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THE BIG DIG: Mystery of Underground Railroad tunnel investigated at N. 7th St. home
Anne Chlovechok/The Daily Jeffersonian
January 14, 2008
Supposedly, there is the entrance to an Underground Railroad tunnel under the house. Reportedly, the tunnel runs, or once ran, all the way down Seventh Street to where the old convent used to stand, across the street from today's St. Benedict Catholic Church convent.
What an enticing possibility that an opening to this old escape route for slaves fleeing to the North might be found!
Saturday, a group of Boy Scouts from two different local troops and one Cub Scout pack spent the afternoon digging in the basement of the house, where there are two areas of dirt floor. The excavation began at 3 p.m. with Jeff Thornton from Troop 526 and Doug Thornton and Parker Chlovechok and Chris Chesler from Troop 520 and Cooper Chlovechok from Pack 520 wielding the shovels.
The digging went on for several hours and a number of interesting things were unearthed. There was a one-legged, plastic spaceman, some old, glass marbles, Lincoln logs, pieces of rotted wood, a plastic baby toy, and many chunks of coal. The pile of dirt removed from the holes the boys dug grew to the size of a Volkswagen on a tarp on the basement floor. The holes joined into trenches, and finally the entire 12-by-20-foot area was taken down by about three feet.
The stone staircase rumored to lead down to the tunnel was not found.
Meanwhile, Doug Thornton had decided to dig in another area of the basement -- inside the tiny fruit cellar. He soon ran into rock, and wanted to pursue his find, but the digging was finished for the evening, and he has to wait for next weekend.
There are those in town who have supposedly seen the entrance into this tunnel, but they could not be reached for comment.
If anyone knows of its existence, and where in the basement it is located, call The Daily Jeffersonian at 439-3531, ext. 231, and message will be relayed to this reporter.
http://www.daily-jeff.com/news/article/3139891
Photo By Michael Neilson/The Daily Jeffersonian
No, they're not digging for treasure but rather history. On Saturday, this group including Alex Mullen, r, who owns this home at 514 N. Seventh Street, began digging looking for what some told him was a tunnel under his home which was once part of the Underground Railroad. Also digging are Doug Thornton, Parker Chlovechok, Cooper Chlovechok and Jeff Thornton. There are rumors of underground tunnels -- from coal mines to sewer lines -- all over town. That's why many have to carry mine subsidence insurance on their homes. But the tunnel rumored to exist beneath 514 N. Seventh St. is a bit more mysterious.
Anne Chlovechok/The Daily Jeffersonian
January 14, 2008
Supposedly, there is the entrance to an Underground Railroad tunnel under the house. Reportedly, the tunnel runs, or once ran, all the way down Seventh Street to where the old convent used to stand, across the street from today's St. Benedict Catholic Church convent.
What an enticing possibility that an opening to this old escape route for slaves fleeing to the North might be found!
Saturday, a group of Boy Scouts from two different local troops and one Cub Scout pack spent the afternoon digging in the basement of the house, where there are two areas of dirt floor. The excavation began at 3 p.m. with Jeff Thornton from Troop 526 and Doug Thornton and Parker Chlovechok and Chris Chesler from Troop 520 and Cooper Chlovechok from Pack 520 wielding the shovels.
The digging went on for several hours and a number of interesting things were unearthed. There was a one-legged, plastic spaceman, some old, glass marbles, Lincoln logs, pieces of rotted wood, a plastic baby toy, and many chunks of coal. The pile of dirt removed from the holes the boys dug grew to the size of a Volkswagen on a tarp on the basement floor. The holes joined into trenches, and finally the entire 12-by-20-foot area was taken down by about three feet.
The stone staircase rumored to lead down to the tunnel was not found.
Meanwhile, Doug Thornton had decided to dig in another area of the basement -- inside the tiny fruit cellar. He soon ran into rock, and wanted to pursue his find, but the digging was finished for the evening, and he has to wait for next weekend.
There are those in town who have supposedly seen the entrance into this tunnel, but they could not be reached for comment.
If anyone knows of its existence, and where in the basement it is located, call The Daily Jeffersonian at 439-3531, ext. 231, and message will be relayed to this reporter.
http://www.daily-jeff.com/news/article/3139891
Photo By Michael Neilson/The Daily Jeffersonian
No, they're not digging for treasure but rather history. On Saturday, this group including Alex Mullen, r, who owns this home at 514 N. Seventh Street, began digging looking for what some told him was a tunnel under his home which was once part of the Underground Railroad. Also digging are Doug Thornton, Parker Chlovechok, Cooper Chlovechok and Jeff Thornton. There are rumors of underground tunnels -- from coal mines to sewer lines -- all over town. That's why many have to carry mine subsidence insurance on their homes. But the tunnel rumored to exist beneath 514 N. Seventh St. is a bit more mysterious.
