The Underground Railroad / Abolition Boats Provide an Escape to Freedom in Erie County

The Underground Railroad / Abolition Boats Provide an Escape to Freedom in Erie County (HM1I05)

Location: Sandusky, OH 44870 Erie County
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Country: United States of America
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N 41° 27.564', W 82° 42.489'

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Inscription
Marker Front:The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad, but a system of loosely connected safe havens where those escaping the brutal conditions of slavery were sheltered, fed, clothed, nursed, concealed, disguised, and instructed during their journey to freedom. Although this movement was one of America's greatest social, moral, and humanitarian endeavors, the details about it were often cloaked in secrecy to protect those involved from retribution of civil law and slave-catchers. Ohio's history has been permanently shaped by the thousands of runaway slaves passing through or finding permanent residence in this state
Marker Reverse:The promimity of the mouth of the Sandusky Bay to the Lake Erie Islands leading north to Canada was crucial in safely transporting runaway slaves to freedom. Several types of vessels to as "abolition boats". The fearless men who captained these crafts had to be skilled in navigating the treacherous waterways that poured into the western basin of Lake Erie. Runaways could earn passage to Canada by working in or around the shipyards that lined the mile-long waterfront of Sandusky. Passage to the Lake Erie Islands and Canada beyond, could be made by sled during the cold of winter, a method of travel that also entailed risk.

The abolition boats included: Walk-in-the-water, Superior, The Arrow, United States, Bay City, Mayflower, May Queen, Morning Star, and others. The captains included: Captain Shepherd, Captain Swiegel, Captain Thomas McGee (owner of the Steamboat Hotel), and others.
Details
HM NumberHM1I05
Tags
Placed ByODOT and Friends of Freedom Society
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Tuesday, November 25th, 2014 at 1:01pm PST -08:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)17T E 357341 N 4591165
Decimal Degrees41.45940000, -82.70815000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 41° 27.564', W 82° 42.489'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds41° 27' 33.84" N, 82° 42' 29.34" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)419, 330, 567
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling West
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 344-398 E Shoreline Dr, Sandusky OH 44870, US
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