ACROSS AMERICA — If you want to own a piece of history from one of the largest freedom movements in U.S. history, consider a home that once was a stop along the underground railroad, a secret network of abolitionists who, according to some accounts, helped some 100,000 enslaved African Americans escape the U.S. South.
This week in How Much House, we feature properties in Connecticut, Michigan and New York that were once underground railroad safe houses.
The underground railroad, of course, was neither a railroad nor underground, but a network of abolitionists who maintained absolute secrecy — with the people involved knowing little, if anything, about each other — to shuttle enslaved African Americans to freedom.
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The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required that captured escaped slaves be returned to their owners, reinforced the need to keep the mechanics of the network a secret among a few people. Anyone convicted or indicted for assisting in any way to help slaves escape to freedom was subject to fines and imprisonment. That makes documenting the “stations” a daunting task, according to historians.
The estimated monthly cost to live in each of this week’s featured properties is based on a 20 percent down payment and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at current rates. It includes property taxes, insurance and associated fees.
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New York | $625,000
134 River Road, Peru
Listed by: Judith Guglielmo | Fesette Realty LLC
Square feet: 3,504
Acreage: 10.20 acres
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 2 (both full)
Year built: 1810
Annual property tax estimate: $4,625
Estimated monthly cost to live here: $3,674
A historic marker at this property, part of the Peru farming community for more than 200 years, tells the story of Elbridge G. Lapham’s feeding and sheltering slaves traveling the secret route to freedom when he lived there from 1860-1861. With the Canada border only about 50 miles away, Peru was an important last stop on the underground railroad.
The son of Quakers, the first religious movement to condemn slavery and prohibit is members from owning them, Lapham was elected to Congress in 1875 and to the Senate in 1881.
The brick farmhouse where he once lived is surrounded by an orchard of more than 750 apple trees, and has several old barns and outbuildings.
It has a new front porch and a new roof on the attached garage. Other new features include seamless gutters, a new front door and storm door, and some new replacement windows.
One of the five bedrooms is on the main floor. A natural gas hookup serves a new stove in the kitchen and a fireplace in the living room.
Although it has a country feel, the home is within walking distance or a short drive to schools, churches, the library, restaurants and shopping in Peru. Peek inside for more photos.
Michigan | $189,900
1110 N. Linden Road, Flint
Listed by: Lucy Ham | Ham Group Realty
Square feet: 2,942
Acreage: 4.94 acres
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 3 (all full)
Year built: 1843
Annual property tax estimate: $1,406
Estimated monthly cost to live here: $1,206
Known as the Robert Aitken Farm House, this Greek revival/Italianate-style farmhouse with a hip roof and cupola that could be seen from miles around was added to the National Register of Historic Places as an example of high-quality 19th-century architecture.
But it’s also a place where escaped slaves found shelter on the underground railroad. Several underground railroad routes helped escaped slaves move from stations in Indiana to the borders of Canada. One underground railroad route ran through Flint to Port Huron, an easy transit across the St. Clair River to Canada, according to genealogy records.
The home has two entries from the basement, two sets of stairs to the second floor, and a walkup to the third-floor attic. The main floor has a bedroom, and fireplaces in the living room, dining room and kitchen, the latter a stone exterior fireplace.
State historic tax credits are available. Peek inside for more photos.
Connecticut | $529,900
79 Old Town Park Place, New Milford
Listed by: Robert Morey | RE/MAX Right Choice
Square feet: 2,960
Acreage: 2 acres
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3 (2 full)
Year built: 1800
Annual property tax estimate: $3,922
Estimated monthly cost to live here: $3,135
Multiple underground railroad stops in Connecticut have been documented, including a western Connecticut route that included New Milford. A few Underground Railroad properties have been documented in New Milford. Although this one isn’t, the story passed down to the current owners has it as a stop on the Connecticut Freedom Trail.
Important artifacts go with the sale, including a Steinway piano and a portrait of the home that sits above one of the three fireplaces. A wood-burning stove also stays.
The home has three fireplaces, a walk-up attic, a home office space and a workshop on the other side of the property.
The current owners have made significant upgrades, including updated electrical service, thermopane windows and an oil hot water boiler.
This country home is close to shopping and commuter routes. Peek inside for more photos.
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