Return to flip book view

Tour of TheHainesHouseUnderground Railroad MuseumThe story of our Freedom Seekers, Trailblazers & Abolitionists186 W. Market St. Alliance, Ohio

The Board of Directors of the Alliance AreaPreservation Society and the Haines HouseUnderground Railroad Museum recognizethat the Haines House occupies part of whatwas the traditional homeland of Iroquoisand Delaware Nations. They lived herehundreds of years before John and NancyGrant built the Haines House in 1828. Weacknowledge the people who were stewardsof this land and express our gratitude tothem, and to their elders, past, present, andfuture.We welcome dialogue and informationabout this statement and seek interactionwith indigenous peoples in our area.L a n dA c k n o w l e d g e m e n t

Welcome to the Haines House Underground Railroad Museum.We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experiencefor all our visitors. Please read and acknowledge the followingimportant information regarding your visit:Notice of Potential HazardsThe Haines House is a historic structure with features that maypose certain risks, including but not limited to: Steep stairs,Unlevel floors, Tripping hazards, Low ceilingsAssumption of RiskBy entering the Haines House Underground Railroad Museum,visitors acknowledge and understand that there are inherent risksassociated with the historic nature of the building. Visitors agreeto assume responsibility for any injuries or damages that mayoccur during their visit.Hold Harmless AgreementIn consideration of being permitted to visit the Haines HouseUnderground Railroad Museum, visitors agree to hold harmlessand indemnify the Haines House, its owners, staff, volunteers, andaffiliates from any and all claims, demands, actions, or causes ofaction, including attorney's fees and court costs, arising out of orrelating to any injury, loss, or damage that may occur during theirvisit, whether caused by negligence or otherwise.AcknowledgmentBy entering the Haines House Underground Railroad Museum,visitors acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreeto the terms of this Hold Harmless Agreement Notice. Visitorsfurther acknowledge that they are aware of the potential hazardspresent and assume all risks associated with their visit.Thank you for your understanding and cooperationF o r Y o u r S a f e t y

John and Nancy Grant weretrailblazers and Quakers whobrought their family from NewJersey to the thick forests ofFrontier Ohio. Their beliefs,and those of their youngestdaughter and son-in-law,would bind them to the causeof enslaved Freedom Seekers.As Abolitionists, the Grant-Haines Family joinedAmerica's first genuinelyinterracial coalition in thestruggle for social justiceA B O U TIn 2004, the Haines House wasrecognized by the U. S. NationalPark Service as an UndergroundRailroad site in its Network toFreedom program after a reviewby a team of scholars and parkofficials—One of only two inStark County.In 2023, TourismOhio selectedthe Haines House as one offifteen sites in the State on itsofficial Ohio HistoricUnderground Railroad Trail,commemorating Ohio's richheritage as the Main Line of theUGRR.

TIMELINEThe Haines House, built between1827 and 1842 by John and NancyGrant, early Stark County settlers,hosted an Underground Railroadstation before the Civil War,operated by their daughter andson-in-law, Sarah and RidgewayHaines. Their son, John ColumbusHaines, a Civil War veteran, andhis brothers were pivotal inAlliance's growth, founding theAlliance City Band in 1859. Today,the Haines House serves as theHaines House UndergroundRailroad Museum, showcasingrestored rooms like the mid-Victorian parlor, early 19th-centurykitchen, child's room, Grantbedroom, attic hideaway forFreedom Seekers, and herb garden.It features rotating exhibits, a'Timeline of Slavery andAbolitionism in the US,' and offersdiverse programs like ChristmasLamplight Tours, and hands-onhistory activities. Recognized bythe National Park Service'sNetwork to Freedom and the OhioUnderground Railroad Association,it honors and educates about thiscrucial chapter in Americanhistory.1805John andNancy Grantmove to Ohiofrom NewJersey1826Brick one-roomHomestead/Old KitchenBuiltDeath of NancyGrant: 1840Death of JohnGrant: 1854Death ofRidgewayHaines: 1899Death of SarahHaines: 19031966EricJohannesenpurchasesHaines Houseand restores it2001Alliance AreaPreservationSocietybecomes newowners of thehouse and itsartifacts

