If you travel just over 8 miles away from Millersville, you will get to the town of Columbia, Pennsylvania, which the nineteenth-century historian Robert Clemens Smedley labeled as the birthplace of the Underground Railroad. In his published account of the Underground Railroad’s presence in Pennsylvania, Smedley describes Columbia as a key station on the Underground Railroad because of its proximity to the Pennsylvania-Maryland border, just across the Susquehanna River.
On Friday, October 19, 2018 two sections of Dr. Jakubiak’s class ENGL 333 African American Literature will travel to Columbia to learn more about this part of local history. They will participate in the guided tour of Underground Railroad, led by Christopher Vera, the President of Columbia Historic Preservation Society. Students will first visit Underground Railroad Exhibit at Miller Manse, where they will see many railroad artifacts and photographs. Then, they will walk to Smith & Whipper Lumber Mill, Thaddeus Stevens, first black settlement, Bank & Bridge Co. building, William Wright’s homestead, and Wrights Mansion, all sites with historical ties to Underground Railroad. The tour will end with questions.
Students will travel to Columbia with Shultz Transportation in two groups at the following times:
- Group 1: Departing from SMC at 9:30am, returning to Millersville at noon.
- Group 2: Departing from SMC at 12:30pm, returning to Millersville at 3pm.
There are a few seats open on both tours. If you would like to join this trip, please e-mail Dr. Jakubiak at katarzyna.jakubiak@millersville.edu.
