Local, Organizations, Park Forest

CORRECTION: Underground Railroad Tour Thursday, September 19


Jan Tom Farm House
The old Jan and Aagje Ton Farm House, originally owned by the George Dolton family, of which the Village of Dolton is named. (Photo: Olympia Fields Park District)

Corrected Press Release Sent Monday, Sept. 2, 2019

Olympia Fields, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Olympia Fields Park District announces an Underground Railroad Tour scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2019, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please note: This is a different date from the release sent by the Olympia Fields Park District on August 30.

The cost is $80 per person and includes lunch and transportation.

Those interest must register by September 10, 2019.

“Join us for a fascinating coach bus tour telling tales of the thousands of escaped slaves, ‘Freedom Seekers’ that came through our region prior to the Civil War, who often found refuge and replenishment from local abolitionists,” Mallory Dodds of the Olympia Fields Park District said in a release.

“Our tour takes us to two designated sites on the National Park Service’s ‘Network to Freedom;’ significant locations that have a verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad,” Ms. Dodds said. “Two major routes came through our region, and we will explore and learn about these two routes and others that were part of the network, starting in Crete, Ill. and ending at the Jan Ton Farm near Riverdale, known as a “safe house” for numerous fugitive slaves on their daring journey to escape slavery. We’ll visit other important locations in between.

The Jan Tom Farm
The old Jan and Aagje Ton Farm, originally owned by the George Dolton family, of which the Village of Dolton is named. (Photo: Olympia Fields Park District)

“This 5 1/2 hour tour with a stop for lunch will be narrated by Professor Larry McClellan, the foremost authority on the Underground Railroad in Northern Illinois, and Tom Shepherd of the Little Calumet River Underground Railroad Project. Hear exciting stories of a number of the Freedom Seekers that came through on their perilous quest, risking everything for freedom and those who helped them.”

Register by September 10 –  Call today 708.481.7313 – Ext#221.

Please note: This is a different date from the release sent by the Olympia Fields Park District on August 30.


ARCHIVES