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A simple red house, built during the 19th century, sits in the middle of Fountain City, Indiana, an hour and a half from the west side of Indianapolis. While the home may not appear extraordinary, its history is. And thanks to a grant from the Wayne Township Education Foundation, that history has come alive for dozens of students from Ben Davis High School.

“Two significant abolitionists created the ‘Grand Central Station’ of the Underground Railroad: Levi and Catherine Coffin,” said Jordan Johnson, who teaches AP African American Studies at Ben Davis. “My students were surprised to learn of this Quaker couple that helped so very many enslaved people escape bondage in their home state, Indiana.”

The Coffins were Quakers who lived in Newport (which is now Fountain City, located north of Richmond, Indiana) from 1826 to 1847. Levi grew up in North Carolina, and witnessed the cruelty of slavery first hand there. After settling in Indiana, Levi and Catherine worked tirelessly to provide shelter, transportation, food, and clothing for more than 1,000 freedom seekers traveling through their area.

The remarkable legacy of the Coffins has been preserved in their home, which was made a National Historic Landmark in 1966. The house has been restored to its original 1840s layout and the Indiana State Museum has created an education center there for tour groups.

After learning about how important Levi and Catherine Coffin were in the work of the Underground Railroad, Jordan’s students asked if they could travel to Fountain City to visit the Coffin home. Paying for transportation for the students was a potential roadblock, so Jordan applied for and received a grant from WTEF to cover that cost.

The field trip happened in February of this year. Students from both the AP African American Studies Class (a pilot course begun at Ben Davis during the 2023-24 school year) and the school’s African American Literature course attended the trip. Jordan says months later, the students were still talking about what they learned.

“After the trip, my students were astonished by the hiding places scattered throughout the home and the remarkable efforts of the Coffins in assisting so many people seeking freedom,” Jordan said. “We continued to discuss their legacy throughout the semester, searching for other abolitionist histories in Indiana. Visiting the historic home made the history more tangible and real for my students, deepening their understanding of this significant chapter in our nation’s history.”

ABOUT THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Wayne Township Education Foundation (WTEF) provides community leadership to enrich, engage, and stimulate teaching and learning in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. WTEF accomplishes this by supporting school programs and resources, while recognizing excellence among students and staff. To learn more about WTEF, call 317-988-7966, visit wtef.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @WayneTwpEdFound.