Freedom Seekers on the Underground Railroad

"Freedom Seekers on the Underground Railroad in Northeastern Illinois," will be the program
of the Park Forest Historical Society on Sunday February 21 at 2:30 p.m. in Park Forest
Village Hall. Dr. Larry A. McClellan, local historian, will present his research into evidence of
Underground Railroad activity in the Park Forest area and in Northeastern Illinois.
Society programs are offered free to the general public. Parents with children and
students are welcome to attend.

A major route for freedom seekers was through Will County and South Cook County,

then overland through Indiana and Michigan or through Chicago; with the goal of reaching

Detroit and then Canada. There are a large number of documented sites of this activity in

our local region and in Chicago. The McCoy farm, located in what is now Cook County

Forest Preserve District property along Sauk Trail, is known to have been one stop for

escaping slaves. The Ton farm in Riverdale was another major stop.

Dr. McClellan has done several presentations on the Underground Railroad for the State

Historical Society and will present again at their annual symposium in March. He is currently

completing a book on Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad in Northeastern Illinois.

Dr. McClellan has written extensively on the history of the region south of Chicago.

For information on the program, contact the Society.