Blairsville in Indiana County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Fugitive Slave Rescue

Photographed by Forest McDermott, October 21, 2015

1. Fugitive Slave Rescue Marker

Inscription. In April 1858 citizens of Blairsville rescued a fugitive slave, Newman from arrest by a US Marshall and Virginia slave hunters. Lewis Johnson, a local black abolitionist and conductor of the Underground Railroad, housed Newman. Indiana County was an important UGRR stop.

Erected 2012 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 Network to Freedom, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1858.

Location. 40° 25.829′ N, 79° 16.046′ W. Marker is in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, in Indiana County. It is at the intersection of W. Market Street and S. Liberty Street, on the right when traveling east on W. Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 155 W Market Street, Blairsville PA 15717, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

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

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: Pennsylvania Mainline Canal Port of Blairsville (within shouting distance of this marker); Blairsville Area Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Samuel McCune Safehouse (about 400 feet away); The Kidnapping of Richard Newman

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(about 500 feet away); Bridges Over Conemaugh River at Blairsville (about 600 feet away); Chester C. Davis and the Kidnapping of 1858 (about 700 feet away); George Wilkinson and the Kidnapping of 1858 (about 700 feet away); St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Rectory (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blairsville.

Photographed by Forest McDermott, October 21, 2015

2. Fugitive Slave Rescue Marker

View looking east on W. Market Street

Photographed by Forest McDermott, October 21, 2015

3. Fugitive Slave Rescue Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2015, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 819 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 31, 2015, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.