LCITCW 1937 - The Underground Railroad In Williamsport (2024)

Taken from a 1934 Thesis written by Edward Larue Bierce
For The Pennsylvania State College Graduate School

[With added photos ]

Sentiment & Support 1852-1865

Slavery sentiment was fairly well divided in Lycoming Countya decade before the civil war period the Lycoming Gazette a weekly paper inWilliamsport, was the democratic mouthpiece against the actions of theabolitionists. The tone of its protests can be judged by the followingeditorial, that appeared on May 19th, 1852:

"The anti slavery convention held at Rochester, adjourned sinedie, on the 14th instant, after passing and promulgating resolutions againstthe fugitive slave law and colonization societies. The speeches were asfanatical, blasphemous and treasonable as their orators knew how to make, andwere received with approbation by the concourse of zealots drawn together on theoccasion."

The answer of the anti slavery people in my coming countywas the same as in almost all of the northern states; The rendering of aid tofugitive slaves by means of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroadwas not a route, but a network a conspiracy of thousands of people bandedtogether for the purpose of helping slaves secure their freedom. The slaves,mainly in the border states, somehow learned that if they once crossed into thefree states they would find friends who would forward them from place to place,until they were free from pursuit or safe in Canada. The Underground Railroadwas manned chiefly by orderly citizens members of churches, and philanthropicalsocieties.

1861 Map Of Lycoming County

By furnishing food and shelter as well asadvice to fugitives, it as possible for many of them to make their successfulescape to Canada. The most favoredroutes of the network were through Pennsylvania and Ohio. The houses where aid and shelter were givenwere known as 'stations', those in charge of the stations as 'agents' thosedirectly assisting as 'conductors' and those contributing money, clothing, etcas 'stockholders.'

Williamsport was one of the stations on the UndergroundRailroad. Thomas Updegraff was for many years “ agent “ at this station it wasably assisted by his son, Abraham. The station was located in what was known as“ Niger Hollow “ in the northern part of the city and the runaways were generallysecreted in the house of David and Philip Rodrick although there were otherhouses in the immediate vicinity which were used for the same purpose.

1854 View Of Williamsport, showing the canal

Many fugitives entered the West Branch valley on the packetboats. They were taken from the boats at the port of Williamsport, at the oldexchange hotel on Market Street and secreted in the nearby barn of Thomas Updegraff in Black Horse alley. At night the runaways were conducted to thecabins of the colored people in “nigg*r Hollow” and there concealed until thedarkness of another night made it safe to resume their journey to Trout Run. Atthis place they were stowed in the baggage cars of the Williamsport-Elmirarailroad and transported north to freedom and safety in Canada.

Robert Faries, the Superintendent of the railroad, was a Williamsporterand an ardent abolitionist. He so skillfully handled the fugitives placed inhis care that Williamsport could boast of never having lost a passenger and noslave was ever reclaimed after reaching safety by this route.

Sometimes the runaways left the packets at Hall’s Landingand made their way to Pennsdale, the home of a settlement of Quakers. In thevillage where several well-known stations on the overland route. Wolf runhouse, the House of William Haines, was a well-known stopping place and anotherwas the Old Bulls Head Tavern, the home of Edward Norris. A cubbyhole with asliding panel in the head of one of its many stairways, where the runawayslaves were concealed, can still be seen today. Henry warner was also a firmfriend of the negroes. These men reasoned that it was not only wrong to keepslaves but that the colored people never ran away from a good master.

About this time a superstition grew among the country folknear the village that the region near the old Quaker meeting house was haunted.On earthly grounds and moanings were sometimes heard late in the night near theold Quaker burying ground. Late travelers hurried past or took another route.After the slaves were freed the friends explained the story of the haunt.

A sheep pasture joined the old burial ground and one night agreedy sheep reached through the fence for attempting bite just beyond itsreach. Its head caught in the bars and the animal groaned and moaned whileattempting its release. A superstitious country lad was passing at the time andhearing the noise immediately thought of “hants” and took to his heels. This was the point at which the Quakersassembled the slaves before they started them on their journey over the GeneseeRd. to Elklands New York and Canada. Anysuperstition which kept people off this part of the road was welcomed at this time period so they didnot explain the haunt until after the slaves been given their freedom.

Many runaways came up the Susquehanna trail for one reasonor another and sought refuge among the farmers along the road and at Montoursville.This village was a hotbed of abolitionists and many a hungry runaway found agood breakfast and concealment for the day in the town.

People in Lycoming County were not unfamiliar with the siteof masters and overseers searching for runaways. In one case the female slavewas walking along state street in Williamsport. The street paralleled the canaland it happened that her master and overseer were coming in on the eveningpacket and saw her period the master started to chase her up Jefferson street,but she finally eluded him and hid in Woodward's barn. The abolitionistsremoved her safely to “nigg*r Hollow until it was dark and then sent her on totrout run.

In another case a government official in Williamsportreceived word from Pottsville that five fugitives were headed towards the cityand that it should be ready to apprehend and detain them until the properofficials could arrive with the necessary papers. This officer had no heart forslave catching and managed to secretly lay his dispatch on the desk of anabolitionist. As a result the fugitives were on their way to Canada by the timethe officials reached Williamsport.

It would seem from the following article in the Muncieluminary May 14th 1861, that after the war started the runaways came inincreasing numbers and with increasing boldness:

A party of 12 or 15 seceders (runaway slaves) from Marylandor Virginia, we did not learn which, were encamped in camped in the woods near MuncyRailroad Depot, one night last week. They reported 150 more on the road fromtheir neighborhood. They left early this morning for the North.

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