Historically known as the EastParlor. This room was used asa gathering and entertainingspace by the Grant & HainesFamily and their guests. Beinga musical family, the Haineslikely sang, played music, andread together in this room. The chimneys were designed toaccommodate wood-burningstoves, which were a muchmore efficient heating method.You can see an example of oneof these stoves in the parloracross the hall.Originally, the woodwork inthis parlor was gilded,suggesting that this room mayhave been a very ornate HighVictorian parlor. It is now ameeting and educational space.pnC o m m u n i t yR o o mE v a n & S u z a n n e M o r r i s C o m m u n i t y R o o m0 1Harriet Tubman - Conductor on theUnderground RailroadAlliance City Band - Founded by theHiane’s Family 1859Lithograph of the EmancipationProclamation

You are now in the DiningRoom, located in the middlesection of the house built in1834. This room was built alongwith the adjacent Gallery andtwo upstairs bedrooms. When itwas constructed, this roomcontained the front doors,which now leads to thecommunity room. Observe thealtered door leading to the fronthallway, featuring a frame for atransom window above it—oneof several architectural cluesabout the house's historicalchanges. Notice the original“faux finish” from the 1800s onthe door leading upstairs,known as turkey feathergraining, which inspired therenovation of the wood trimand doors in the Haines Parlor.The house has many doors andwindows, which were crucial forair circulation before theinvention of electric fans andair conditioning.pnD i n i n gr O O M0 2Conceptual Drawing of the original1834 portion of home front

You are now in Alliance’s oldeststanding brick house, built in1828. John and Nancy Grant andtwo children left their home inNew Jersey in 1806 to come tothis area, part of the NorthwestTerritory obtained by the UnitedStates after the RevolutionaryWar. They came for the land,purchasing 160 acres for $2 anacre, and they came to live in aplace where slavery was illegal.(Slavery still existed in NewJersey at this time). Theycleared the forest and built thelog cabin that they lived in for22 years before building thishouse with one room, a porchand a loft. John likely made thebricks himself. They movedhere with 5 of their 8 childrenthat were still living at home.Like all early settlers John andNancy had to do everything byhand, felling trees, growing andpreserving food, churningcream into butter, spinningwool and flax into yarn to weavefabric, making soap andcandles. o L D k I T C H E NAlthough goods and services soonbecame available (the railroadscame to Alliance by 1854) most areahomes didn’t have indoor plumbingor electricity until the early 1900sor later. Please note: Photo of the original log cabin Corner cupboard, only original piece offurniture in the houseCast Iron Cooking Stove Manufacturedin Marietta, Ohio in 18910 3

png a l l e r y0 4In 1834 the Grant farm andenterprises were doing well andthey built an addition to theirone room house (four daughtersstill lived at home). It consistedof two rooms downstairs, twobedrooms upstairs and a dirtcellar. We do not know how thedownstairs rooms were used butthis smaller room may havebeen a utilitarian space and thelarger room may have been aparlor. We use this space forspecial exhibits. Portrait of Abby Kelley Foster

pnH a i n e s P a r l o r0 5 In 1842 the Grants built thefront part of the house whichconsisted of a foyer andstaircase, two parlorsdownstairs, and two bedroomsupstairs. Nancy Grant diedbefore the addition wasfinished. In 1852 their youngestdaughter, Sarah and herhusband, Jonathan RidgewayHaines bought the house andthe land from John Grant. Sarahand Ridgeway raised sixchildren here. When therailroads came to Alliance in1854, the Haines’ sold landalong Main Street and next tothe railroad. The family lived onthe shrinking plot of land untilRidgeway died in 1899. Sarahlived here with a daughter untilher death in 1903. Ridgeway and Sarah wereactive in the abolitionistmovement and theUnderground Railroad. Anumber of importantabolitionist meetings were heldin the pine grove near the housewhich was sometimes referredto as the “Evergreen House.” This room is furnished as aformal parlor which would bereserved for guests and Sundayuse. The room would have beenheated with a wood burningstove like this one. Much moreefficient than a fireplace! Alsonotice the large exterior “coffin”door on the west wall. The“laying out” of loved ones tookplace in the home.

pnC e n t e r F o y e r0 6The Foyer represents a shift inwealth and lifestyle made possibl;eby a thriving community and farm.Now in a more populatedcommunity with a successfulfarm. This final addition speaks tothe social gatherings and beautifulfurnishings held by the Grant andHaines Families.Around 1911 the house was dividedinto two apartments, one on theeast side and one on the west side.And so it remained until it waspurchased by Mount Unionprofessor, Eric Johannesen in 1966who restored it as a single familydwelling and rebuilt the frontportico which had been removed.He collected many of the periodfurnishings that are on display.Johannesen sold the house in the1970s and it had various ownersuntil it was purchased by theAlliance Preservation Society in2001 with the goal of opening it tothe public as an UndergroundRailroad site. Numerous grantsand gifts have funded the manyprojects to restore and maintainthe house and volunteers havespent countless hours doingrepairs, painting, cleaning, andserving as tour guides.

