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Show and local legend. Substantiating stories and identifying "stations have been difficult because time, progress, and the forces of nature have destroyed much of the physical evidence. Written memoirs and personal papers have been lost, and oral accounts have been forgotten. But interest has not waned. Congressional leaders passed legislation in 1998 to fund the Underground Railroad Network, a national repository of information under the direction of the National Park Service. Its vision is to create a living museum of sites and programs, says Diane Miller, who oversees the network. "The information that we have collected so far leads us to believe that it was more complex than historians traditionally described it, Miller says. Indeed, as many as 100,000 slaves successfully escaped prior to the Civil War, scholars and researchers estimate. The search for these routes, safe houses, persons who helped the fugitive slaves, and the identity of the slaves has become" an intriguing puzzle that local people and only guided slaves to freedom, but educated them, as well. But shes still a long way from getting there. Even though it no longer is open to the elements, nor is the back wall crumbling, it still is uninhabitable and a long way from being the educational resource center that she visualizes. Shelton has spent the last 13 years of her retirement poring wer engineering plans and architectural drawings, taking preservation courses, and organizations have been piecing together for years. Enthusiasts such as Breitweiser and Shelton work on their own, aided by historical organizations and libraries to unearth data, authenticate stories, and explore sites to give a more comprehensive picture of the Underground Railroad. I didnt have any idea that we would be taking it this far, Breitweiser says. But, with the help of dedicated volunteers, they raised enough money to restore and stabilize the former college and opened a visitors center there. Still, "money is a struggle all the time, Breitweiser says. Its just blood, sweat, and tears to keep the insurance paid, the heat on, and the electricity going. At one point, Breitweiser wasnt sure she would continue. Reindollar, her friend and partner in the preservation project, died, leaving Breitweiser to realize their vision alone. I will really see this finished. Whatever it takes me to do, Ill see this finished, she says. effort is succeeding. The stone Her structure has been recognized as a Save Americas Treasures site and is an official National Historic Landmark. Both designations recognize it as a structure worthy of restoration and having affected national history. Each year she gets closer to her goal of completing the building and making it into a functioning family research center. Shelton envisions her own historic building as a museum, a place where students can learn about American history and the Underground Railroad in particular. "They never taught me about that part of history, she says, And now I want to educate other people." 10-ye- ar A forlorn exterior on Shelton's building belies Its rich history. African-American- a freelance writer and adjunct professor University of Detroit Mercy, is finishing a historical fiction hook. The Raven, about a black abolitionist Ann E. Eskridge, at Other stops on the Underground Railroad: The Owen Lovejoy Home- Under- " pound Railroad stations, was home from 1838- if 1864 to outspoken abolitionist the Rev. Owen ; The Lovejoy. dty of Princeton bought the home and opened it in 972 as a museum. v' Peterboro, N.Y. The Gerrit Smith Estate was I t called the Grand Central Station of the Under- ground Railroad" because of the number of fugt- j, tive slaves who passed through with the help of x abolitionist Gerrit Smith and his fami-ly.The home sat at the junction of several Under- - . f ground Railroad routes through central New York, Washington, Ky. The Paxton Inn was built around 1810 by James A. Paxton, a local attor- !?. F . writing proposals for preservation money so she can restore the building. Her determination to do so, despite lack of funds, lies in her commitment to unveil the truth and preserve a piece of history. "I felt like history was being lost, she says. This building represents a period that is not just s. about slavery or Its about American history. Princeton, ney and staunch abolitionist. He hid slaves on the narrow staircase hidden next to the kitchen fireplace until they safely could be moved across the river to Ohio. .. 844 stagecoach inn, now the MEton, Wis-- An l!L stead, one of the sate best documented , . 1 Milton House Museum, was built by town founder Joseph Goodrich, who also dug a tunnel between the inn and an 1837 log cabin behind It Goodrich harbored fugitives in the cefar of the inn, using the tunnel as the exit and entrance, 1 I . well-kno- JOMiSM k . . .v .. - . Note: Not oil slaves escaped north to Canada, but the park service has yet to document any railway stations In the deep South or West the latter of which was virtually unsettled at the time. , ..American Profile Page 9 |