Underground Railroad has tour in Sparta

Several local students got a new perspective on the Underground Railroad through an exercise held by the Mountaineer Millennium program. Students took a tour of town, simulating the famous ‘railway' that led many southern slaves to freedom during the antebellum period in the south.

Along the way, three ‘families' — complete with family names, owners' names and information on the farms they were purported to come from — followed signs and clues to ‘escape to freedom.'

The event was held in conjunction with Black History Month. Stops along the way included the Alleghany County Library, Una's Cornicopia, Farm Bureau, the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce and Ed Adams' office.

Each location displayed a quilt pattern, which would have had great meaning to slaves on the run.

The first clue was flying geese, which told slaves to head in the direction of the geese. At the library, the students were given supplies (pencils and bookmarks) and a clue to help guide them to Una's Cornicopia. Una's displayed a bowtie, telling the ‘escaping slaves' to dress in disguise.

Other patterns included crossroads, which refers to several directions and no turning back at this point; a log cabin, which refers to a safe place to seek shelter and a place where there is a safe person to talk to.

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