Staff Writer
Hidden under a platform in a small church in Fort Fairfield is a secret compartment where escaped slaves stayed during their journey to achieve freedom more than 150 years ago.
That bit of history of the Friends Church on Route 1A will be among the fascinating tidbits to be discussed during a sesquicentennial program scheduled today on the church and its part in the Underground Railroad during the fight to abolish slavery.
Art Mraz of Fort Fairfield, accompanied by Arthur Robles, will discuss how the church was used to help slaves reach Canada to gain their freedom.
Besides the church’s history, Mraz and Robles will also discuss some facets of the Civil War and the how the Underground Railroad operated.
The unassuming meetinghouse, started by Quakers in 1859, is owned by the Frontier Heritage Historical Society and is the oldest church building in Aroostook County, according to Mraz.
In 1972, it was purchased by Charles Stanton a Presbyterian minister, known for his practice of riding his bicycle through the community to recruit parishioners. Upon reaching his 90s, Stanton attempted to sell the church and the adjacent parsonage.
However, Mraz said that the minister ended up donating the property to the Fort Fairfield historical group.
According to the history buff, in its early days the church was the last stop the fleeing slaves made before entering Canada. Quakers throughout the state, including those in Old Town and Houlton, worked to ferry the freedom-seekers across the border.
The first Quakers to settle in Fort Fairfield was the Joseph Wingate Haines family, who came in 1844. He was given 1,000 acres of land to build a sawmill in order to provide lumber for the early settlers. On land then donated by Haines, the Quaker chapel was constructed.
Initially, the building consisted of a single large room with wooden floors and tin walls where the congregation met. It was during this time that the building became part of the conduit that helped the southern slaves.
Mraz explained that the slaves traveled primarily at night and hid during the day. When they came to Fort Fairfield, they were concealed in the space beneath the platform in the Quaker sanctuary.
The story becomes more remarkable after the Civil War and the need for the Underground Railroad subsided. In 1906, an addition was constructed onto the building and a new stained glass window, with more than 900 pieces of glass, was installed.
The window’s packing material, which included wooden boards, was used to cover the stage, forever closing up the space in which the slaves were concealed.
Since that time, the hiding place has been sealed with boards that continue to bear the stenciled letters of “glass” which were printed on the crate containing the new window.
While there may be some curiosity to see what may have been left behind in that space, Mraz said that the stage probably would be ruined by such an investigation.
During Wednesday’s presentation, Robles will demonstrate the use of a Civil War-era cap and ball musket.
Mraz also will discuss the symbols that the Underground Railroad travelers used to communicate plans, since most slaves were illiterate. For example, a “bear paw” symbol indicated which trail to follow. A “monkey wrench” means to gather your tools because tonight a flight is planned.
Mraz will explain how the use of tokens was used to raise money for the abolitionist’s movement. Both British and American tokens will be on display.
The presentation “The Friends Church and the Underground Railroad” will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 16, at the Friends Church in the Maple Grove section on Route 1A. Admission is free but seating is limited. Contact the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce at 472-3802 for tickets.
Photo by Debra Walsh
THE FRIENDS CHURCH, formerly a Quaker meetinghouse, is located in the Maple Grove section of Fort Fairfield on Route 1A. The history of the church, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, will be discussed at 2 p.m. today.
Photo by Debra Walsh
ART MRAZ, left, and Arthur Robles will present a program today at the Friends Church on Route 1A in Fort Fairfield on the church’s role in the Underground Railroad. Robles will demonstrate use of a Civil War-era rifle and Mraz will discuss abolitionists’ traveling symbols and tokens.
