UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SAMPLER

 "Steal away to Jesus, Steal away I ain't got long to stay here.My Lord calls me. He calls me by the thunder.The trumpet sounds within my soul, I ain't got long to stay here...." -Spiritual (This song is the call to steal away to freedom.)

  The Underground railroad was a series of safe houses (also called Stations) and abolitionists who helped people to escape  to Ohio into Canada in the middle of the 19th century. Those who helped the escapees ("passengers"),were called  "conductors".  

  These are the  squares of the Underground Railroad Quilt. Some I have modified. I haven't sashed them all into a full quilt yet. It's been a rather lengthy project and I need time to figure out how I want to sew them together.They are different sizes, so will take me a bit to sort them out. That's for another post....But here are the squares and their meanings.

 NINE PATCH/LOG CABIN: Not a traditional log cabin, I liked the nine patch better, so used this as my "log cabin", instead. The centre is always red, to symbolize hearth or home/ A yellow centre  would indicate a light in the night helping slaves  through the night.

 FLYING GEESE: Slaves  watch the migrating birds for escape routes north.  Also known as Birds in Flight.

 BOW TIE: this symbol told slaves what to wear, to get rid of their old clothes and dress to the nines in fresh clothing.The triangles are symbols of the compass. This pattern is  also known as Broken Dishes . Broken dishes on a grave were a particular superstition at the time.

 CARPENTER's Wheel(left top) (adapted):Follow the  Wheel to the north west.
 BASKET:Bring food for the journey North. 
DRUNKARD's PATH (adapted):I changed this somewhat, not being crazy about the original.The code it held was to tell escapees to stagger their  path. Not to keep to a straight line, in order to fool the pursuers.
BEAR's PAW(bottom right):Follow the trail of a bear, or animal , because those tracks would lead most likely to water and food.

 The most famous "conductor"  was Harriet Tubman. She escaped from slavery about 19 times, it is recorded, and she aided over 300 slaves. She would hide them in the woods while she went to get food and water.It is said that she sang  a song into the air to let her charges know she was coming back... 

 CROSSROADS: Once safe through the Appalachian Mtns, escapees had to travel to a city where they would be safe.the main crossroads was Cleveland, Ohio. Then cross Lake Erie and into Canada.

 JACOB'S LADDER: the Light and Dark of the square point the way. 

 It is said that over 100,000 people were able to escape slavery between the American Revolution and the Civil War.  "Steal away to Jesus...." Slavery was outlawed in 1793 in Canada.In 1819 it was declared by government that all those who were slaves before would have their freedom protected.By 1834 slavery in Canada was gone.
                         
 Monkey Wrench

 MONKEY WRENCH 1: It was a signal to bring tools for the journey.

 NORTH STAR 1  My favourite block of all.........

 NORTH STAR 2: The light that guided the slaves North. To Canada. 

 SAIL:Owners of boat helped slaves escape through the waterways, on board a boat.

 (NORTH STAR 3 variation) It is said that over 100,000 people were able to escape slavery between the American Revolution and the Civil War.  "Steal away to Jesus...."

 SHOO FLY: Represents a person who has helped escaping slaves. Sometimes  they hid in churches or caves, graveyards, waiting for a signal to steal away.

 Though it was not really a "railroad" it was a resistance movement. The "train" was also known as the "Freedom train" ,as well as by many other names, and Canada  the " Promised Land".Life in the North was not all that easy. By the outbreak of the Civil war many enlisted in the Union Army. Some returned to Canada at the end, and some remained in the States to join family members who were left behind.Quilt historians have long debated the idea of the "Code" behind the railroad quilt. All believe that it is inspirational . The hope of a people. Set free. 

 STAR, MONKEY, CROSSROADS, WRENCH                         

WAGON WHEEL (adapted): Pack what you will need for a long journey north.
PHOTOGRAPHS 2019