Brookfield Center in Trumbull County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Underground Railroad
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, August 6, 2022
1. The Underground Railroad Marker
Side A
Activity of the Underground Railroad is believed to have begun in Brookfield Township around 1838 with the first known runaway slaves, two women. to pass through in 1843. Freedom seekers moved north using a system of routes known by operators. or "conductors". Trumbull County reputedly had over 150 miles of Underground Railroad routes, which would have made it the largest network in Ohio. The slaves that passed through Brookfield Township. came mostly from the Youngstown, Poland, and the Canfield areas. From Brookfield they were sent north to Hartford, Kinsman, Burghill, and Vienna ultimately headed to Canada.
As you are reading facing west, the Hinkley Hotel is on the right and the Hart store and Miner home are on the left. They were stations of the Underground Railroad. Most Underground Railroad journeys were made at night and all were hazardous. The Fugitive Act of 1850 allowed slave owners or their agents to travel north to retrieve their "property" and rewards were posted for the return of runaways. Joel Miner had a barn on his property in the area, which is believed to have sheltered many of the nearly 60 slaves
this page online
Erected 2013 by Brookfield Township Historical Society The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 27-78.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.
Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 41° 14.038′ N, 80° 34.1′ W. Marker was in Brookfield Center, Ohio, in Trumbull County. It was at the intersection of Old 82 (Ohio Route 7) and Warren-Sharon Road, on the left when traveling south on Old 82. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 358 Old 82, Brookfield OH 44403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Ohio’s Western Reserve and in the Mahoning Valley. It was also in the American Midwest. Globally, it was in North America, the
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, August 6, 2022
2. The Underground Railroad Marker
Side B
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Virginia E. (Ginny) Kirsch (within shouting distance of this marker); This Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Brookfield Township (about 500 feet away); Brookfield Township Cemetery War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); American Legion World War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Second Oakland Avenue Bridge (approx. 3.6 miles away in Pennsylvania); Vienna Honors Her Dead Heroes (approx. 5 miles away); Vienna Township Green and Cemetery / Vienna Township (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brookfield Center.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Our Founder Judge Samuel C. Hinckley (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, August 6, 2022
3. The Underground Railroad Marker
Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, August 6, 2022
4. The Underground Railroad Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2022, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,365 times since then and 118 times this year. Last updated on July 14, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 6, 2022, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
