SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) – A 174-year-old home in Springfield that was once in danger of being torn down has been restored for visitors.
Before the end of the Civil War, the Gammon House , located at 620 Piqua Place in Springfield, played a crucial role in the path to freedom.
“The Gammons lived here for over 50 years—George and Sarah Gammon,” details Dale Henry, President of the Gammon House. “They lived here, raised seven children.”
Built in 1850 at a cost of about $450, history is housed within the walls. The Gammon House served as a safe haven for runaway slaves as one of the stops on the Underground Railroad.
UD student launches program to inspire future legal scholars
“It was a risky business. A safe house was some place where an escaped slave could come and get food, change of clothing, and get some rest before they move on to the next underground railroad site, which is usually generally about 12 to 15 miles away,” describes Henry. “Slavery was a very brutal existence for the slaves, for most slaves. Slaves were looking for not only freedom but also social justice. A slave could be beaten, or they could be tortured, or they could be branded, or they could even be raped, or even killed without any hope for justice. They were looking for a way to get away from that.”