The Underground Railroad Society of Cass County organized in 2009 with a mission " to provide a focal point for exploration into the origins and activities of the Underground Railroad; the unique role the people of Cass County and the surrounding area played throughout its existence, and how it impacted local, state and national history". The organization had no money, no property, no membership to speak of. Now, ten years later, URSCC owns and is restoring three Underground Railroad related buildings, and is acquiring a fourth. Membership tops 400 and volunteers are abundant. URSCC has raised and spent about $750,000 on purchasing and restoring the James E. Bonine House and the Bonine Carriage House, the Victorian home of UGRR stationmasters James E. and Sarah Bogue Bonine.
There is a 20 site self-guided driving tour of UGRR sites around Vandalia. Three annual events-- Cass County UGRR Wax Museum, Underground Railroad Days, and Christmas at the Bonine House-- draw thousands from all over the region. Visitors from all over the world tour the Bonine House, Carriage House and the Stephen Bogue House, another UGRR station owned by URSCC, June through September. Docents often get on tour buses and tell the story of the Kentucky Slave Raid of 1847, pointing out sites as they go.
The Bonine House Research Library tells the story of Quakers, free blacks and other abolitionists that were part of the local UGRR. It tells the story of the Kentucky Raid, Ramptown, the 102nd USCT in the Civil War, and Calvin Township, a prosperous black community in the middle of slave times. It houses the research of six Cass County UGRR historians, as well as that of URSCC. Much of the research is digitized and on the URSCC award winning website www.urscc.org Powerpoints that tell the story of the UGRR in Cass County as well as the story of the Bonine House restoration can also be found on the website, and much, much more.
URSCC treasurer, Cathy LaPointe, says there was a sense of destiny about this project. "We were naïve and jumped in with both feet, somehow knowing it would be ok. This is a story that wanted to be told. The URSCC Board has been together since 2011, docents and volunteers are steadfast. URSCC members support us every year with donations from $25 to $10,000, and we receive several grants. As with so many organizations in Cass County, The McLoughlin Family Foundation has been a strong supporter. They took a chance when we had little but a broken down Bonine House. Their first donation allowed us to put on the porches, their current donation will allow us to complete the kitchen and pantry. We plan to finish the Bonine House this year, and the Carriage House in 2020."
LaPointe continues "this community took a stand against slavery. Quakers, free blacks and other abolitionists helped over 1500 freedom seekers on their journey to Canada between 1830 and 1860. They did what was right under very dangerous circumstances. You can download a free ' Take A Stand--Testify!' poster on www.urscc.org. Descendants of these families still live here, children portray their own ancestors in the Wax Museum. URSCC is thrilled to have fulfilled its mission of ten years ago, and looks forward to many more years of celebrating the story and legacy of the Underground Railroad in Cass County, Michigan."
URSCC is 10 Years Old! (2019)
From 1840 to 1850 two lines of the Underground Railroad (UGRR) terminated in Cass County, MI. The Quaker Line started in Cincinnati Ohio, west to Wayne County Indiana, north to Bristol, IN and into Michigan to 'stations' in Porter, Penn and Calvin Townships, known as "Young's Prairie" at that time. The Illinois Line came north from St. Louis to Niles, MI and west to Young's Prairie. UGRR stations were homes, barns and other buildings where fugitive slaves, now known as freedom seekers, were given shelter until taken to the next station by "conductors." Freedom seekers were taken to Schoolcraft, then Battle Creek and to other stations roughly following I-94 to Detroit and Canada. It is estimated that over 1500 freedom seekers were helped on their journey to Canada. Most freedom seekers who came here were from Kentucky and came up on the Quaker Trail. Most UGRR stations in Young's Prairie were on Quaker farms--the names Bogue, Bonine, Shugart, Osborn, East and Lee are well known stationmasters, some of them targets in the infamous 1847 Kentucky Slave Raid. Henry Shepard was a self- manumitted (freed) freedom seeker who settled in Vandalia, became a stationmaster and conductor on the UGRR, and also was part of the Kentucky Raid.
