The town of Mt. Pleasant appears unassuming, in eastern Ohio, not far from West Virginia. However, a giant walked these streets. Benjamin Lundy, a Quaker, started publishing his abolitionist paper The Genius of Universal Emancipation in 1821, before even Parker and Rankin in Ripley. Especially interesting was that Lundy did this so close to Virginia (now WV), slave territory.
As much as museums are neat and interesting, I really enjoyed walking the streets of Mt. Pleasant, though my knee didn’t care for it. Feeling the presence of such historical figures, especially one who did as other Quakers and had a slave Free Store (all products made by waged workers, not slaves), was very moving. Getting a chance to see and actually walk in some of the spaces Lundy did was very special to me. As nice and convenient as museums are, it is fun to live history and walk where “the giants” walked. Walking through Mt. Pleasant one can almost close their eyes and be taken back to the antebellum times.
Historic Marker at Mt. Pleasant Ohio
Quaker Meeting House...the Quakers were ardent abolitionists and many giants in the movement were Quakers
Interior of Meeting House
Sign Discussing Meeting House
Historical Marker for Lundy Home
My sister Mary accidentally tried the door to the home, and it was open...Sadly, it was dilapidated and falling apart.
Lundy Home before the inadvertent break-in
Interior of Lundy Home, where the Slave free store was--the slave free stores only had items that were assured to be made by people who earned wages, many Quakers went down South and bought plantations and paid blacks for their wages, in some cases.
From Mt. Pleasant, we moved on to Wheeling, WV and the West Virginia Independence Hall, where WV was born.
West Virginia broke away from Virginia during the American Civil War and was admitted to the Union as a separate state on June 20, 1863 (an anniversary now celebrated as West Virginia Day in the state). It is the only state formed as a direct result of the American Civil War. It is one of only two states to form by seceding from a pre-existing state, the other being Vermont.
As a person whose patrilineage comes from West Virginia, it was fascinating to learn about my grandfather’s home state’s origins. While the video was a bit on the cheesy and melodramatic side, it was correct in that many of these men were brave in seeking to break away from Virginia, knowing some of their fellow citizens would be against them and that the old Commonwealth would be upset. I was moved when we got the same chance to stand where West Virginia was born. In some ways, it was like discovering some of your ancestors and part of your own identity. Again, I have always liked not just watching history or seeing the exhibits, but walking in the same steps. That was special to me. Therefore, while Mt. Pleasant may not be as well known as Wheeling, both were special to me in that we saw, walked and experienced some of the history that we are studying. I look forward to visiting the battlefields, and possibly experiencing some of the same powerful evocations of feeling that I have gotten on each of my two trips to Gettysburg.
West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling, and Signage
The Courtroom of the custom house where West Virginia was born
Statue of Lincoln in the West Virginia Independence Hall
From there, it was on to Frederick, Maryland. Also, as with the URFC, but in a different way, these sites today made me want to take advantage more of the great sites I have in my home state. I live close to General Grant’s boyhood home in Georgetown, where also he went to school. Paying closer attention to some of those plaques, which as an historian and teacher I should do anyway, will be a priority for me.
It was also great to get to know some of the students. It has been an enjoyable experience, and I see why Dr. Rodriguez says this is an opportunity to recharge. Not having some of the usual restraints of academia is a boon.
Watching minor league baseball was also great, as the team in Frederick MD takes its name from Francis Scott Key. Even though I had no interest in the team, being part of baseball and being loosely tied to history was a fun side event.
And that was May 19th of our trip. Next, May 20th, which was Harper's Ferry and Antietam!
[Editor's Note: A photo of the group Mark is travelling with was removed from this posting as it was too large and caused some formatting problems with the sidebar. I'm hoping to get that photo resized and restored as soon as possible. - MATT]
