Black History in New Lenox: Slaves Found Help From Abolitionists

As slaves sought freedom before and during the Civil War, the Underground Railroad often took them through New Lenox.

History shows that these freedom seekers passed through Will County, including at least one notable spot in New Lenox and a few more that are unverified.

Local historian Larry McClellan, who has studied the Underground Railroad in suburban Chicago for the past 15 years, said last year that Will County actually had the most organized network of abolitionists in Illinois.

Read "Exhibit Uncovers Will County's Underground Past" to learn more about McClellan's studies.

In New Lenox, that included Dwight Haven’s farm and Old Brick Tavern, which was located at the corner of Route 30 and Joliet Highway. Local historian Diane Batson said that when the tavern was torn down, a “slave hole” was discovered. It’s the only documented Underground Railroad spot in the village, but there’s evidence that other local abolitionists provided a hiding spot for slaves on the run.

• One is a barn at the Gougar Home, located near the Rock Island railroad tracks and Gougar Road. “They claimed there were slave holes in the floor of the barn,” Batson said. “The floor was movable in certain places they could lie down.”
• Another barn where Cedar Road and Hickory Creek intersection also reportedly had hiding holes in the floor.
• Finally, the Abel/Bliss farm located at Gougar Road and Haven Avenue might have had hiding holes in the basement. Batson said they were photographed when the home was lifted and moved into Joliet Township.

The New Lenox Historical Society's meeting this Thursday will focus on the Civil War and Will County.

So why was New Lenox such a hotbed for aiding freedom seekers?

“Because of the fact that it’s easy transportation throughout and because it’s fairly flat,” Batson said. “It’s also believed slaves traveled down Hickory Creek.”

She also said the , which had a very strong membership at the time, had an “abolitionst bent.” That, and the farmers who were largely established in the 1830s quickly became prosperous and productive, allowing them to provide shelter and food.

McClellan is still studying the Underground Railroad, Batson said, and she's hopeful more information will be verified. Until then the history involves sharing stories that migh have happened, such as the time Dwight Haven was arrested by the sheriff who wanted to prove a point, or the time a slave hid under a pile of hay and a horse started eating from the pile.

"It was a very important activity in this township, and very important to the history of New Lenox," Batson said.

—Rachel Gilmore contributed to this article.