And so it is about the Underground Railroad. I'd always thought railroads were involved in the movement and though there is recent information that there was some actual railroads connected to the history, the reality is the Underground Railroad is a secretive and undisclosed (underground) network of escape routes and safe houses using "railroad" terminology in their code.
Abolitionist are sympathizers. Conductors are any person assisting along or showing the secret paths. A station was a safe house. Christiana was one o the man crossroads on the Underground Railroad so a lot of action happened in this area.
The trouble in Christiana began on September 11, 1851 when a Maryland plantation owner arrived in Christiana to take back his four slaves who were runaways. Keep in mind that Pennsylvania was an established slave free state since 1780. An 1850 Fugitive Slave Act gave rights to slave owners to retrieve slaves and have those who assisted them arrested.
The marker to the right marks the location of the confrontation of four Quaker men and 34 former slaves against one Maryland plantation owner, Edward Gorsuch. His posses fled at the first sign of trouble. The plantation owner lost his life. It is said this was the spark to kindle the Civil War.
So Gorsuch comes to Christiana having heard that his slaves were at former slave William Parker's farm below.
A painting of the Parker farm.
Parker sounds the alert and 38 supporters arrive to turn back Gorsuch. Gorsuch is killed and his son seriously wounded.
Dickinsen Gorsuch, son who survived and returned to Maryland.The Christiana Resistance on September 11, 1851
The other 4 men and 34 former slaves are arrested and held in the Zercher's Hotel. It is at this Hotel that the body of Mr. Gorsuch was carried and where the government's official inquest began. Built in 1833, Zercher's Hotel is the only building still standing today that was involved in the incident.
Former slave Parker was not one of the men arrested that evening because he flees to New York and eventually into Canada with his wife and children. He lived out his life in Canada. This plaque is dedicated to his years of helping former slaves move north into free states and eventually he acquired this freedom for himself.
Thaddeus Stevens, the Great Commoner, and an outspoken Abolitionist, opposed the 1850 passage of the Fugitive Slave Law. He was part of a team of defense attorneys willing to fight the legal system for 38 men held in the Hotel. He actually stayed at the Zercher's Hotel in the days following the September 11th incident in order to make a statement that these 38 men had legal counsel. Steven's was able to get charges dropped and a release for 37 men. One man was tried in Philadelphia but he was acquitted. Unfortunately for Mr. Stevens, his dedication to this cause cost him his 1852 re-election to the House of Representative for Pennsylvania.
It didn't take long to go through the one room museum but the information and greater understanding of the underground was greater than it's size.
And around the corner comes this Amish style tractor. Check out the wheels, no tires on em. Strange looking.
Arriving at the restaurant I noticed a lineup of the bikes I've been trying unsuccessfully to describe. You have to see it to understand.
The food was so wonderful and so reasonably priced. The staff couldn't have been nicer either.
It must be laundry day, though I'd imagine everyday may be laundry day for the Amish. Everywhere you go you'll see laundry hanging outside on one of those lines attached to a wheel that goes in a forever loop. This must be a large family.
We only saw women mowing the lawns today. I think it's an official Amish blue job handled by the pink workers.
Another beautiful farm. Check out the clothes hanging out to the left of the barn.
Fields of tobacco.
Ya just gotta love this line of black overalls. There are at least seven males in this household ranging from daddy down to youngest son. Notice the wheel on the pole to the left.
Not a clear picture taken as we drove by but you can see this Amish man standing on a plow or sorts with two horses pulling.
And with full tummy's we headed home, arriving in a sudden downpour with thunder and lightening. I love it here.
So once again I thank you for looking in and we'll see you soon.
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