Secret Door Inside the Levi Coffin House

The secret door in the maids' quarters of the Levi Coffin House in Fountain City, Indiana, stands as a silent witness to a remarkable chapter in American history.

The Levi Coffin House

Behind this door lay a narrow crawlspace, ingeniously designed to conceal up to fourteen freedom seekers on their perilous journey north. This unassuming feature epitomizes the ingenuity and bravery of Quaker couple Levi and Catharine Coffin, whose home became known as the 'Grand Central Station' of the Underground Railroad.

Constructed in 1838, the Coffin House was more than a residence; it was a sanctuary meticulously crafted to aid those fleeing the bonds of slavery. Beyond the secret crawlspace, the house featured multiple exits in most rooms, a spring-fed well in the basement for an uninterrupted water supply, and ample attic space — all designed to support and protect its clandestine guests.

Levi Coffin, a devout Quaker and successful businessman, alongside his wife Catharine, dedicated their lives to the abolitionist cause. Their home served as a beacon of hope, providing shelter, nourishment, and guidance to an estimated 2,000 enslaved individuals seeking freedom. Catharine organized sewing circles to clothe the fugitives, while Levi coordinated safe passage further north, often under the cover of night.

Their unwavering commitment came at personal cost. Levi faced threats from slave catchers and economic boycotts from those opposing his activities. Yet, he remained resolute, famously stating, "The Bible, in bidding us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, said nothing about colour, and I should try to follow out the teachings of that good book."

Today, the Levi Coffin House stands as a National Historic Landmark, preserved to honour the legacy of those who risked everything in the pursuit of freedom. Visitors can explore the very spaces that once offered refuge, gaining insight into the courage and compassion that defined the Coffins' mission.

The Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad is a term used from about the 1840s to describe an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by the fugitive slaves on their journey north to either the ‘Free States’ or Canada. The railroad spanned 29 states, as well as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Quakers played an active part in it, along with many others.

It was called ‘Underground’ because it was secret and ‘Railroad’ because it marked the ‘passenger’ journey of the fleeing slaves.  The safe houses that were used were known as ‘stations’ and those who allowed their property to be used in this way were known as ‘station masters’.

Those who contributed money or goods to help were called ‘Stockholders’.  The fugitives were described as ‘goods’ to help them to be less easily identified.  ‘Conductors’ were those who planned the routes and often helped and accompanied the slaves in their bid for freedom.

The fugitives moved during the hours of darkness from one station to the next. Stations were usually between 10 and 20 miles apart and the fugitives either walked between them or were hidden in either covered wagons or wagons with false bottoms.

The North Star was used as a guide to find the way.

Beginnings and endings

Although the Underground Railroad began in the 1840s, its roots date back much further. One of the earliest references to runaway slaves receiving organized assistance comes from a 1786 letter written by George Washington. A slave escaped from one of his neighbours and Washington opined that:

“A society of Quakers, formed for such purposes, have attempted to liberate him…acting repugnant to justice…[and] in my opinion extremely impolitely with respect to the State.”

By 1850, more than 3,000 people were working with the Underground Railroad. They risked both fines and imprisonment for trying to help the runaway slaves or ‘Fugitives from Work’ as they were also called.

African Americans like Harriet Tubman, a former slave who made 19 journeys to help first her own family and then other slaves, probably made the greatest contribution, but many others were involved. These were drawn from Methodists and other evangelical groups, as well as Quakers.

By the middle of the 19^th century, it is estimated that over 50,000 slaves had escaped from the South using the Underground Railroad. Plantation owners became concerned about the number of slaves who were managing to escape and in 1850 they persuaded Congress to pass the Fugitive Slave Act.  Federal marshals who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave could be fined $1,000.

People who aided the escapees by providing shelter, food or any other form of assistance could be imprisoned for six months and receive a fine of $1,000. The Fugitive Slave Act did not stop the Underground Railroad from operating.

Other Quaker involvement

There are records of 82 Quakers being involved in Chester County in Pennsylvania alone. Other Underground Railroad Quaker strongholds were Salem, Iowa; Newport, Indiana; Alum Creek, Ohio; Cass County, Michigan; Farmington, New York; and New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Quaker Thomas Garrett (1789 – 1871) is reputed to have helped over 2,700 slaves to escape and was known as the ‘Station Master’ of the final Underground Railroad station, which was in Wilmington, Delaware.  He worked on the Underground Railroad for about 40 years and although he was fined more than $5,400 for helping runaway slaves it did not deter him.

Some Quakers did not feel that acting outside the law was appropriate, despite their concern for the slaves’ plight. They thought that it was better to work within the existing law for the complete abolition of slavery, as this would benefit all slaves rather than the few runaways that they could conceivably help as individuals.

The Underground Railroad came to a natural end with the abolition of slavery at the end of the American Civil War (1861-65) and is Panel 64 (opens in a new tab) on the Quaker Tapestry.

Images from uncredited source