STATION OF THE UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD IN WISCONSIN.
IT IS A STORY OF HEROICS AND
HOPE THAT JUST DISCOVERED A
BRAND NEW CHAPTER.
>> THE TUNNEL ITSELF IS
45 FEET
LONG.
IT WAS ALWAYS A SECRET
PASSAGEWAY.
THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND.
>> IT'S STILL OVERPOWERING.
170 YEARS AGO AT THE HEIGHT OF
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IT WAS
, HALF AS TALL, CARVED OUT OF
DIRT AND IN TOTAL DARKNESS.
,>> AN ADULT WOULD HAVE TO CRAWL
OR STOOP.
KATHY: WILLING TO RISK
EVERYTHING, THE SLAVE HIDE AWAY
WAS BUILT BY TOWN FOUNDER AND
ABOLITIONIST, JOSEPH GOODRICH,
NOT LONG AFTER HE OPENED HIS
BUSTLING HOTEL AND DEPOT.
>> THIS IS THE MOST PUBLIC PLACE
ANYWHERE, BUT WHAT A TERRIBLE
PLACE TO HIDE.
KATHY: IN ITS HEYDAY, IT WAS THE
POST OFFICE, A HUB FOR 26
PASSENGER TRAINS AND 37 STAGE
COACHES COMING IN EVERYDAY.
ON THE SURFACE, THE MILTON HOUSE
WAS A QUAINT PLACE TO STAY OVER
NIGHT, PEOPLE FREE TO GO
WHEREVER THEY WANTED TO GO, AND
NOT FAR FROM WHERE THEY SLEPT
WAS A SECRET SHELTER FOR RUNAWAY
SLAVES FROM THE SOUTH ON A TREK
TO FREEDOM.
>> THE GOODRICH FAMILY COULD SEE
THE CABIN USED TO SMUGGLE SLAVES
.
>> IT WAS
DARK, AND AS YOU CAN
SEE, IT MUST'VE BEEN VERY COLD,
BUT SAFE.
KATHY: SAFE UNTIL THE NEXT STOP.
THE WALLS OF THIS TRULY
UNDERGROUND HIDE AWAYS IN THE
NATION DISPLAYS WANTED POSTERS,
MANACLES, A MANIFEST OF
INHUMANITY.
>> TO SHOW YOU THERE IS NO
DEPTH TO WHICH THEY WOULD NOT
SINK.
THERE IS A GIRL NAMED ANNA.
SHE IS TWO MONTHS OLD.
SHE IS A BABY FOR SALE.
KATHY: SACKS OF POTATOES ARE A
NEW ADDITION TO THIS NATIONAL
HISTORIC LANDMARK THANKS TO A
JUST NOW UNEARTHED ACCOUNT OF
LONG AGO GUMPTION.
SHE SPOKE HER MIND FREELY.
KATHY: EDNA DEARBORN, NOW 89,
LIVING IN RACINE IS THE PROUD
, GREAT GRAND DAUGHTER IN THIS
PICTURE TAKEN IN MILTON.
>> THIS IS MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER
WHO TOOK OUT THE SLAVES FLEEING
FROM THE SOUTH.
KATHY: WHEN EDNA WAS AROUND 12,
HER GREAT GRANDMOTHER SHARED HER
ROLE IN THE UNDERGROUND MEMORIES
, OF HARROWING EIGHT-MILE TRIPS
WITH FUGITIVE SLAVES HIDING
UNDER SACKS OF POTATOES.
>> I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW HORRIBLE
AND HOW SCARY AND HOW
FRIGHTENING AND THE
, CONSEQUENCES.
>> THIS IS A STORY WE HAD NOT
HEARD BEFORE.
KATHY: AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK ON
THE MILTON HOUSE, DOUG WELCH
SAYS THE STORY CHECKS OUT.
EDNA'S GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S
FATHER WAS A SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST
PASTOR RECRUITED BY GOODRICH.
>> THEY DID NOT BELIEVE
THEMSELVES HEROES FOR HELPING
PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO FREEDOM.
KATHY: WHEN
EDNA WAS 12:00,
SH
, SHE TOU
RED THE SPACE.
>> I'M PROUD OF ALL THOSE
RELATIVES BECAUSE THEY STOOD UP
FOR THEY ALL FOUGHT IN THE UNION
, ARMY IN THE UNION WAR.
THEY FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY
WAR
THEY STOOD UP FOR RESPECTABLE
THINGS BEING GOOD CITIZENS.
KATHY: THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF
NAMES STILL THERE.
THE UNDERGROUND WAS RISKY.
THE BEST
THEY COULD DO WAS COME
UP WITH AN IDEA OF HOW MANY, SIX
TWO 100 BECAUSE PEOPLE WENT TO
THE WATER AND THERE WAS A BOAT
CAPTAIN FROM RACINE TAKING
SLAVES ACROSS THE WATER.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
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