Franklin Street Wharf Landing Site - Portland, ME
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 43° 39.500 W 070° 14.957
19T E 399266 N 4834683
Franklin Street Wharf Landing Site, a stop on the underground railroad, is commemorated by historic marker on Franklin and Thames Streets opposite the Maine State Pier. It is the first stop on the Portland Freedom Trail.
Waymark Code: WMP43Q
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 06/27/2015
Views: 7
Before the Civil War slaves seeking freedom in the north and Canada would often arrive in Portland, ME as stowaways on ships from southern ports. Portland became major stop on several underground railroad routes to Canada. Often, boats travelling between Portland and the Canadian Maritime Provinces helped runaways to their freedom. In addition the shipping industry itself served as a primary employer of runaway slaves.
An historical marker on the Portland waterfront is stop 1 of 13 on the Portland Freedom Trail. A granite post has a beveled top and two bronze plaques. The upper bronze plaque identified the marker as a stop on the PORTLAND FREEDOM TRAIL and part of the MAINE FREEDOM TRAILS established in 2007. It contains the image of a group of people looking up at the Big Dipper which is used as a pointer to find the North Star to guide them north.
The lower bronze plaque is inscribed:
FRANKLIN STREET WHARF
LANDING SPOT FOR MANY
PASSENGERS ON THE
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND
EMBARKATION POINT FOR THEIR
TRANSIT TO CANADA AND ENGLAND.
________________________________________________
ANTI-SLAVERY SYMPATHIZERS WERE WELL ORGANIZED TO
GREET STOWAWAYS FROM SOUTHERN CARGO VESSELS,
FIND THEM SAFE HOUSING IN PORTLAND, SUPPLY
CLOTHING AND PASSES AND SEND THEM ON TO CANADA.
THE WHARFS AND SHIPS OF PORTLAND EMPLOYED LARGE
NUMBERS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, PROVIDING WELL
PAYING JOBS, THUS ADDING TO COMMUNITY STABILITY.