Underground Railroad Quilt
The story of the Underground Railroad Quilt is fascinating.
The blacks were not allowed to learn to read and write so the abolitionists had to devise a way to silently communicate directions to escapees, thus the idea of quilt patterns with meanings for those wanting freedom came into being. These quilts with special patterns could be hung on a line, out an open window or other places and not arouse any suspicions. They looked simply like a housewife airing her bedding. Each quilt signaled a specific action for a slave to take at the particular time that the quilt was on view. The quilt codes were signals for slaves to prepare to escape and gave clues and directions on the journey.
I am making one 12" block of each design. Here are six of nineteen blocks I have completed so far and their codes.
#1 - Jacob’s Ladder – It has an alternating path of dark and light that can be used to show a direction. The slaves could know which way to go by the angle at which the quilt was placed outside the home of the abolitionist.
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#2 - Monkey Wrench – It was heavy metal tool used by the blacksmith. As a rule, the blacksmith was the most knowledgeable person on the plantation and was known as the “Monkey Wrench”. He could travel around without anyone thinking anything suspicious and therefore pass any information needed. In other words, the Monkey Wrench was the person or a group of people who got things moving, or - turned the wagon wheel.
When this quilt was displayed it meant it was time collect tools needed on the journey north to freedom. There were physical tools needed – for constructing shelter, for defending themselves, and determining direction. Along with food, and a few coins, they were to wrap these tools in a bandanna bundle.
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#3 - Wagon Wheel– Not only was the wagon wheel symbolic of a “chariot that was to carry them home”, but wagons with hidden compartments were one of the primary means of transporting escaping runaways. The quilt was a message to pack provisions as if packing a wagon, keeping in mind packing only what was essential.
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#4 - Carpenter’s Wheel – This was a secondary code pattern. To the slave, the master carpenter in their lives was Jesus. They would sing the “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and the plantation owner thought they were singing about going to Heaven, but actually it was message to follow the directions to the west northwest – to Ohio.
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#5 - Bear Paw – With this quilt the runaways were directed to follow an actual trail of a bear’s footprints. The animal footprints would indicate the best path, just like a road map. Most escapes took place in the spring and with the spring rains it would be easy to follow a bear’s paw trail to food and safety.
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#6 - Basket– Symbol of provisions needed for the long journey north. One of the most difficult things faced by the escaping slaves was feeding themselves along the way. They took what they could carry and then had to depend on safe houses or friends to help. Abolitionists would give them baskets of provisions and tools such as flint and compasses. So one of these quilts hung outside a house would mean a basket of provisions could be had there.
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