Not an actual railroad at all, the Underground Railroad was a series of complex secret routes, churches, institutions and privately owned homes that aided runaway slaves on their dangerous journey north. These secret stops were known as "Depots" or "Stations". During the 1800's approximately 100,000 runaway slaves used this mode of transportation. Sometimes escaping slaves were called "passengers", "cargo" or "goods." Those who helped slaves escape to freedom were known as "Conductors". Those who gave money, food, and clothes to fugitive slaves were known as "Stockholders". Pennsylvania, the first free state north of the Mason-Dixon line, provided many entry points to freedom. Every county in the state boasts at least one Underground Railroad stopover, documenting Pennsylvania's significant relationship with this period in American history. Many Underground Railroad sites are still to be discovered as records were seldom kept (a few in secret code) due to the severe fines and threats of jail terms given to anyone found guilty of aiding any slave trying to reach freedom. Most times the escaping slaves traveled at night using the stars as a guide. The Big Dipper (whose "bowl" points to the North Star) was known as the "drinkin' gourd". The Railroad itself was often known as the "Freedom train" or "Gospel train", which headed towards "Heaven" or "the Promised Land", i.e., Canada.
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of a compromise made between Northerners and Southerners trying to prevent the nation from going to war over the question of slavery in 1850. The new law required every individual in every state, even "free" states, to return runaway slaves.The violent clash between Northern abolitionists and Southern slave-owners in Christiana (Lancaster County) is considered, by many historians to be the first battle of the Civil War.
The Battle of Gettysburg is the most studied battle of the Civil War. The entire battlefield stands as a reminder of the sacrifice made by those on both sides of the slavery issue. It is the hallowed ground of the battlefield that has attracted people from all over the world for over 100 years.
The Underground Railroad continued through the end of The Civil War in 1865. That year, the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery.
Historians believe that Harriet Tubman was the most well-known Underground Conductor. With a $40,000 bounty on her head and known as the "Black Moses", she returned to the South 19 times, leading more than 300 slaves to freedom.
The farm and tannery of the great abolitionist, John Brown, played a strategic role in the Underground Railroad by aiding the passing of an estimated 2,500 slaves to the North.
William C Goodridge was a prominent African-American businessman who was one of the most active Underground Railroad stationmasters. One of his business ventures was comprised of 13 railroad cars with service to 20 communities. He used his railroad cars to transport escaping slaves.
PENNSYLVANIA, THE FIRST FREE STATE NORTH OF THE MASON-DIXON LINE, PROVIDED MANY ENTRY POINTS TO FREEDOM. HOW MANY OF PENNSYLVANIA'S COUNTIES BOAST AT LEAST ONE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD STOPOVER ????
EVERY COUNTY = N 40 48.013 W 078 53.937
MOST OF THE COUNTIES = N 40 47.675 W 078 54.460
CONGRATULATIONS TO beans&franks FOR THE FTF