The Underground Railroad was active in the Andover and Pymatuning areas. Linda Armstrong, Education Coordinator for the Pymatuning State Park, presented a program about the role quilts played in the escape of slaves from 1808 through the Civil War. The free program titled: "Message in a Quilt Square" featured Bosom Bread and Hardtack to try, including recipes.
Magnificent quilts made by Rosemary Hodge of Orwell and Nancy Thompson of Andover provided a background display as Linda presented her talk. Handouts from the lecture are available in the Library along with a large selection of Underground Railroad and Civil War books for all ages.
Hidden in Plain View by Jacqueline Tobin (Doubleday, c1999) is a book influential in the choosing of designs commemorating the Underground Railroad. The book, which we have available at Andover Public Library, traces numerous patterns and their use in communication with potential escapees from slavery.
Do you live in a home with secret passages, or have pictures of some of the historic homes which are now gone? The Library is collecting information about the Underground Railroad in Ashtabula County and welcomes an opportunity to scan and make copies of what you have so generations ahead will know our history. We promise that your photographs and local histories will not be harmed as we make a record of them.
The pictured quilt, from 1842, was signed by abolitionists of the Hadley family, who were later expelled from their group as being too radical. They were not reinstated for 13 years.
|
Many Underground Railroad quilt patterns are found in this interesting book by Jacqueline Tobin. |
Linda Armstrong shows the audience how a lady might hide in plain sight as she rides to freedom. |
A great group of interested history buffs enjoy the talk Wednesday evening |
Linda Armstrong holds up quilt squares as she explains hidden meanings |
