the state. Through its effective network of regional coordinators and county agents, there are now numerous Underground Railroad projects underway in every corner of the state.

The Friends of Freedom Society has:

	been awarded designation as one of 16 National Millennium Trails;
	been credited as being a "model" in UGRR preservation and awareness in the country;
	is hosting the 4th Annual Ohio UGRR Summit attended by people across the country;
	developed a new Ohio UGRR Historic Marker program;
	is creating a new Ohio UGRR Guidebook of 100 Historic Sites
	created a database consisting of over 600 UGRR sites in Ohio;
	is working with the City of Cols. & Ohio State Historic Preservation Office to develop a statewide K-12 curriculum to teach about the UGRR movement.

In spite of these and many more efforts, we continue to loose our Historic UGRR sites at an alarming rate in Ohio and across the country. To combat the loss of this rich piece of our cultural heritage, The Friends of Freedom Society is requesting that a line item be placed in the next Capital Improvements Budget for the acquisition, restoration preservation, and interpretation of sites associated with the UGRR movement in Ohio.

In just the past eight months, two UGRR sites were torn down in Warren County, one in Ashtabula County, and another one in Franklin County. Currently sites in Ross, Pike and Huron Counties are endangered and subject to loss before the end of the year. Due to the dangerous condition of an UGRR site in Fayette County that was part of a pre-Civil War Black Settlement, the owners have agreed to dismantle the property and erect parts of it in a local museum, rather than completely destroy it.

The State of Ohio has the opportunity to act now to ensure that significant Underground Railroad Heritage sites are preserved and interpreted so their story can be told to future generations of Ohioans.

The requested amount is $3,000,000.00.

Please contact us with questions or comments.