The next public program of the Delaware County Historical Society, “Voices of the Underground Railroad,” will present a poignant look at the way that escaping slaves impacted Delaware County in the years before the Civil War.
On Sunday, March 1 at 1:30 PM, the Curriculum Support Committee of the Society will present this a series of 10 vignettes about local people who were involved in the activities of the Underground Railroad in and around Delaware County during the era prior to the Civil War.
Reenactors will each recount a piece of their own history and will include Abraham Depp, a freedman; Asbury Parker, a runaway slave; Mary Frances (Alston) Austin, the last surviving freed slave to arrive in Delaware County; abolitionists such as Ostrander’s William Cratty and Peru Township’s Aaron L. and Phoebe Benedict; plus several others. The program will begin and end with music of fugitive slaves with interpretive dance by Francine Butler.
The program will be held at The Barn at Stratford, 2690 Stratford Road, Delaware. Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. It is open to the public however to ensure adequate seating, pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information and to register, visit DelawareOhioHistory.org and follow the links to Eventbrite, or call 740-369-3831, ext. 3, or email Programs@DelawareOhioHistory.org.
The Delaware County Historical Society is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote, preserve and sustain interest in the history of Delaware County. The Barn at Stratford is operated by DCHS as an event venue for weddings, corporate meetings and other special occasions. To learn more, visit the venue and society web sites at barnatstratford.org and delawareohiohistory.org.
