Thursday, November 19. 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Local sites remind us of slavery's past
By Lori O'Toole
Special to the Kanson
An old two-story red-brick house with two chimneys is shrouded by trees in southeast Lawrence. It probably appears much like it did 140 years ago to slaves arriving in the night at this way station to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
The Miller House, 1111 E. 19th St., is one of the many stops along the Underground Railroad that still stands in Lawrence. Now it is the home of Dennis Dailey, professor of social welfare, and his wife, Judy.
"I've had moments out here in the summer when there's no sound and nobody around," Dailey said. "It's like I'm traveling back in time, and I just try to imagine what it would have been like then."
If Dailey could peek at the way things were 140 years ago, the 22- by 30-foot stone foundation behind his home would have supported a one-story windowless smokehouse.
The original owner, Robert Miller, was an
abolitionist from North Carolina who used the smokehouse to hide slaves. At the time, southern slave owners cursed Lawrence for being an anti-slavery capital.
"They would be here for a day or two or three," Dalley said. "Then they would load up on a wagon and head north. It's really hard to document because it was so secretive."
Because the pro-slavery headquarters at Lecompton was only 12 miles away, secrecy was necessary to ensure the slave's safety. According to the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, any person caught helping slaves escape would be imprisoned for six months and fined $1,000.
Steven Janson, director of the Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St., said that there were clear sources linking the Miller House to the Underground Railroad.
Jansen said that the Dailies received a letter from students in Texas in 1984 about two sources that referred to the Miller House.
Information found at a home in Tennessee revealed that southerners were aware of a safe house east of Lawrence and south of the Kansas river. The description fit the Miller House perfectly.
A second source, written by Alonzo Fuller, a former Lawrence resident, indicated that the Millers sheltered people in their smokehouse.
The Miller house is not the only Underground Railroad "station" in the area though.
Several miles away is the Joel Grover Barn, now part of Lawrence Stonebarn Terrace Fire Station No. 4, 2819 Stonebarn Terrace. The large stone barn, bult in 1858, provided easy concealment for groups of slaves.
Richard Sheridan, former KU professor, referred to the barn as the most important hiding place in Lawrence. Sheridan is author and compiler of the 1998 book "Freedom's Crucible: The Underground Railroad in Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas, 1854-1865: A Reader."
Although none of the Miller or Grover
descendants live in Lawrence, Margaret Colman Wulfkühle, who lives at 840 N.1500 Road, is able to tell of the lives and contributions of her family.
"My great-grandfather, Ezekiel Colman, was an abolitionist from Massachusetts and was on the anti-slavery committee in this county," she said. "He was a very particular friend of John Brown because they were of the same persuasion."
Colman and his wife, Mary Jane Wendell Colman, hid slaves on their farm where Wulfkuhle now lives.
Wulfkuhle said that the slaves worked in the fields while they stayed here, but they usually disguised them as women in dresses and sunbonnets.
Sheridan said that learning about local history made the Underground Railroad even more interesting.
"I looked for those stories, and one of my purposes was to prove authentic cases." Sheridan said. "It's a thrill. It kind of gives me a feeling of belonging to this part of the United States. I was born and raised in Kansas. I'm a jayhawk."
Photography display showcases work of KU graduate
By Augustus Anthony Piazza
Kansan staff writer
A KU alumnus backpacked through the asphalt streets of big cities and the dirt roads of Third World countries for more than a decade to photograph global change.
For the next two months, the images that captured will be displayed on the walls of the Paradise Cafe, 728 Massachusetts St.
"For the last 15 years, it has been a battle to keep focused on my artistic notion of capturing global change in a creative manner," said Garv Smith.
Smith, who graduated from the University of Kansas in 1984 with a degree in journalism, has traveled to 49 states and 42 countries since 1982, searching for subject matter to photograph. He now lives in Lawrence.
Gary Smith, Lawrence resident, will have his work shown at the Paradise Cafe, 728 Massachusetts St., for the next two months. Photo by August Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
Smith said that his most exciting experience occurred last year during his travels to the Caribbean island of Montserrat. He snapped pictures of local residents who refused to leave their village at the bottom of the exploding Soufriere Hills volcano.
"I'm inspired about volcanoes," Smith said. "There are a billion closet volcano freaks out there, and I'm one of them."
The two-month display at the Paradise Cafe will be the first time the pictures from Montserrat have been shown in Lawrence.
The exhibit is composed of 275 photographs — 20 of the images were taken in Montserrat. Some of the pieces are single photographs, and others are multi-image pieces that tell a visual story.
Eric Cleveland, general manager of the cafe, was responsible for choosing Smith's work to be displayed.
He said that he allowed artists to show their work as long as it did not offend those who eat at the restaurant.
Cleveland said that there were pieces of Smith's work he liked but that there also were pieces that he did not like.
"In some of his pieces he seems to capture nice light," Cleveland said. "There is also stuff that looks like I could have taken with a snapshot camera and that I could have put together myself."
Smith's work will be sold for prices ranging from $95 to $1,500.
Cleveland said that usually only 5 percent of an artist's work got sold.
"It's more of a good way to give exposure to local artists and makes for an interesting atmosphere," Cleveland said.
A photograph of the exploding Soufriere Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat. This picture is one of the 275 that Gary Smith will have displayed for the next two months at the Paradise Cafe, 728 Massachusetts St. Contributed photo from Gary Smith
SUA to showcase director's debut film
By Pallavi Agarwal
Kansan staff writer
An independent film director is in town tonight with his debut film for this semester's FlixTour, organized by the Student Union Activities.
Life Sold Separately, a 1997 film written and directed by Paul Feig will be shown at 8 p.m. at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
The screening will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Feig.
The film is about four people who meet to get picked up by UFOs. After talking, they realize they have similar reasons for wanting to leave Earth and that in actuality the problems lie with themselves.
The FlixTour gives exposure to low-budget productions and offers film students opportunities to interact with independent film producers and directors, said Jerry O'Leary, SUA spectrum film coordinator and Lawrence senior.
"But the film is pertinent to nonfilm majors, too," he said. "They would get to see films that won't be seen in too many places."
The tour, which came to the University last year, travels to college campuses and brings to audiences films that do not get distributors, said Brett Generaux, SUA vice-president for membership development and Kansas City, Kan., senior.
Two short films also will be shown before the screening of Life Sold Separately. The films are called Bad Bosses Go to Hell and New Testament and are directed by Phillip Pelletier and Erin Cramer, respectively.
The first is a satire about corporate advertising, and the second is a look at interviews that go sour.
One recognizable face in Life Solid Separately is Karl Coleman, who has appeared in *Seinfeld* and has been a TV spokesperson for Nissan ads. Penn Jillette, of the Penn & Teller magician team, also is a member of the cast.
SUA organized the event last academic year and had an audience of about 100 people. The event is free.
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