It's worth saying that these folks were heros, to risk all there personal comforts and peace of mind to do the right thing. I'm glad to have learned of their story.
The Coffins are American heroes. Levi Coffin was a genius, all the features of this home to try and help people to freedom. I will have to visit this place sooner than later, especially considering I’m only 3 hours away! Thank You Karl, this was an incredible video, and very inspiring. Also EXTREMELY educational. Best RU-vid channel by a big margin.
One of my 4th great grandfathers worked under a conductor from Girard, PA who worked with other conductors from Trumbull, Ashtabula County, Akron. Fascinating! I’m glad we are descendants of these people
Once again karl this has been a great history lesson. I really enjoy how in depth you get with this. I didn't even care that this is an hour long episode I could listen to you for hours talk about history. Thanks again karl.
Today, with all our formal education, A blacksmith "veterinarian" would raise some eyebrows. Back then, no one in a town or village would have so many horses pass through his hands, old and young, healthy and sick. He probably got to know symptoms, and people would tell him what they did with sick animals, so he'd become a repository of knowledge about what remedies worked for different ailments.
Another factor is that to be a good blacksmith you need to understand, at least in spirit, the scientific approach to the world. There is little room for superstition to an excellent blacksmith outside of marketing and hiding trade secrets. Blacksmithing also makes someone very observant.
it makes sense really. you wouldn't want someone who didn't know animals to shoe your horse or they might bungle the job. likewise if your horse is sick or lame you take them to someone you know can handle animals.
Thank you very much Karl and Sarah. I found the series fascinating and riveting. The Tour Guide was extremely knowledgeable as well. I've added this tour to my bucket list. I've also put my money where my mouth is and increased my Patreon level!
@@InrangeTv I'm not complaining at all. Being from AZ you probably would've frozen to death if you came here this time of year... and I'd prefer to keep you alive. People shouldn't live here in the winter.
Yep, Indiana has FANTASTIC gun laws, but it sure gets cold in the winter! I’m in the Indianapolis area, and I’m finding this 20 degree weather relatively mild compared to what’s coming in January...
Great video, very well done and informative. I live just west of Gettysburg, a mere 1/2 mile from Thaddeus Stevens black smith shop and what was known as Greenwood, basically the cross roads of the underground railroad in south central Pa. Slaves would be brought up over Blue Ridge summit to Caledonia then to pine grove furnace to the Susquehanna river and north to freedom. Many older structures here and the iron masters mansion at pine grove furnace were used as safe houses, and of course just west in chambersburg is where John Brown planned his raid on Harper's Ferry. So I have a great interest in this topic, thanks for sharing it.
The fact you use your channel, whose biggest hit is 'Guns in the Mud!', to not only tell an under told story, but also highlight that there are other stories untold because of the skin colour of the hero. Thank you, and well done. Maybe your flag does fly O'er a land of the free and the home of the brave after all.
Thank you so much for presenting this to us. Levi and Catherine are my great aunt and uncle, and I was given my middle name in their honor. I cannot make my way to Indiana, where my grandmother grew up, to take this tour myself. Thank you for helping me get a little more in touch with my family history.
A friend of mine bought a house in PA that was built in the 1600's. As she did her research with the local historic society, she found that George Washington spent a couple of nights there and later on, a stop in the Underground Railroad. We went through the house and found some interesting stuff. False walls were built and a staircase and ladders leading from the cellar to the attic that was, maybe, a foot or so wide in between them. Up in the attic, an area was walled off. It could fit about 6 standing people. It was also walled off where the slope of the roof came down. It was big enough for people to belly crawl into. Her sons tested the theory for us.
I signed up to your patreon because of this video. I was already a Forgotten Weapons supporter, but this Underground Railroad series is what convinced me. I hope you either revisit this topic, or cover related topics from the era.
Although I am anti-war (ironically interested in guns and pro 2nd amendment), the Civil War is the only war I’d volunteer to fight in. I’m not against southern secession, I’m against slavery and pro civil rights. Never in my right mind have I ever truly understood ideas to the contrary. Thanks for making these videos guys. You have my support for venturing into other subjects.
This is an amazing series of videos that brings alive a movement in American history that is , while not ignored, given little attention. Thank you so very much for the work that you put into this project.
Karl, Thanks for doing this. A great series on a little-discussed topic. I have really enjoyed all three parts...along with all of your other content. Support for IRTV and FW is my most welcome outlay each month. Thanks again nd cheers!
This is exultant content, thank you. The short funny videos are much easier to share effectively and I love them but these types of videos are “fully loaded” with valuable information and help me grow as a person
The very definition of interesting. It's fantastic to see inside their home and more so to have my understanding of their efforts be expanded with the help of this very detailed and informative tour. What a time to be alive... Thank you for sharing this. A really big thanks.
Very good content. This is probably my favorite channel on RU-vid. It's good that you're doing all these different types of content because people looking for one type might be exposed to the other stuff.
It's also worth noting that Black people were generally not taught to read or write - certainly not in the slave states - so would not have been able to write their own equivalent memoirs. But also (and I say this as someone brought up as a Quaker myself), the Coffins had some degree of bourgeouis middle class privilege. They were business people, modestly successful, probably of good reputation, so despite being considered a bit eccentric in their political views, they'd have been respectable - at least sufficeintly to have a degree of protection. Sort of the Ben and Jerry's of their day?
It is not surprising that they never have many details. Frederick ME was also a center for the underground railroad. The reality was that AFTER the Civil War you could still be arrested and prosecuted under the 1850 fugitive slave act!
