Begins her 1998 Underground Railroad Run ESSIE GARRETT Begins her 1998 Underground Railroad Run
Bucktown, Maryland, is the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, the only woman to be an Underground Railroad leader.
Harriet escorted over 300 slaves through secret routes north to safety, in Saint Catherines, Canada. With help from mostly Quaker people, Harriet was able to shelter the refugees and keep them alive through the long and difficult trip.
On Saturday, August 1st, 1998, Essie begins her run with a 7 AM kickoff ceremony, at the Harriet Tubman house. Day one ends in Easton Maryland.
Saturday, August 1, 1998:
The adventure begins! Saturday at 5:30 AM we broke camp. By 6 AM we were at Harriet Tubman's birthplace.
"Harriet Tubman: 1820-1881
The Moses of her people found freedom for herself and 300 slaves, and led them to the north and safety. In the Civil War she served the Union Army as a nurse, scout, and spy."
Matt Johnson from Havre de Grace and Dimitri Pinder of the Harriet Tubman Foundation brought out a banner reading:
"Run Essie, Run!"
which is now on the back of the van.
Bucktown, Maryland, August 1, 1998:
Essie slept on top of the van Friday night, outside a church cemetery. In the morning the group learned that the cemetery had been segregated in the old days, and that the Black people were buried on top of each other.
The Methodist Bishop there got into trouble with the authorities because they thought he was involved with Harriet Tubman. They found maps in his house and took him to court, but couldn't prove anything. Determined to bring the Bishop down, the authorities finally put him in prison for owning a copy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
Harriet Tumban's mother and father lived two miles apart. Harriet's father, a free man, bought Harriet's mother, a slave, for $20.00. Legally, she was still his slave, because of a law saying that no slave over 50 could be freed. The theory was that they would be unable to take care of themselves.
Thanks To:
WMDT TV Channel 7 (ABC)
Daily Banner - Bucktown
For Coverage
 Essie Garrett with the Harriet Tubman sign |  Harriet Tubman's Neighbor |  Dorchester County Courthouse, site of slave auctions |
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 Essie talking with a slaveowner's grandson |  Methodist Church and Cemetery, where we spent the first night |  Methodist Church |
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 The Methodist Cemetery |  Essie, Dolly (Assistant Director of Max Fund), and friends and family in Maryland. |  The Bishop's Arrest Documents |
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 Gate on the road to Harriet Tubman's House site |  Another house in the vicinity. The Tubman house was torn down. |  Essie in tall grass on the Tubman property |
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 Home for Essie and the Crew |  The Motor home and the Church |
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