Cambridge in Dorchester County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Stanley Institute
Racing to Freedom
— Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway —
In October 1857, ten years before Stanley Institute was established two large groups of enslaved families successfully fled this area.
Caroline and Daniel Stanley and their six children escaped with Nat and Lizzie Amby and six others. Two weeks later, a group of 28 fled from nearby. Aaron and Daffney Cornish, Joe and Susan Viney, and Kit and Leah Anthony brought away numerous children. Siblings Joe and Sarah Jane Hill joined them.
Heavily armed, they appeared determined to avoid capture. Braving cold, rainy weather they raced toward Wilmington, Delaware closely pursued by slave catchers seeking high rewards, including $2.000 offered by Samuel Pattison. With help from individuals along the Underground Railroad, they made their way to freedom in Canada.
Shocked Dorchester residents increased slave patrols and restricted the mobility of blacks, making Harriet Tubman’s own return trips impossible for nearly three years.
[Caption:]
Right: Emma Piper was the first teacher to welcome students to the new Stanley Institute. Before the Civil War, it was a crime to teach a slave to read, and there were few opportunities for free blacks to learn. In 1867, the local community set about educating their children. For the next 100 years, generations of students reported here for schooling
Erected by America's Byways; Maryland Heritage Area Authority. (Marker Number 7.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans. In addition, it is included in the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1857.
Location. 38° 32.698′ N, 76° 6.172′ W. Marker is in Cambridge, Maryland, in Dorchester County. Marker is at the intersection of Church Creek Road (Maryland Route 16) and Bayly Road, on the right when traveling west on Church Creek Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2400 Church Creek Rd, Cambridge MD 21613, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named "Stanley Institute" (a few steps from this marker); “Appleby” (approx. 1.4 miles away); Bethel Church (approx. 1.9 miles away); Empowering the People (approx. 1.9 miles away); Up Pine Street: Muir to Cedar Street (approx. 1.9 miles away); Jazz on Pine Street (approx. 1.9 miles away); Thomas Holliday Hicks (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Carillonic Bells (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cambridge.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 27, 2022
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 27, 2022
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 27, 2022
Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 612 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on March 10, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on November 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. submitted on August 30, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on November 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4. submitted on August 30, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on November 8, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 6. submitted on August 30, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.