Exploring Petaluma's links to Abolition and the Underground Railroad

Figure who arrived to work as a minister in the latter half of the 19th century, played a significant role in the fight to abolish slavery.

photo credit: Marc Albert/KRCB
Nzinga Woods, co-founder of the Sonoma County Black Forum decorates the
grave of Abolitionist Adam Rankin at Cypress Hill Cemetery in Petaluma

History is all around us, and Friday morning, about 40 people, mainly educators, gathered in a Petaluma cemetery at the gravesite of the Reverend Adam Rankin, to honor him.

Now celebrated, Rankin and his father, John Rankin were considered seditious outlaws prior to the Civil War. An Ohio abolitionist, the elder Rankin was a prolific "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, who recruited his sons to help.

The whole event came about serendipitously. This summer, local educators toured Underground Railroad sites back East and met up with historian and storyteller Hardy Brown of Footsteps for Freedom, who showed them around. Petaluma was mentioned as the younger Rankin's final resting place.

That sparked conversations, which led to an invitation bringing Brown to Petaluma.

Brown lives in Riverside. He had never to the grave site. He said his first visit was quite moving.

"It was powerful, yeah. For me, it's a story of resilience. And its a story of togetherness. And it's really a story of showing that there are always good people that changed the world that looked like all of us. Good people that work together. We just need to continue to tell those stories. The world right now wants us divided, wants us fighting, but the truth is, back in this time, in the 1800s, he was writing letters to his brother, saying some of those same exact things. If they could do that then, what can we do now with all of the luxuries and all of the things that we have? And, when we look at our students, and we look at our schools and our systems, our job is to inspire them to see a greater future," Brown said.

Brown brought an original copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin, translated into German, and a first edition of A Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin. Both were written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. He also had along a single star on a tattered blue field---part of American flag ripped up by Confederates following an early Union defeat.

Rankin provided escaping slaves a safe haven once they made it across the Ohio River. The home, in Ripley Ohio is now a US National Historic Landmark.

Brown filled in a few details, starting by mentioning one of Rankin's 'co-conspirators.'

"John Parker, a black man who was enslaved, actually would go over into Kentucky and help people get across, this is in the book Uncle Tom's Cabin, and in this town, Ripley, Ohio, they would then hide them in several houses, the most prominent house, because there was other people part of this, but the most prominent house in the story, that ties to that amazing book, is the story of the Rankin family," Brown added.

Aiding escapees became more complex and dangerous after passage of  the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, enabling the tracking, arrest and return to bondage of escaped slaves, even in so-called 'Free States.' The act became law as part of a compromise, which enabled California to join the US as a free state.

The Rankin home, a one-time sanctuary became another hiding spot along the route to Canada, and beyond the reach of slave patrols.

Brown said he hopes to inspire educators to bring history to life, and to encourage students by sharing the stories and accomplishments of those who stood up for justice, equality and freedom.

That's a sentiment Diann Kitamura, deputy superintendent at the Sonoma County Office of Education, shares.

"I believe that any kind of history isn't just in the history class, it can be embedded in every single thing that we teach. I don't think it's pigeon-holed into one area, I actually think that because of the diversity of the state and the nation, it should be embedded into every course," Kitamura said.

Kitamura added that she hopes students gain broader perspectives from Brown and others.

"My hope in all of this work around footsteps of freedom, is that people will gain a true deep and empathetic understanding of the history of our country," Kitamura said.

HOST OUTRO: The Sonoma County Office of Education and Brown are hosting additional events this afternoon, the last one starts at 5 p.m.