TRAVELING THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN YORK COUNTY
Staff and volunteers have scanned countless 18th and 19th century newspapers,
court records, diaries, documents and more in search of evidence of York
County's involvement in the Underground
Railroad. Because this was an illegal activity, little was written down
at the time and much of the "legend" of the Underground Railroad
grew up long after it had ceased operations.
The Underground Railroad system in York County was active from the late 18th century to the 1860's. It was for the most part, a loose network of people and places that moved runaway slaves north to freedom. In the mid 19th century, railroad terminology was used to describe the network's activities; those who gave assistance were known as "conductors" and their homes became the "stations" where escaping slaves otherwise called "cargo" could find shelter. Roads that crossed the Mason/Dixon Line north into York County as well as roads running west to east carried "cargo" through the county to scattered "stations" where the travelers could find food, clothing, medical attention and directions to another friendly house.
Myth and legend have been combined with documented realities to produce a fascinating account of York County's role in this American story of people helping people. A full color brochure detailing the history of the antislavery movement and Underground Railroad activities in York County will be available in the spring of 2002. An exhibition "You will find friends there." York County, A Bridge to Freedom on the Underground Railroad will open March 9, 2002 at Historical Society Museum of the York County Heritage Trust.
After the exhibition closes in July, it will be available as a loaned
exhibit. As a traveling exhibition, it will be transported in a wooden
crate that is a replica of the packing case used by fugitive Henry "Box"
Brown in 1847 when he made his daring escape from Richmond to Philadelphia
on the Underground Railroad.
Fugitive slaves traveling from "stations" in Adams County
found refuge among the Quakers of Warrington Meeting. They traveled on
to cross the Susquehanna River at Middletown Ferry.
Springwood Farm is located south of York on the Old Baltimore Pike.
The Jessop and Chalfant families provided food to runaway slaves who were
hidden under the hay in their barn.
After crossing the Susquehanna River at McCall's Ferry in Lower Chanceford
Township, fugitive slaves followed routes eastward through Lancaster County
to Christiana and on to Philadelphia.
The Willis farm is situated north of the city at the foot of Prospect
Hill. While the house and barn undoubtedly afforded shelter, one account
tells of fugitive slaves being hidden inside corn shocks in the adjoining
fields.
Fugitive slaves crossed the Wrightsville Bridge undetected, hidden
in railroad cars owned by William Goodridge. Some were rowed across the
river by friendly boatmen.
The Goodridge family, prosperous African American merchants in the
city of York, sheltered fugitive slaves in their Philadelphia Street home
as well as their business establishment on the Square.