This week marks the annual Juneteenth Independence Day, which celebrates the anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the confederate states in 1865. Coincidentally, the Guthrie County Historical Village and Museum is hosting an event about the slaves who escaped through the county many years ago.

Local historian Rod Stanley will be giving a tour through the backroads of Guthrie County to learn about the history and route of the Underground Railroad through the county. Stanley shares about one of the stops located north of Stuart, where there was a mill owned by a Quaker named John Pearson, “There was a lot of publicity out about John harboring slaves and eventually the slavery people put a reward out for John Pearson of like $500. So John kind of got out of the game and turned it over to Wells McCool who became the main conductor on the underground and his headquarters were not on the Pearson Mill site, but basically at a blacksmith shop.”

The free tour will last from 9 a.m.-noon tomorrow. Participants will need to bring a picnic lunch and drive their own vehicle. If you do not have a vehicle but would like to attend, contact gchv@netins.net or call 641-755-2989.