Indiana’s fourth grade students study the state’s history, as we found out first-hand when we visited the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site in Fountain City. Over a hundred students were visiting on a field trip that day. Apparently that’s common during spring field trip season. I can understand why, since Levi and Catherine Coffin were instrumental in helping over 2,000 runaway slaves, or freedom seekers as they were called, escape to Canada over a twenty-year period. Between student groups, site director Joanna Hahn gave us a tour as she told the fascinating story of this couple whose lives were devoted to helping freedom seekers along the path to a free life.
Levi and Catharine Coffin background
Levi and Catharine Coffin were Quakers, originally from North Carolina. Their opposition to slavery put them in conflict with others in the state, so like many other North Carolina Quakers, they moved north to Indiana, where slavery was illegal. In 1826, the Coffins settled in Newport, which is now Fountain City.
Newport was a busy cog on the Underground Railroad, since three routes merged here. Freedom seekers that crossed the Ohio River at Cincinnati, Ohio; Madison, Indiana; and Jeffersonville, Indiana, all came through Newport.
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Shortly after moving to Newport, the Coffins began aiding freedom seekers. It helped that Levi Coffin owned a dry goods store, since they could purchase supplies without suspicion. Coffin also owned a mill, was involved in meatpacking, and was a director of a bank in nearby Richmond, which meant he signed off on mortgages. He was held in high esteem in the community, which is why he was never outed by any of the neighbors as assisting runaway slaves. Although slavery was illegal in Indiana, helping runaway slaves was also illegal. Many in the community knew what he was doing, but no one would turn him in. First of all, he was a genuinely good person. Secondly, who would turn in the person who might be approving their mortgage?
Levi and Catharine Coffin House
When Levi and Catharine Coffin first moved to Newport, they lived above their dry goods store. They eventually had a house built, which Levi designed. They moved into the house in 1839, and they lived there until they moved to Cincinnati in 1847.
Touring the house, it’s obvious it was built to harbor freedom seekers. One room has five exits, which means that if someone came knocking at the door, freedom seekers could escape the room in five directions. A 15-foot long upstairs closet has a small door that could be hidden behind a piece of furniture. And then there’s the basement kitchen, which was uncommon in those days. A brick basement floor was even more uncommon.
There is also a well in the basement. Levi built the house over a spring, so there was always flowing water. It seems the Coffins thought of everything. With the indoor well, no one could suspect them of harboring freedom seekers based on their bringing an inordinate amount of water into the house from outside.
Catharine Coffin’s part in assisting freedom seekers
While Levi was doing his part in maintaining a high profile in the community and transporting freedom seekers to the next Underground Railroad station, Catharine took care of the freedom seekers at home. She cooked, provided clothing, and gave them a good place of respite. Unless bounty hunters were in the area, it was’t necessary to hide the freedom seekers in closets.
The Coffins aided the freedom seekers year-round. Although the weather was more conducive to travel during the summer, the frozen Ohio River in the winter provided a good opportunity to escape. Freedom seekers usually arrived a few at a time, but on one occasion there were seventeen. Imagine harboring seventeen people in your home and not raising suspicions.
William Bush, a freedom seeker, and his great-great granddaughter
William Bush was a fugitive slave from North Carolina. Legend has it that he had himself shipped in a wooden box to Levi Coffin. Unlike most freedom seekers who went on to Canada, William Bush stayed in Newport, despite the fact that he might be caught, and assisted the Coffins in helping other freedom seekers. It helped that Newport had a community of free blacks living there. William Bush became a successful blacksmith.
A pair of wooden shoes, with a hole worn in the bottom, is on display in the historic site’s interpretive center, next door to the home. The shoes were apparently the ones that Bush wore when he escaped North Carolina.
Today Eileen Baker-Wall, William Bush’s great-great granddaughter is a volunteer docent at the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site. It was a pleasure to meet her during our visit.
Visiting the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site
The Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site is located at 201 US-27 in Fountain City, Indiana. Start your visit at the interpretive center. Watch the orientation video and browse the exhibits that tell the story of the Underground Railroad, both from the community perspective and the national perspective. Tours of the house begin from the interpretive center.
The site is open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). Check the website for hours, holiday schedule, and admission.
Accommodations
We stayed at the Seldom Scene Meadow Bed & Breakfast during our visit to the area. Check rates.
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Disclosures: Visit Richmond Indiana hosted our visit to the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site. However, any opinions expressed in this article are my own.
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How interesting! I recently visited an Underground Railroad stop in Wisconsin and was amazed at what an incredible piece of the community’s history it was. Great post!
Thank you, Megan! I’m always intrigued by the people who risked their own lives to help save others along the Underground Railroad.
Fascinating! I grew up in a town with several underground railroad stops, and have become enthralled with the concept since returning to the Midwest. Definitely putting this one on my to-visit list. Thanks for the inspo!
The Coffin House is definitely worth the stop. The new interpretive center next door has a lot of fascinating information.