Underground Railroad - Day 3.......

It is fascinating how quilts and or quilt blocks were used in th Underground Railroad.  The Log Cabin block was used to signal a "safe house" for runaway slaves.  Quilts were used to communicate information about the Underground Railroad, the blocks were used as a code.  

Ocella McDaniel Williams, from South Carolina, remembered the code this way:

"The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel toward Canada on a bear's paw trail to the crossroads.  Once they got to the crossroads, they dug a log cabin on the ground.  Shoo fly told them to dress up in cotton and satin bow ties, go to the cathedral church, get married and exchange double wedding rings. Flying Greece stay on the drunkard's path and follow the stars."

According to Ozella and her family's oral history, there were ten quilts used to direct the slaves to get ready for escape.  Ozella also mentioned a number of secondary patterns.  Each of the blocks had a different meaning and part to play in the code.  The quilts would be hung one at a time on a fence or cabin door, left to "air out" while communicating a specific action or step in the journey.

As a result , a sampler quilt featuring the ten primary codes and the five secondary codes was a perfect way to document the blocks and share the story with others.

There will be a story of each block as we make the blocks.

 

Tomorrow will be the first block.

See you then.

Carol