Did you know that the town of Odessa was one of the most important stops along the Underground Railroad? Hundreds of runaway slaves escaped to freedom with help from Delawareans throughout the state. The efforts in New Castle County were coordinated thanks to Harriet Tubman and Thomas Garrett – two of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad in Delaware.
The reason Odessa was originally considered safe for fugitive slaves was the strong Quaker community. Quakers, who met in the Appoquinimink Friends Meetinghouse shown below, were leading abolitionists.
Wikimedia Commons
The Quaker religion is based upon the belief that there is a little bit of God in every person. They are pacifists and fought against slavery from the earliest days of the country.
Facebook / Appoquinimink Quaker Meeting
The Appoquinimink Meetinghouse is known for being the smallest brick building of worship in America, and there is still an active congregation that meets each Sunday morning.
Facebook / Appoquinimink Quaker Meeting Join them, respectfully, at 10 a.m. on Sundays to observe a service, and to learn about the Quaker history afterward.
Another important landmark along the Underground Railroad was the Corbit home. William Corbit opened his house to runaway slaves and was known to take in those who needed a safe place to sleep.
Delaware Public Archives
The Corbit family kept the house until 1938 when it was acquired by H. Rodney Sharp. Sharp is responsible for the first restoration efforts in historic Odessa.
Facebook / Delaware Public Archives
Today, the Corbit-Sharp House is part of Historic Odessa’s community, and you can visit and tour the home.
Google Local / Mike M.
For more information about touring Historic Odessa, visit the community website here.
Wikimedia Commons
Facebook / Appoquinimink Quaker Meeting
Join them, respectfully, at 10 a.m. on Sundays to observe a service, and to learn about the Quaker history afterward.
Delaware Public Archives
Facebook / Delaware Public Archives
Google Local / Mike M.
To learn more about the Underground Railroad efforts in Delaware, read 7 Incredible Places Around Delaware That Were Once Part Of The Underground Railroad and visit The History Of The Underground Railroad At Delaware’s Tubman-Garrett Park/
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Address: 201 Main St, Odessa, DE 19730, USA
