John Street House
Encyclopedia
The John Street House is an historic home that was part of the Underground Railroad
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and located in Salem, Ohio
.
, was a major nexus of corridors along the Underground Railroad. In the city itself, there were at least six stops, primarily in the southern half, located closest to the actual railroad lines. The John Street House is one of the northernmost stops in Salem.
Built in 1838, the building was initially constructed as the residence of John Street, a son of the city’s co-founder, Zadok Street. The Street family were Quakers
and active in the Western Anti-slavery Society
, an abolitionist
organization then headquartered in Salem. Interested in aiding fleeing slaves, the Streets altered their residence after its initial construction, and provided food and clandestine lodging in several hiding spaces throughout the house. In a windowless basement, fugitive slaves would sleep during the day and travel to another “station” on the Railroad by night. The famous abolitionist John Brown
was a frequent guest at the house.
As of 2006, two secret passageways had been positively located in the house, one in a built-in cabinet, and one trapdoor in the dining room.
January 20, 2011 - Firefighters responded to the historic John Street House at 631 N. Ellsworth Ave. at 4:50 p.m. Jan. 19., Wednesday. There were no injuries and a dog and hamsters were rescued by a neighbor. The house was built in 1838 by John and Martha Street. He was a son of Salem's founder, Zadok Street, and the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and it was famous for its role as an Underground Railroad Station during years preceding and during the Civil War. Famed abolitionist John Brown was a frequent guest at the house. A marker was placed in front by the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War in 1941. The house is also known as "Durand House" or the "Durand Mansion" circa 1966-67. Smoke was pouring from the eaves and the roof of a rear apartment when firefighters arrived. The cause was electrical, Capt. Shawn Mesler said. (Salem News)
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and located in Salem, Ohio
Salem, Ohio
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County and extreme southern Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197....
.
National Register-designated significance
The house is listed on the National Register for its architectural significance.History and role in abolitionism
Salem, OhioSalem, Ohio
Salem is a city in northern Columbiana County and extreme southern Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. At the 2000 census, the city's population was 12,197....
, was a major nexus of corridors along the Underground Railroad. In the city itself, there were at least six stops, primarily in the southern half, located closest to the actual railroad lines. The John Street House is one of the northernmost stops in Salem.
Built in 1838, the building was initially constructed as the residence of John Street, a son of the city’s co-founder, Zadok Street. The Street family were Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
and active in the Western Anti-slavery Society
American Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society was an abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan. Frederick Douglass was a key leader of this society and often spoke at its meetings. William Wells Brown was another freed slave who often spoke at meetings. By 1838, the society had...
, an abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
organization then headquartered in Salem. Interested in aiding fleeing slaves, the Streets altered their residence after its initial construction, and provided food and clandestine lodging in several hiding spaces throughout the house. In a windowless basement, fugitive slaves would sleep during the day and travel to another “station” on the Railroad by night. The famous abolitionist John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
was a frequent guest at the house.
As of 2006, two secret passageways had been positively located in the house, one in a built-in cabinet, and one trapdoor in the dining room.
Controversy
With the House's role in the Underground Railroad, and its association with not only individuals important to Salem's history (John Street, Zadok Street), but also those important to national history (John Brown), it is unusual that the House is not also recognized by the National Register of Historic places for its historic contributions as well.Current status
The John Street House is a private residence, and is not open to the public.January 20, 2011 - Firefighters responded to the historic John Street House at 631 N. Ellsworth Ave. at 4:50 p.m. Jan. 19., Wednesday. There were no injuries and a dog and hamsters were rescued by a neighbor. The house was built in 1838 by John and Martha Street. He was a son of Salem's founder, Zadok Street, and the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and it was famous for its role as an Underground Railroad Station during years preceding and during the Civil War. Famed abolitionist John Brown was a frequent guest at the house. A marker was placed in front by the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War in 1941. The house is also known as "Durand House" or the "Durand Mansion" circa 1966-67. Smoke was pouring from the eaves and the roof of a rear apartment when firefighters arrived. The cause was electrical, Capt. Shawn Mesler said. (Salem News)