Basement

Welcome to Spring Hill. Today, we’ll take a journey through this home’s history and explore its role in the Underground Railroad. As we move from room to room, you’ll hear about the origins of this secret network, the people who risked everything for freedom, and the myths that have grown around the Underground Railroad story.

This isn’t just about the Rotch family who lived here—it’s about the countless men, women, and children who believed in a future free from slavery, and the communities that supported them.

In 1820, Thomas Rotch received a letter from a man named George Duncan. George was 17-years-old when he made his run to freedom and in his letter, thanks Thomas for the hospitality he received at Spring Hill. You can learn more of his story through the George Duncan Exhibit located on this floor, or hear his letter as part of this audio tour. His letter is the earliest document we have naming Spring Hill as a station on the Underground Railroad. While much of what we know about the network comes from later decades, this letter proves that homes like Spring Hill were opening their doors to freedom seekers as early as the 1820s.

Despite its name, the Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad. There were no tracks, no tunnels, no trains. Instead, it was a loose but powerful system of safe houses, churches, and meeting places. The homes were called “stations.” Families like the Rotches were known as “station masters.” And those who guided people from one stop to the next were called “conductors.”

The earliest hints of this network go back to the 1780s, when George Washington complained that Quakers were helping enslaved people escape. By the 1820s, the network was still in its early stages, but it continued to grow, peaking between 1850 and 1860.

Freedom seekers traveled in many directions—north into Canada, west to join the Native Nations, or south to Spanish Florida, Mexico or even the Caribbean. British North America, what we now call Canada, was a popular destination because slavery was prohibited there and the long border provided many points of access.

We may never know how many people escaped through the Underground Railroad. Estimates range widely—from about 1,000 per year at its peak, to 100,000 in total. The most commonly cited number is somewhere between 25,000 and 40,000 people. What’s certain is that every escape carried enormous risk.

One of the best records we have comes from William Still, a free Black abolitionist in Philadelphia. As head of the Vigilance Committee, he documented the names and stories of those who came through his home, including his own brother. His book, The Underground Railroad Records, published in 1872, remains a vital resource today.

As you look around this room, you’ll no doubt notice the steep back staircase in the corner. Known as a Jacob’s Ladder, this narrow staircase was used by servants of the household, but it also offered a way for freedom seekers to move quietly up to the second floor without being seen. Imagine what it would have felt like to climb those stairs in the dark, hoping no one would discover you.

When you’re ready, let’s head up the main staircase near the middle side of this room.