The Underground Railroad Freedom Center is the place to open up your mind. The Center celebrates the heroes who created the Underground Railroad; a secret network slaves used to escape to freedom, but the center also makes people aware of the 27 million people worldwide who are still trying to get their freedom.
The Freedom Center has been on my bucket list from the day it opened in 2004 and finally, John and I got to visit during our recent visit to Cincinnati. It was just down the street from the Hyatt where we were staying and nearby there is a Bell Connector bus that stops at major sites in the city – very convenient.
The Center was much more than I had expected. I figured it would
be about American slavery; and, it was; but it is more than that. There were displays that explored the history of slavery plus present day heroes working to eliminate slavery.
The videos and displays were informative. I am familiar with Harriet Tubman and I am always fascinated by Levi Coffin who managed to get slaves to freedom by pretending they were part of a funeral parade. It is worth noting that the Freedom Center is located just steps from the Ohio River, the dividing line between freedom and slavery. There is more to slavery than that which most of us know about.
Many people think that when slavery was outlawed in America that
was the end of slavery. Not so. The Center has a great section dealing with Nelson Mandela and his struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was the practice of segregating non-whites to specific locations and not allowing non-whites, who were the majority of the population, to participate in politics while the economics and educational restrictions of apartheid keep the non-whites poor. There is a replica of the prison cell where Mandela was held for many years.
Actually, slavery has existed for centuries but only America made it hereditary. Slavery, in several forms, still exists. Slavery is defined as the total physical and/or mental control of a person for the purpose of exploiting their labor or body for commercial of personal gain. The center defines five types of slavery: forced labor, debt labor to repay a debt, sex slavery, child slavery, and domestic servitude.
I think most of us are familiar with the sex trade because it is one of
the few kinds of slavery that makes the news. In the Unites States child labor was common until the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Children were employed in the textile industry because they were small and could maneuver in the tight conditions of the looms and other equipment. Today it is not uncommon to see children working in foreign counties making carpets. Years ago John and I visited one such shop in Egypt. The owner said he was teaching them a lifelong trade and cared for them because otherwise they would be living on the street. Interesting rationalization.
There are things we can do to help eliminate slavery in other countries. One of the easiest ways is to buy Fair Trade Certified products which ensure that farmers, workers, and fishermen are fairly treated, work in safe conditions, and are paid a sustainable salary.
The Freedom Center wants visitors to know about slavery today and to understand how modern slavery relates to the “American experience” and to “empower each of us with the knowledge that we can end slavery.”
Remember the days of the Longaberger home parties? I do; however, I never bought one. Ten years ago when John and I were in Ohio we stopped in Newark to see the World’s Largest Basket. It was actually the corporate headquarters for the Longaberger Company. The building is still there but sadly it is unoccupied and will be auctioned off with the starting bid - if you are interested - equal to the $700,000 tax debt. The building cost $32 million to build in 1997.
Dave Longaberger wanted to create Longaberger-world with hotels, amusement rides, and eateries - something similar to Hershey, PA. It never came to fruition and today there is only Longaberger Homestead. He died just before the Visitor Center opened. There was hardly anyone there and most of the buildings were not open. The Visitor Center is beautiful and has a gift shop with
Longaberger baskets and other locally made items “mostly hand-touched products, made in America.” A couple of the rooms in the main building are dedicated to the Longaberger story. There is a “make your own basket” area whereby visitors can pay to make a basket – at great expense, I might add. They will also restore baskets. Most baskets will become family heirlooms. All Longaberger baskets are signed by the maker and labeled “Longaberger”
The Homestead has a large apple basket, the first workshop of Dave Longaberger’s father, the family homestead and a couple other buildings. Only the large Visitor Center and workshop are open. The Longaberger family moved to Dresden, Ohio in 1896. At that time baskets were as common as paper bags are now. His father took a job with the Dresden Basket Factory and learned the art of basket making. His son, Dave, had a severe shuddering problem and epilepsy but that did not stand in
his way. As a youngster he worked at so many different jobs his family called him the “25-cent millionaire.” He owned and operated a small restaurant and an IGA store. Noticing the baskets were becoming popular he asked his father to make some which he took to local shops. They sold and stores asked for more. The baskets were sold, with varying degrees of success, in malls and department stores. Dave
Longaberger found the most effective way to sell the baskets was via home shows whereby an educated home consultant would show Longaberger baskets, share the history, touting the excellent craftsmanship. There are still Longaberger home shows. The market for the baskets is not
what it used to be and the workforce has diminished. The baskets are now made in a factory near the Homestead. It is sad because so many people in the area were employed by Longaberger. I chatted with a lady who no longer has family members who work for the company but she said it was the reason they moved to Dresden.
We stayed at the lovely Inn at Dresden, which was the home of Dave Longaberger. He used to play on the hill where the Inn is now located pretending he controlled everything as far as he could see. The view is beautiful. Interestingly, the dining room has a section of La Guerre d’Independence. They say the only other place that has parts of the mural/wall paper is the White House but I know different. There is a section in Frances Tavern in NYC; and to my knowledge, Mexico High School has the only complete set.
The Freedom Center wants visitors to know about slavery today and to understand how modern slavery relates to the “American experience” and to “empower each of us with the knowledge that we can end slavery.”
