Most "station masters" and "conductors" - the people involved in the UGRR- only knew the next station and sometimes the one before them. The less one person knew about others the more protected everyone was. Obviously signals were worked out to allow conductors to know if it was safe to bring their passengers into the "station". It might have been something hanging in a certain spot, or a specific color etc. quilts, as well as other items might have been used. This may be where the story began, and the myth grew over time.

Well, I don't know about the authenticity of the stories, EXCEPT, I remember as a little girl a hobo sitting on our back porch more than once eating, because my Mother had fixed them a plate. We lived a block from the railroad and my Dad worked on the railroad. PS. This was in Indiana

When I was growing up in the 40's the hoboes who came around always went to the same houses. They went to a few houses in town but stayed away from the rest.

I love history. I hope they come this way. I'd go. Sounds interesting.

I have the book 'Hidden in Plain View" by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D. but have not finished it.
Perhaps someone is interested in finding out more of the mystery of myth/or true history.

I think that maybe the myth/story/etc. about the URR continues is because deep down in all of us, we want to believe that there's good in everybody. All tho, with all the stuff that's happening lately, sometimes hard to keep that thought.

It does make a great story, doesn't it? But think of all the reasons it WOULDN'T work - travel had to be on a dark, moonless night, so the slaves on foot wouldn't be seen. How on earth could they see a quilt hanging on a fence? If slaves from lots of plantations knew of a code, do you really think slave owners wouldn't? Do you really think the slaves needed a quilt block to tell them to take necessary tools, follow the North Star, or wait until it was safe? I think the story has been disproved, but again, a great story.

It is an interesting story & there could be some truth to it. Do we really know?? I know from stories from my youth about signs on fences for hobos to get some food at homes. There were homes no one went to unless you want buck shot in the butt!!

Exactly! Don't think people would have been "airing" their quilts over fences at night and the unfortunate slaves would not have been moving in broad daylight. Just Google "underground railroad quilt myths" for good information. Unfortunately, there are just as many articles perpetuating the "romantic" stories as there are debunking these stories.

We live along the Juniata River and were supposed part of the trail North. My BIL was telling how a fellow teacher had purchased a farm and was in the process of making repairs when he discovered a false ceiling in the barn. It was a hiding place. When it was disassembled, he found a journal and a sizeable piece of one of the quilts. Left behind on purpose or just forgotten? These items were given to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. Perfectly believable to me.