Three historical societies in Highland County have come together to offer three dates for a presentation and round table discussions on the county’s part in the Underground Railroad.

The three event dates all happening during this month’s Black History Month are Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at 55 Main St. in Lynchburg; Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Highland House, 151 E. Main St., Hillsboro; and Sunday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. at the Konneker Education Museum, 25 South St., Greenfield.

The presentations, sponsored by the Greenfield Historical Society, Highland County Historical Society and Lynchburg Historical Society, are free and open to the public.

Jim Rooney of the Highland County Historical Society said the purpose of the round table discussions is for attendees to not only take in the information presented, but also to share their own stories.

Rooney said the three organizations have constructed a map containing information of participants in the Underground Railroad and gathered information on those involved, and where they lived and worked. He said there would also be general information on slavery as well as a segment about the Gist Settlement.

While most of the what will be presented is a consolidation of information that has already been available, he said the three organizations, which have been collaborating on this for about a year and a half, along the way have discovered new “tidbits” of information that will also be included.

CDs containing the combined information will be available for sale, Rooney said. The money from those sales will benefit the historical societies.

Rooney said the historical societies plan to publish the information annually, adding details as they are discovered.

“I think we will have fun and the people participating will enjoy it,” Rooney said of the upcoming events.

For more information from the three organizations, visit the Greenfield Historical Society and the Highland County Historical Society on their respective websites, or go to any of the organizations’ Facebook pages.

Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.

Former stops on the Underground Railroad remain across Highland County. One of those stops, and part of the Greenfield Historical Society complex, was the Smith Tannery, which stands at the corner of Jefferson Street and McArthur Way on the east end of the village.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2016/02/web1_SmithTannery.jpgFormer stops on the Underground Railroad remain across Highland County. One of those stops, and part of the Greenfield Historical Society complex, was the Smith Tannery, which stands at the corner of Jefferson Street and McArthur Way on the east end of the village.