One of the two rooms thatwere part of the second floor1834 Greek Revival Styleaddition is set up as a child’sbedroom. It features a mid-19th century rope bed withstraw mattress. Rope bedsperiodically needed to betightened and straw andfeather mattresses oftenattracted bugs – hence theadage “Good Night SleepTight, don’t let the bed bugsbite” There are miscellaneoustoys from the 19th and early20th century locatedthroughout the room. Whenthe Grants built this additionin 1834, four of their childrenwere still at home. Note thesmall “frieze band windows.”a prominent feature of GreekRevival Architecture. Items onthe dresser help to tell thestory of Abolitionism and theFreedom Seekers.pnc H I L D R E N ’ Sb E D R O O M0 7The lantern is the symbol of theHaines House as anUnderground Railroad Museum;the reproduction manaclesremind us that some who wereenslaved were forced to wearsimilar ones as punishment bytheir owners if they disobeyed;the map documentsUnderground Railroad activityin Ohio, which was strategicallylocated between the southernstate of Kentucky and the freenation of Canada.

pnh I D E O U Th O M E S T E A D l O F TThe attic, located above theoriginal one-room 1828 house, wasaccessed by a ladder before thehome's expansion. Visitors canpeek in from the Child’s Bedroom.The Haines House served as astation on the UndergroundRailroad from about 1830 throughthe Civil War. This secret networkprovided hiding places, food,clothing, and transportation toFreedom Seekers. The Hainesfamily, active in the Western Anti-Slavery Society, often heldmeetings at their home. Theiryoungest son recalled hidingFreedom Seekers in the attic,though the 160-acre farm likelyhad many other hiding places.Using railroad jargon as code, thenetwork helped many reach LakeErie and secure passage toCanada. The family helpedFreedom Seekers to get to the nextstation, probably in Marlboro,Randolph, Limaville or Atwater. 0 8

pnG r a n t B e d r o o m0 9One of two second floor roomsadded to the House in 1842, thisroom is set up as an adult, orparents’ bedroom and is namedfor the original builders of theHouse, John and Nancy Grant.The mantlepiece is a modernreconstruction and is like the(also missing) one from theparlor below. The wallpaper isfrom the 1960’s, chosen for itssimilarity to the original. Ascrap of the original is displayedon the mantle. The tall ceilingsand windows are quite acontrast to the original houseand indicate how much“progress” and wealth has beenmade by the Grants in just 14years. Rumor has it that themahogany high post bed, 1840-65, was going to be turned intoa tree house before EricJohannesen rescued it! The room displays itemsassociated with grooming andhygiene before indoor plumbing,such as the bowl and pitcher forwashing, the styling irons and thechamber pot. Clothes were storedin wardrobes before closetsbecame popular. A flax spinningwheel reminds us that theoriginal owners, the Grants,probably had to make many oftheir clothes, while theirdescendants, the Haines, couldpurchase ready made fabric andclothing in the bustling AllianceMain Street stores.

pnF o u n d e r sR o o mR e s e a r c h L i b r a r y1 0Originally one of the twobedrooms added to the house in1842, behind the south wall is acloset added in the 20th century.Another bedroom is behind thisroom and now serves as an officefor the Alliance Area PreservationSociety (AAPS). The AAPS wasfounded in 1991. The AAPSpurchased the Haines House in2001. In addition to maintainingthe Haines House as anUnderground Railroad Museum,the AAPS works to encouragehistoric preservation in theCarnation City. The walls displaylocal buildings that have been lostas well as some that have beenpreserved. The AAPS alsomaintains a small library, supportsthe work of the AlliancePreservation Commission andAlliance Main Street. TheFounders Room honors some ofAlliance’s original preservationists;Eric Johannesen, Jesse Harry Jr.,Gordon Harrison, Evelyn Brown,Robert Hunter Jr, & Robb Hyde.

ThankYouThe story of our Freedom Seekers, Trailblazers & Abolitionists186 W. Market St. Alliance, Ohiofor your support