Free black families and black churches, primarily in Calvin Township, were also active in anti-slavery activities and helping freedom seekers on their journey. In the mid to late 1840's free black families came here from primarily Virginia and North Carolina. Stewart, Allen, Ash, Wilson, Hawks, Byrd and Sanders are among several families who settled here during that time. They came here with money and skills. They purchased land and established prosperous farms, becoming valued members of the community. There are several sections owned by free blacks on the 1860 Cass County plat map. Chain Lake Baptist and Mt. Zion AME churches were founded and involved in helping freedom seekers and those wanting to settle here in this safe haven.
One historian says "The story of the Underground Railroad in Cass County is one of cooperation, respect and mutual trust to combat the hated institution of slavery. The interdependency of these groups created a unique environment that helped minimize racism, promote cooperation between the races and create an African American community unique to the North."
Underground Railroad Society Honors Black History Month
"The Underground Railroad in Cass County"
Press Release-- 10/1/2021
Underground Railroad Society of Cass County wins Michigan Humanities Council "Outstanding Humanities Organization for 2021" Award
The Michigan Humanities Council recently presented the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County (MI) the award for Outstanding Humanities Organization 2021 at their awards ceremony in Mackinaw City, MI. MHC presented the plaque and certificate to URSCC saying "Over the past ten years, URSCC has worked to fulfill its mission to research and educate about the Underground Railroad in Cass County, and to restore three UGRR related buildings as focal points for telling the compelling story. Over four hundred members and an eight member Board have brought to life the critical story of a central juncture in the Underground Railroad." URSCC president Mike Moroz, treasurer Cathy LaPointe and docent Cindy Yawkey traveled to Mackinaw City to accept the award. Mike thanked MHC for the great honor, for their support for Underground Railroad Days since 2013, and for their recent grants from H.O.P.E. funds which have helped so many non for profits keep their doors open during the pandemic.
URSCC is pleased to announce that two of their programs have been accepted for listing on the National Parks Service Network To Freedom, a nationwide listing of nearly 700 Underground Railroad (UGRR) sites, with about forty sites in MI. The announcement was made by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, in Washington D.C. on April 23, 2021. The URSCC listings are among sixteen nationwide.
Press Release October, 2021
Press Release January, 2023
Ms. Bonine's Class
One-Room School To Be Restored by Friends of Brownsville School
Underground Railroad Society of Cass County (URSCC) has recently purchased Brownsville School #1, 20559 Osborn St. in Cassopolis, MI. This Calvin Township one-room schoolhouse was built in the early 1840's, and was integrated from the day it opened, until it closed in 1957, making Brownsville #1 among the longest integrated public school in Michigan, and perhaps the first one. Friends of Brownsville School (FBS) has been formed to carry out this project, chaired by Jennifer Ray, retired Cass District Library Director. This group will guide the restoration of the school as a repository of photos and artifacts from all integrated, public, one-room schools in Cass County. Brownsville will also be a demonstration site for Michigan prairie education, inviting tours and education events.
Brownsville School is a legacy of the Underground Railroad, operating primarily in Calvin, Penn and Porter Townships, from 1830s to 1850s. Over 1500 fugitive slaves, now called freedom seekers, were said to be helped on their journey to Canada. Many Free Black families arrived in the area in mid 1840s and early 1850s. The bought property, primarily in Calvin Township, and established thriving farms, becoming respected members of the community. Many descendants of these pioneer Black families still reside in the area. The 1850 census for Calvin Township shows both Black and white children going to school. The 1860 plat map of Calvin Township shows over a hundred Black owned properties, and four one-room schools, Brownsville School #1 is one of them.
URSCC purchased Brownsville School and two acres of property it sits on in November, 2022 from the Richard and Dennis Wooden family, whose relatives went to the school. It was part of the Wooden family farm since 1960's, and required three years to clear title and zoning issues. URSCC has taken steps to save the structure during this interval, tarping the roof and shoring up the foundation.
The extensive restoration will require funding from various sources. Friends of Brownsville School will take on this challenge, as well as historical research and collecting memorabilia from other integrated, public, one-room schools in Cass County. Jennifer Ray says "This humble schoolhouse has extraordinary stories to tell, valuable lessons to teach. FBS looks forward to assisting URSCC to raising Brownsville's voice. Come join us!" If you would like to support this project, or join Friends of Brownsville School, contact Jennifer or go to www.urscc.org
Press Release May, 2021