Tuesday, September 21, 1999

Null Log House restored

---

Community effort saves landmark

BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Springboro Historical Society head Don Ross stands in the kitchen/living room of the Null Log House. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        SPRINGBORO — It was a safe haven for escaped African-American slaves of the 19th century. But time itself had threatened to level it before the onset of the 21st century.

        Thanks to volunteers from this northern Warren County community, the historic Null Log House remains standing and ready to serve in educating tomorrow's citizens about a key chapter of America's racial history.

        The log house in the Heatherwoode subdivision of Springboro was a key stopover for some of the estimated 40,000 slaves who escaped northward through Ohio to Canada and freedom. The Underground Railroad stop operated by the Taylor family, who were Quakers, was a hideaway for slaves who were secreted into the 2¹/₂-story log cabin's basement tunnel.

        The Taylors, who were the second Quaker family to live in the home, built in 1798, were exercising their religious and moral beliefs against the enslavement of humans.

        Penalties for aiding escaped slaves during the last half of the 19th century ranged from public flogging to death by hanging. The courage shown deserves to be preserved and celebrated, said Don Ross, president of the Springboro Area Histori cal Society.

        “Ohio's involvement in the Underground Railroad was amazing,” said Mr. Ross, who joined more than 70 other volunteers last year in renovating the 201-year-old structure.

        “The house was a main stop. There is a hiding tunnel in the building, and it was on a prime location up on high land so slaves could spot it easily as they escaped to the north.”

        He said that original estimates to repair the cabin, which had suffered both the ravages of time and the attacks of vandals, was about $175,000. But thanks to the volunteers, and donations of supplies from the the city of Springboro, the renovation cost came in at about $23,000.

IF YOU GO

Guided tours of the Null Log House are available. For information, call the Springboro Area Historical Society at (513) 748-0916.

        “It was an amazing collection of people. We had Boy Scout troops and even juvenile offenders that the city brought in as part of their working off their community service sentences,” Mr. Ross said.

        Longtime Springboro resident Gil Morris, 71, said the Null Log House is a historical treasure and a valuable education tool for future generations.

        “People are getting more interested in our history. Schoolchildren are coming by to see the house,” Mr. Morris said.

        But it was the community effort that arose to save the historic house that left a lasting impression on him.

        “That's the biggest thrill. To see what could be done with volunteers,” he said.

       

---

Incident won't stop future street fests
Oktoberfest car crash victims still upbeat
Drought shrinks crops of autumn
Early end to drought unlikely
Suspect faces charges related to woman's death
Kids fare better in school experiment
The vanishing art of home economics
Airport to build garage with 1,550 spaces
Date set for trial in pair's slaying
Four hurt on balcony sue condo owners
Two indicted Monday in unrelated accidents
Mother of twins wrote the book on it
'Once and Again' is a fine show that doesn't happen often
Street fight is over
Who'll be the next Nitro Girl?
Blast may have started Clermont fire
Deerfield hires parks director
Hooker with HIV gets year in jail
Reading focus of reform effort at school
Woman charged in fatal crash
Bond raised for driver in crash that killed two
New Glendale police chief well-rounded
Null Log House restored
Oxford's Southard sets sights on Ohio House seat
Torrid development has Woodlawn folks bragging
Work on Hummer park to start soon
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST