It was neither underground or on railroad tracks, but rather a series of secret safe places to hide as slaves escaped the south and moved north to freedom in Canada – it was the Underground Railroad and it had stops in Washington County. February is Black History Month, a time when we reflect on our nation’s history. Local historian Michael Zahs says the Underground Railroad had four local stops – a hotel in Crawfordsville, a home in Washington that still stands today, the rural town of Clay west of Brighton, and Wassonville, north of Wellman.

Zahs shares a Quaker man named Henry Morgan had lived in the south and experienced slavery before moving to Clay. Morgan helped with the Underground Railroad and had to keep his activities a secret not only from federal agents, but also from his neighbors. One day, Morgan had slaves hidden under a tarp in the back of his wagon when slave chasers stopped him on the road. The slave chasers began to lift the tarp when Morgan spoke a single word, “Cholera.” Zahs says, that was enough for the men to let go of the tarp and leave, as the disease was in southern Washington County and a dreaded disease. Zahs adds, while Morgan lied it did keep those slaves from being caught.

To hear more about the Underground Railroad in Washington County listen to the full interview with Zahs at KCIIRadio.com.