LAWRENCE COUNTY, OH — The Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tourism Initiative announced on May 8, 2025, a significant milestone in its mission to preserve the region’s Underground Railroad history, with eight newly verified sites added to the National Park Service’s (NPS) National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The initiative, supported by an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER Grant awarded to the Lawrence Economic Development Corp. (LEDC), spans nine counties across Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Upon completion, the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Tour will feature 27 verified Network to Freedom sites, aiming to safeguard historical locations while boosting cultural tourism in the Appalachian region.
Two dedication ceremonies are scheduled for June 2025 to unveil historical markers at the newly recognized sites. On June 4 at 10:00 AM, events will take place at 305 N. 5th Street in Ironton, Ohio, honoring the Campbell House and the Ironton African Methodist Church (now Quinn Chapel AME Church). The Campbell House, once home to John and Elizabeth Campbell, served as a key station for Underground Railroad operations in Lawrence County, assisting freedom seekers alongside local abolitionists. Quinn Chapel, founded by Retta and Gabe N. Johnson, played a vital role in helping freedom seekers escape through the Hanging Rock Iron District across the tri-state area.
On June 8 at 4:00 PM, ceremonies will continue at 1421 Waller St in Portsmouth, Ohio, recognizing Pleasant Green Baptist Church and Allen Chapel AME Church. Pleasant Green, the oldest active Black Baptist congregation in Portsmouth, was founded by formerly enslaved individuals and allies, deeply tied to the Underground Railroad in Appalachian Ohio. Allen Chapel, with roots in the pre-Civil War era, supported freedom seekers through the efforts of members like John J. Minor, Martha Minor, Joseph Love, and John Q. and Mary Weaver, leaving a lasting legacy of courage.
Dr. Andrew Feight, Director of Research and Outreach for the initiative, emphasized the project’s impact: “It is exciting to see this Federal investment in the historical assets we have in the tri-state region. Our research is recovering important lost chapters of local history that will transform our understanding of the past and help draw interest and visitors to the region.” Marty Conley, LEDC/Tourism Director of Lawrence County, added, “We’re honored that the Appalachian Heritage Freedom Tourism Initiative has helped make it possible for the National Park Service to recognize these Underground Railroad sites.”
Rev. Antonio Neeley, Pastor of Pleasant Green Baptist Church and an Outreach Specialist for the project, highlighted the church’s historical significance: “Pleasant Green Baptist Church symbolizes the importance of the history of the African American church as it relates to what it means to help people be set free. I am proud to be connected to these great leaders of Portsmouth.” Karen Nance, Outreach Specialist for Cabell County, West Virginia, underscored the human element of the initiative: “We need to remember that [enslaved individuals] were people. They had talent, ambition, work ethic… We’re telling heroic stories of people who were seeking their freedom.”
The Network to Freedom program, established by Congress in 1998, now includes over 800 sites and programs across 41 states, Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada, each verified as a true story of individuals who escaped enslavement. For more information, visit www.appalachianfreedom.com or contact Marty Conley at [email protected].
