• Cranston Memorial Presbyterian Church (Union and Washington streets): An early congregation of abolitionists, many of whom participated as “conductors” — people who helped escaping slaves on the Railroad.

        • Dr. John George Rogers' home (307-09 Front St.): Home of an abolitionist who provided a safe house where escaping slaves were helped and hidden.

        • Front Street (along the Ohio River): Site of the rescue of fugitive slave Leroy Lee by New Richmond abolitionists. Mr. Lee was rescued from the hands of bounty hunters intent on returning him to his Southern owners.
       

Monroe Township (Clermontville)
        • Parker Academy and Dr. Daniel Parker home (along U.S. 52 near Clermontville): School where Southern white slave owners sent their illegitimate children of mixed race for education.

Moscow

        • Thomas Fee home (126 Water St., west side at the foot of Broadway fronting the Ohio River): Home to a staunch abolitionist and Railroad “conductor.”

        • Robert Fee homesite (about a block west of Thomas Fee home): Site of home of Robert Fee, brother of Thomas and also a “conductor.” Robert Fee kept a light burning in a window of his home facing the Ohio River to guide escaping slaves to his safe house and freedom.
       

Franklin Township near Chilo

        • Meldahl Lock and Dam (U.S. 52 near Chilo): Escaping slave Peter Stokes crossed the Ohio River to freedom from Bracken County, Ky. to Clermont County near the present day site of the dam. Mr. Stokes made his way to Detroit and crossed into Windsor, Ontario.
       

Felicity

        • Arthur Fee homesite (1 Moores Lane): Site of the home of a cousin to the Fees of Moscow, who maintained a safe house on the Railroad.

        • Joseph Hayden home (222 Light St.): Home of an abolitionist who helped hide escaping slaves and openly opposed slavery.

        • William Sleet home site (Harrison Street): Escaping slave Peter Stokes was hidden by Mr. Sleet in the former house at this site.
       

Bethel

        • Old Settlors' Cemetery (west side of Ohio 133 just north of Ohio 125): Grave of U.S. Sen. Thomas Morris, abolitionist senator who stood before the Senate in February 1839 amid rabid opposition to argue “that the Negro will yet be set free.” Ousted by voters from Congress, Mr. Morris ran on the abolitionist Liberty Party ticket for U.S. vice president in 1843.

        • Grave of Obed Denham, founder of Bethel and a devout Baptist who opposed slavery and refused to bury anyone who owned slaves in the village's cemetery.
       

Williamsburg

        • Charles “Boss” Huber home (160 Gay St.): Home of a tanner who saw the plight of slaves on a trip into Mississippi. On his return, Mr. Huber became the Williamsburg leader of the railroad. He frequented social gatherings with a soapbox to stand and rail against slavery. Mr. Huber concealed escaping slaves at his home and on a farm he owned outside the town.

        • L.T. Pease home (180 Gay St.): Home next to Mr. Huber's. Mr Pease was an anti-slavery Whig who, along with his wife, Nancy, a sister of Robert Fee in Moscow, aided slaves. When "'Boss” Huber died in 1854, Mr. Pease took over as chief “conductor” of the Railroad in Williamsburg.

        Source: Gary Knepp, director, Historical Office, Clermont County Convention Center and Visitors Bureau

Clermont's focus on freedom
Railroad's major sites in Clermont