The Eighth Annual Ohio Underground Railroad Summit

Ohio's Secret Legacy: 
200 Years Uncovered

Sponsored by
The Friends of Freedom Society
Proud Winners of the
National Underground Railroad Millennium Trail

October 17-19, 2003

The Comfort Inn/Christopher Conference Center 
20 North Plaza Blvd Chillicothe, Ohio 45601 
740-775-3500 1-800-542-7919
www.comfortinn.com

Please visit the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau for additional information about the area.  

Meeting Notes

by Don Ross

The Eighth Annual Ohio Underground Railroad Summit was held in Chillicothe, Ohio, on October 17, 18, and 19, 2003. One hundred twenty-seven persons registered for this year's event; they represented 14 states.

FRIDAY, 7-9 PM Festivities began on Friday night with a reception/social event at the Ross County Historical Center. Summit chairperson Beverly Gray hosted the event. The String Quartette from Chillicothe High School provided music during a catered buffet, and guests also toured the exhibits featuring the Underground Railroad, and the history of Chillicothe, Ohio's first capital.

SATURDAY, 8:30 AM- 11:00 PM The Saturday session began with a welcome by Friends of Freedom Society president Don Ross, and an invocation by Reverend Jonathan McReynolds of the Chillicothe First Baptist Church. 

Lissa Cleary of the Ross County Visitors and Convention Center spoke briefly, as did the EEO Director for Chillicothe, Tamra Lowe. 

Membership Committee member Sharon Montgomery explained the Friends of Freedom Society Ice-breaker special event in December, and alerted attendees as to opportunities for joining the Society during the Summit. 

Cathy Nelson, Coordinator of the Ohio Underground Railroad Association, announced a memorial marker fund honoring Jim Caccamo (deceased), Evangeline Bealer, and Reuben Blake, three Ohio Underground Railroad Association Regional Coordinators who passed away since the 2002 Summit. 

The Summit's initial speaker, CM Boxley (Ser Seshs Ab Heter), was introduced by Bennie McCrae of Dayton, host of the "Lest We Forget" Website. Mr. Boxley spoke on the Forks-of-the-Road enslavement market in Natchez, Mississippi, and referenced many present-day incidents and situations which indicate that many levels of enslavement and racial inequities persist today. 

The Mayor of Chillicothe, Margaret Planton, welcomed all attendees to the Summit. She was followed by a musical presentation by high school vocalist Jarrod Grant of Chillicothe. 

Paul LaRue, educator and historian from Washington Court House, Ohio, presented a speech and slide show, which both identified the Greenfield, Ohio area as a "wintering place" for runaway slaves, and described how high school students are preserving and honoring that legacy by re-claiming gravesites and erecting monuments for Colored Troops of the Civil War. The group was then afforded time to visit the many vendors and exhibitors at the Summit. 

Following lunch, Alvin Adams, former reporter for Jet Magazine and founder of the area's Multicultural Genealogical Center, shared the history of the Underground Railroad in Albany, Ohio, utilizing paintings depicting historical events and buildings in Albany. 

Frances Beasley of Columbus then took the stage as "Olivia", a runaway slave who narrates her story as she nears freedom. Mrs. Beasley is a reenactor for the Underground Railroad Learning Station at the Kelton House Museum and Garden in Columbus. 

The afternoon session concluded with a slide show by Cathy Nelson, which featured sites and stories from all twelve research areas of Ohio. As a follow-up, she presented the Ohio Underground Railroad Association regional coordinators who were present, and each gave a brief summary of his/her region's recent Underground Railroad activities and accomplishments.

BANQUET, SATURDAY 6-11 PM At 6pm, guests assembled for a reception for Cathy Nelson, who was recently honored by induction into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. Leslie Blankenship related memories from Cathy's decade-plus involvement with the Underground Railroad, and from the formative years when Cathy was creating the impetus for what became the Friends of Freedom. Connie Quarles and Marla Jones presented Cathy with the first-ever Freedom Star Award. 

The keynote speaker for the 2003 Summit was Dr. Norrece T. Jones, Jr., Associate Professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University. An expert on nineteenth-century African-American history, he has appeared on "Good Morning, America," and was featured on the four-part PBS documentary, "Africans in America" in 1998. He too is a noted author. Dr. Jones spoke on slave abolitionists, and the obstacles they faced in opposing slavery. Their quests for freedom often cost them dearly. 

Following Dr. Jones, Friends of Freedom Society awards were given to Sharon Montgomery, Joan Southgate, Carl Cassavechia, Demetrius Lambert, Chris Spisak, and Steve Spisak for extraordinary service to the cause of Underground Railroad education and service to the Friends of Freedom Society. 

The coveted 2004 Conductor of the Year Award went to John Maddox of Belmont County. John is the founder/owner/docent of the Underground Railroad Museum in eastern Ohio, and he annually gives dozens of lectures around the state. He is Co-coordinator of Ohio Underground Railroad Association's East Region. 

Friends of Freedom Society member Terry Davis presented two vocal musical selections.

The annual auction closed the evening. Connie Quarles emceed the activities, while the inimitable John Mattox presented the items and solicited bids.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 8:30-1:30 A breakfast buffet preceded the October Friends of Freedom General Membership Meeting. As part of the agenda, Connie Quarles was elected to another 2-year term as Society treasurer, and Sylvia Morgan was elected as secretary. 

The Summit attendees then attended the dedication of an Underground Railroad marker at the Chillicothe First Baptist Church, and then attended a special Underground Railroad church service at the First Presbyterian Church. That was followed by a luncheon served by Presbyterian Church members, and tours of Paint Hill, a Underground Railroad historic site, which was a safe house.

The 2004 Summit will be in Cleveland.

Program

Friday, October 17th

Saturday, October 18th

Sunday, October 19th

Adjourn

Session Details

SESSION ONE

Chattel Enslavement in Southwestern Mississippi & Central Louisiana 

presented by Ser Seshs Ab Heter - Mr. Clifford M. Boxley, Research Preservationist

The Forks-of-the-Road enslavement market in Natchez, Mississippi was reported to be the second largest enslavement market next to New Orleans. The Forks speak to the lesser known history of America's Internal Slave Trade, and the development and growth of her cash crop, "King Cotton", "Queen Sugar", "Prince Tobacco", and "Princess Rice". Mr. Boxley, also known by his African name, Ser Seshs Ab Heter, and leading advocate and preservationist for this region will give an extraordinary account of the thousands of slaves who were "sold doen the river".

SESSION TWO

Wintering in Greenfield, Ohio

presented by Mr. Paul LaRue, award winning educator, Washington Court House High School

Highland County¹s town called Greenfield was a place  where escaping slaves heading for Canada, found shelter from the harsh winter, until the frozen Lake Erie unthawed and became navigable. Famed conductor and Presbyterian minister, Reverend John Rankin was known to have taken runaway slaves to Greenfield. Mr. LaRue will give an in-depth account of this town¹s rich history.

SESSION THREE

A Pictorial View of the Underground Railroad in Athens County, Ohio

presented by former JET Magazine Journalist & genealogist, Mr.  Alvin Adams

Renowned journalist, Mr. Alvin Adams will share the history of the Underground Railroad in southeastern Ohio, featuring an unique series of paintings depicting Albany, Ohio. The home of abolitionists, Albany served as a safe community for people of color, including the noted Enterprise Academy, one of America¹s earliest schools founded by African Americans. Mr. Adams is also a founder of the Multicultural Genealogical Center in the area.

SESSION FOUR

Freedom Seekers: Ohio and the Underground Railroad

presented by Cathy D. Nelson, State Coordinator, Ohio Underground Railroad Association

Take a journey of the places that were a part of Ohio's Underground Railroad movement through a slide presentation, featuring sites from all of the twelve research regions of the Ohio Underground Railroad Association. As a follow-up, the final session of the day will be an informal discussion and Q&A from those who serve as regional coordinators.

Please contact us with any questions or comments.

SM = Service Mark of the Friends of Freedom Society, Inc.
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