Explain how one house can affect thousands of people?

The story ofLEVI and CATHERINE COFFIN

Levi Coffin was born in 1798 in North Carolina.

Levi’s family were members of the Society of Friends (Quakers).

First act that led him to abolitionism occurred at age 7

Helped his first slave at the age of 9.

Married Catherine White in 1824

Levi and Catherine moved to Newport (Fountain City), Indiana in 1826 and opened a store.

Levi Coffin’s house

Major slave routes as listed in our textbook.

Newport (Fountain City), Indiana

Door that the conductors would enter through into the kitchen.

Kitchen where slaves would be greeted.

Slaves would be taken down a small winding staircase to the summer kitchen where they would be fed and cared for away from

the threat of being seen.

The coffins had an indoor well room off the summer kitchen which helped hide the amount of water they were using that could cause suspicion. The well was fed by natural springs in the area.

Women would gather when slave hunters were in town for quilting parties. Sitting in the parlor quilting and talking would help stall the search as well as cover noise from hiding slaves.

Wood piece on end of rocking bench was to keep infants from rolling off while being rocked.

Two-ended doll

Two ended doll –

held one way it is a Quaker woman

flip it upside down and it is a slave woman.

Secret room for hiding slaves.

Shoes and chains worn by slaves taken through the Coffin house.

Wagon with hidden compartment used for transporting slaves.

More detailed map of routes used for the underground railroad.

Newport, IN Cincinnati, OH Ripley, OH (mentioned in Video)

Grave of one of the conductors Levi Coffin used for the Underground Railroad.

NONE of the 3,000 slaves that Levi and Catherine helped were ever caught.

LEVI COFFINDIED 9TH MO.,16, 1877

IN HIS 79TH YEARA CHRISTIAN

PHILANTHROPISTCATHERINE COFFIN

DIED 5TH MO. 22, 1881IN HER 78TH YEAR

HER WORK WELL DONENOBLE BENEFACTORS

AIDING THOUSANDSTO GAIN FREEDOM.

A FROMTHE COLORED PEOPLE

OF CINCINNATI

Levi and Catherine Coffin helped over 3,000 slaves find their way to freedom.