Everyone familiar with Chattanooga knows about its history as a railroad hub and the famous Chattanooga Choo Choo song. But prior to connecting the American South to the Midwest, a different railroad system dominated the area: The Underground Railroad.
The Underground Railroad was a covert network of abolitionists, safe houses, and secret routes in the United States, operating from the late 18th century until 1865. It helped thousands of enslaved African Americans escape to free Northern states, Canada, Mexico, and other territories.
It was not an actual railroad, but a secret movement that provided enslaved people with a way out of bondage. A path via “stations” and “conductors.” It was intentionally disorganized to protect participants. It consisted of “stations” (safe houses/basements), “station masters” (those who hid them), and “conductors” (those who guided them).
During a visit to the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, I read about Jacob Cummings. He was around three years old when he and his mother were enslaved by farmer James Smith who owned property on Moccasin Bend when Hamilton County was established in 1819…