Description

According to oral tradition, fugitive slaves found lodging on the Ozem Gardner land in a structure that looked like a dugout. A small one room structure, it was built into the bank of the creek that flowed through the Gardner farmlands. Possible uses for the structure may have been storage or a site for burning brick. The runaway slaves found shelter there until Mr. Gardner could assist them on their trip to the next station along one of several underground railroad trails that continued from that location. It has been said that on cold nights, Mr. Gardner brought the travelers into his house for warmth. An infant of one of the travelers died and was buried in the home's basement, according to reports. This photograph depicts the shelter as it stands in contemporary times.

Record Contributed By

Worthington Libraries

Record Harvested From

Ohio Digital Network