BATAVIA — The Clermont County Convention and Visitors Bureau has asked the county to extend its contract for one more year to research and add more sites to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.

        The program is sponsored by the National Park Service. In October, the National Park Service announced 39 sites and programs added to its Network to Freedom program, with nine of them in Clermont County.

        Gary Knepp, a Batavia attorney and the historical office director for the convention and visitors bureau, has done a large share of the research that has led to placing the sites and programs in the national program.

        “There is a rich history here,” said Mr. Knepp of the county. “The history was hidden, but we've been uncovering it.”

        The county board of commissioners took the request under advisement. But the commissioners appeared supportive of extending the $24,000 contract through 2002.

        “I am really pleased with what you've come up with,” said Commissioner Martha Dorsey. “This is a thread that runs through a whole lot of our community and our history.”

        Mr. Knepp said he plans to submit eight new sites in January for consideration by the National Park Service. In March, trail markers for sites already identified could be installed.

        A guided bus tour of the sites is planned for April 6, said Mr. Knepp, and a self-guided driving brochure of the sites could be published in June.

        His group would like to submit five to seven additional sites in July.

        Mr. Knepp said the opening of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in 2004 on Cincinnati's riverfront will attract even more interest.

        “We can promote this as a heritage tourism destination,” said Mr. Knepp. “We will be able to take people to actual sites where this happened.”

        With proper documentation and evidence, underground railroad sites can include natural landscape features (such as points where the river was crossed by slaves), gravesites of underground railroad conductors, homesites of individuals involved in the railroad, homes and farms used as hiding spots, and churches involved in helping the network of underground railroads.

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