Meadville in Crawford County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Richard Henderson

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, March 20, 2011

1. Richard Henderson Marker

Inscription. Born a slave in Maryland in 1801, he escaped as a boy and about 1824 came to Meadville. A barber, he was long active in the Underground Railroad. His Arch Street house, since torn down, is estimated to have harbored some 500 runaway slaves prior to the Civil War.

Erected 1980 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1801.

Location. 41° 38.155′ N, 80° 8.903′ W. Marker is in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in Crawford County. It is on Liberty Street near Arch Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Meadville PA 16335, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northwestern Pennsylvania

and in Greater Erie. It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Huidekoper Land Company Office (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Unitarian Church (about 800 feet away); Crawford County's Tribute to Her Loyal Sons (approx. 0.2 miles away); Raymond Philip Shafer (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dedicated to All Veterans… (approx. 0.2 miles away); Col. William Crawford (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Masonic Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Crawford County (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Meadville.

Also see . . . Richard Henderson - Behind the marker. Explore PA History website entry (Submitted on March 23, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, March 20, 2011

2. Richard Henderson Marker

At Bethel AME Church

Map of Meadville, PA, showing the residence of Richard Henderson in 1875 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by N/a

3. Map of Meadville, PA, showing the residence of Richard Henderson in 1875

This 1875 map of Meadville shows the residence of African-American barber Richard Henderson, an important stop on the Underground Railroad in northwestern Pennsylvania From The Atlas of Crawford County 1875, courtesy Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,599 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on July 27, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.