Historical Markers in the area for the underground railroad

SOUTH BEND, Ind - Larry McClellan, a historian at Governor's University in Illinois has dedicated years to researching the underground railroad.

He's currently looking at historical markers in the Michiana area where freedom seekers found support.

“We are really identifying the patterns of movement for freedom seekers," said McClellan. "These folks by all means possible escaped from their enslavement in the south and came up through Illinois, came up thought Indiana, and most were on the way to Detroit then freedom in Canada."

The Bartlett House and the Bulla House are two places in South Bend associated with the underground railroad.

Another local connection is the Bonine House located in Cass County which became a haven for many.

“There were an assortment of white quakers who were responding including folks relating to the Bonine House, the Steven Bogue House and several other sites," said McClellan. "Cass county is particularly rich because it has a very long tradition of African American settlers going back into the 1820s and 1830s."