Benjamin Lundy House facts for kids
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Benjamin Lundy House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Front of the house, 2009
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Union and Market Sts., Mount Pleasant, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1812 |
| Part of | Mount Pleasant Historic District (ID74001536) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001537 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHLDCP | June 28, 1974 |
The Benjamin Lundy House is a special old house located in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. In 1820, it was the home of Benjamin Lundy (1789-1839). He was an important leader in the movement to end slavery, known as an abolitionist. While living here, Benjamin Lundy started a very important newspaper called The Genius of Universal Emancipation. This was one of the first newspapers in the United States to speak out against slavery.
Because of its important history, the Benjamin Lundy House was named a National Historic Landmark in May 1974. It was also included in the Mount Pleasant Historic District later that same year.
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About the Benjamin Lundy House
The Benjamin Lundy House is a two-and-a-half story building made of brick. It has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof. The front of the house has three main sections, with the front door on the right side. There is also a smaller section on the right and a wooden addition on the left.
The house is located at the western end of Union Street in Mount Pleasant. This street is the main road in the town. The house sits on the south side of the street, between Market Street and County Road 104.
A Home with a Purpose
The Benjamin Lundy House was built around 1812 or 1813. For about a year, it was the home of Benjamin Lundy. He was one of the first people to organize and lead the fight against slavery in the United States.
While Benjamin Lundy lived here, he started his famous newspaper, The Genius of Universal Emancipation. This newspaper was the very first of its kind, completely focused on ending slavery.
The house belonged to Dr. Isaac Parker from 1815 to 1843. Dr. Parker was also a big supporter of ending slavery in the local community.
Helping People to Freedom
The Benjamin Lundy House is known to have been a "station" on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses and routes. It helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the northern states or Canada.
This house was also one of the few places known to have a "free produce movement" store. These stores only sold products that were made without using slave labor. This was another way people fought against slavery.
Saving History for the Future
By late 2009, the Benjamin Lundy House was in very poor condition. It needed a lot of repairs. In 2015, the Ohio History Connection bought the house. This organization works to protect and restore important historical places. They have worked to make the house stable and plan to fully restore it. This will help preserve its important story for future generations.
