Cyclists to Visit Mott House in Memory of Harriet Tubman

The Lawnside Historical Society invites friends and neighbors to welcome nine cyclists to the Peter Mott House in Lawnside, Tuesday, July 25 at 7 a.m. on their 1,200-mile ride to the annual Emancipation Festival in Canada.

The Underground Railroad NINE, a group of African Americans who study the Underground Railroad, will start their trip in Maryland, Sunday and end in Owen Sound, Ontario, on August 5. The festival has been observed since 1862 and also notes Canada’s 1834 abolishment of slavery. The riders are Augusto Macedo, Jerry R. MaCauley, Edward Dunn, Ray L. Wall, Alvin “A.J.” Haney, Howard G. Tyndle, Sr., Bobby Dean, John Johnson and Alex Williams.

They will be greeted by the Reverend Peter Mott who used his wagon and farmhouse in Lawnside to help freedom seekers escaping slavery along the secret network. Actor Keith Henley will portray Rev. Mott. The historical society operates the Mott House as a museum of the town and the Underground Railroad.

Lawnside, formerly called Snow Hill and Free Haven, was founded and settled by free African Americans, abolitionists and fugitives in the 18th and 19th centuries. Several families trace their lineage to those settlers. The borough was incorporated in 1926, becoming New Jersey’s only self-governing African American municipality.

The UGRR NINE have meticulously planned visits to historical sites and landmarks of significance in the lives of freedom seekers and activists with special focus on Harriet Tubman. They will cycle through Delaware, Kennett Square and Philadelphia, Camden, Lawnside, Trenton, Princeton and Newark, then on through New York and into Canada.

Mr. Williams said, "Through our own pilgrimage, we aim to inspire and raise awareness of Harriet Tubman's profound, enduring legacy and emphasize the timeless significant quest of freedom for all humankind."

After a brief program at the Mott House, the NINE will head out along Warwick Road to Oak Avenue and into Cherry Hill. Other cyclists are welcome to join the ride and should be sure to dress appropriately, follow safety protocols and stay hydrated. We hope residents along the way will cheer them on.

The NINE ask that donations be directed to educational programs at the Harriet Tubman Museum & Educational Center in Cambridge, Maryland. For further details, please visit www.harriettubmanmuseumcenter.org.

The Peter Mott House is located at 26 Kings Court in Lawnside. Guests for this event are asked to park on Moore Avenue and walk into the cul de sac to allow the cyclists easy access to the House.