Field Trip to Levi Coffin House--Another Opportunity to Count our Blessings

We recently went on a field trip to the Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, Indiana. It was about a two hour drive, but well worth the trip.
Built in 1839, the house was a part of the Underground Railroad and is a registered National Historic Landmark. Levi and Catharine Coffin were Quakers who helped more than 2000 slaves reach safety, and Levi is often referred to as the President of the Underground Railroad.
Several different escape routes led to the Coffin house, and once there, slaves could be concealed for several weeks. One of the slaves who hid there was "Eliza", whose story is told in Uncle Tom's Cabin.
In 1847, the Coffins moved to Cincinnati, where they helped another 1,300 slaves escape.

Slaves were hidden in this cubbyhole, and the bed pulled over in front of the door.

Slaves were hidden between straw tick mattresses. (See the rope wound beneath the mattress to support it? Thus the admonition to "sleep tight!")

Bed with trundle underneath. See the chamber pot at the foot of the bed. (Counting our blessings--bathrooms with toilets) Reed was concerned that the parents would step on the kids when they got up.

Pitcher and wash basin (Counting our blessings--hot showers with running water)

Baby cradle. Notice the slats cut in the bottom? In a time of no disposable diapers, nor even any rubber pants, it was important to ventilate the cradle. I'm beginning to think this room didn't smell too good by morning... (Counting our blessings--many!)

Fireplace and bedwarmer that was filled with hot ashes or coals. (Blessings--electricity and a furnace.)

Kitchen fireplace (Once again, we are thankful for our stove...and microwave, crockpot, toaster, coffeepot.)

Washboard--first you heat water in the fireplace, then put it into washbasin with homemade soap, then wash and dry dishes. (Blessings--hot running water, a garbage disposal, and soap we don't have to labor over a hot fire to make. No dishwasher? Guess it's not so bad.)

Ironing anyone? Your own weight lifting system. (Not only do we have irons that heat up and stay hot, but they are light-weight and we don't have to iron very many clothes with today's dryers.) And see the vacuum cleaner hanging on the front of the cabinet? :)

Hmm, guess no one had to wait much! (Didn't have to worry about remembering to flush or put the lid down. Wonder what they used for toilet paper?)

Even school is much easier now. They didn't have white-out, let alone a computer to delete or undo errors. How did they go about researching something?

A wagon with a secret compartment used to hide and transport slaves.

"This house was called the 'Union Depot of the Underground Railroad,' and more than 2000 escaped slaves were cared for here."
Tablet placed by Wayne Co. Society of Indianapolis

Levi and Catharine Coffin were extraordinary people who risk their lives to help others. Their children, relatives and many friends and townspeople were involved in their work. I thought it was especially interesting that one of Levi's cousins was Lucretia Coffin Mott, who was one of the first proponents of the women's vote.