Is this house in Newport, Indiana? My girlfriend lived there a short time. I laughed when the tour guide said a good question to ask was "what would draw people to Indiana?" Lol. Fascinating video and an hour long is a treat.
No, it's in Fountain City which, as the tour guide says was originally called Newport. And yes, the question still stands, "What would draw people to Indiana." I ask that a lot as I live in Indiana right now.
@@bigdave46148 I have family in Indiana... when I asked them why they would want to live there they told me at least it's better than Oklahoma (where they were moving from).... When I asked them why they'd moved to Oklahoma in the first place they said it was better than Missouri.... incremental goals I guess.
Awesome piece guys! This is the reason this and Forgotten Weapons are two of the best channels on RU-vid, and worth every penny of my Patreon subscription! Thanks Karl and Ian.
awesome series. thanks for putting it out there. i would imagine the literacy levels in the black comunities would have a fair bit to do with the lack of recorded stories of the black side of the history. as an aside, it amazes me strength of belief in a cause it must take to stand against general consensus and knowlingly risk not only your life but future security of your family. i wonder how i would act if faced with the same choices. i wonder what could cause me to take such a stand. i really don't know what it would be and i certainly hope i never find out. henry.
I love the history content on this channel. Seeing this really helps give people an idea of the details about the Underground Railroad they probably won't learn about in school.
Underground Railroad, the original greyman. Content like this is what is missing from the history books and classes of America, and what helps people to understand why we have and believe in the rights enumerated in the Constitution. Would these people have been able to help so many without the Bill of Rights?
Final got a time to watch this long video. You know, once I started watching this I look at the time and be like: Hour long, NOPE~. But I don't say no like I don't wanna watch it. I finally watched it when I get the time and mood right. I keep the tab open to remind me that I do wanna hear this story. This story not about my country, but I still find this very interesting topic. Thanks again for filming. Awesome stuff.
Excellent video, I really appreciate how this town embraced this bit of important history. I am from southern Ohio about 70 miles east of Cincinnati and went to school in Ripley Ohio. The great things about this town is it's underground railroad history. A small river community on the banks of the Ohio in the foothills of Appalachia. What was part of Harriet Beecher Stowe's great novel of this period of American history(Uncle Tom's Cabin) was imparted to her of real life events form abolitionist John Rankin about Eliza carrying her small child across the frozen river from Kentucky into Ripley Ohio. With a small Federal style house on the banks of the river abolitionist John Parker would find the runaway slaves and take them into his homewhen all was well he would put a lantern in the uppermost floor on the west sideon the hill overlooking the river was built Rankin's home. Looking down from the hill into the rivertown below one could see John Parker's home with a lit light in the west window noting that someone had come from the underground. I just really appreciated your video.
I love your content, and this is one of the best things you've posted. This is a fantastic piece of history, and we should never forget how these people of conscience defied unjust and immoral laws to protect and free their fellow humans.
The town I grew up in has an actual underground tunnel system connecting a few different house used to hide slaves escaping, I’m less than 15 miles north of the Ohio river east of Cincinnati. Had a few teachers whose great grandparents settled hear after running from slave masters and finding refuge in a small town
The Mormons/LDS were also abolitionist, very self sufficient/independent and anti-slavery stances they held was part of the many reasons that they were persecuted leading to their move west for religious freedom and ability to realize their independence. Upon moving west to the Deseret Union (what would later be whittled down to and gain eventual statehood as Utah), a 'mission' was given by their prophet/leader to found a settlement which is now St. George, UT. The purpose of that mission among other things was very much to grow cotton and supply that need. It sadly was something of a disaster as it was an inhospitable land and much calamity and misfortune would occur and the cotton growing would ultimately prove a failed endeavor, at least in that respect. The idea of 'paid labor' cotton or not relying on cotton from the South was truly a real challenge at the time, at least it was so for the Deseret Union; Though, much of the blame in this example has fallen upon leadership choosing land not suitable for the task.
I hope someone approaches you to make a series, because Karl you do a fantastic job with this history shows. It reminds me of the old history channel (or the nostalgic view I have of it) where it gave us great stories of the past well teaching us so much.
There’s a house in Henry county that was part of the RR as well. I think a man with the last name of Wesley owned it. I remember it had an indoor well which helped deter surveillance in that respect.
A few years ago the BBC Radio 4 ran a series on the Underground Railway. Not the one made with metal run by electricity that I immediately thought of. It was told over several weeks from two people desperately running from brutality.
This is cool. I'm from NC, and I'm from Quaker Gap, which is part of the road Quakers from Guilford County used to travel to the northwestern part of the state. There is still a large Quaker community in and around Guilford.
When the desk was talked about, I sat up a little bit as I am a resident of Henry County Indiana. Just about 10 miles from where I live is a small town called Greensboro that has a historical marker talking about the underground railroad. Sadly, the house or houses that was used as stations are gone now.
when the teacher says it's not literally an underground railroad, planting tge idea in your mind that there can't be railroads under ground , when infact there are countless top secret facilitys connected by just that
she seemed kinda nervous at first, but seems to relax fairly quickly. she does avoid looking at the camera as though if she were to even glance at it, itd steal her soul. lol.... honestly, shes pretty good at her job. most just go to a basic summary class and then call themselves an expert. we all know those kind of "karens". lol.. but seriously, this woman does a good job. a surprisingly good job. i hope this video increased her business because she seems cool and knowledgeable on the subject.
Karl, this location is less than a half hour from my hometown. Wish I'd paid better attention on Patreon and known you'd be in the area so I could buy you a Coke Zero. Please keep up the historical content. It's great stuff.