Saturday, February 10, 2024

Celebrating Black History Month—The Underground Railroad in McHenry County

McHenry County, was the home to several fierce abolitionists who worked as secret conductors on the Underground RailroadPresenters Gloria Van Hof and Pamela Althoff, two local historians, know the true stories of the heroes and heroines who helped enslaved Blacks escape to freedom, often at great risk to themselves and their families. They knew the safehouses and the secret routes that freedom seekers followed on their path through McHenry County.

The McHenry County Juneteenth Organization is pleased to announce an Underground Railroad presentation in recognition of Black History Month on Monday, February 19 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Luecht Auditorium at McHenry County College, 8900 Rt. 14 in Crystal Lake.

Van Hof and Althoff will provide a narrative of eight Underground Railroad sites, six in McHenry County, one in Kane County, and one in Wisconsin.

                Gloria Van Hof.

Van Hof will also present the program on Thursday, February 8 at the Boone County Museum of History, 314 South State Street in Belvidere at 6 pm.

Althoff and Van Hof, who conducted the first McHenry County Underground Railroad tour in 1993, have presented numerous lectures at historical societies, schools, and universities.  Come and hear these heroic stories from two experts and find out how close this American story is to your home.

 

The program is sponsored by the McHenry County Juneteenth Organization

Registration, which is free to the public, is required at http://tinyurl.com/2d3ar3pb and visit the McHenry County Juneteenth Organization web page


 

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