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As mentioned earlier, one of the major fugitive
routes led from Washington County to Beaver County and along Raccoon
Creek and thence through Black Hawk (later written Blackhawk and
at times called Rayltown) to Achor in Columbiana County, Ohio,
or to Cannelton, Pennsylvania, and then on north.
There must have been at least one enterprising abolitionist in
the little village of Black Hawk that has (and had) one side of
its only street in South Beaver Township and the other side in
Ohio Township. But no name has emerged from the foggy past of
the Underground.
The village of Blackhawk as it appears today at the junction of Lisbon Road and Old Blackhawk Road. Blackhawk was once a bustling community that was on a main path for Conestoga Wagons on their westward trek.
Achor, Ohio, was a main destination of fugitives passing through Blackhawk. Achor had a number of Quakers living there who helped the slaves on to Salem. This abandoned church is one of the few buildings left where most of the land is now part of the East Palestine Country Club.
Cannelton
Cannelton, Pennsylvania, was another destination for slaves coming out of New Brighton or through old Black Hawk (today spelled Blackhawk.)
Morris House--Jonathan Morris was a bold and tireless worker on the Underground Railroad. His home, now owned by Brian McCarl, is located near Cannelton. He hid many runaways who were eventually transported to Achor or Salem, Ohio.
Cannelton Coal Mine: Three fugitive slaves hid in William Welsh's coal mine in the little village of Cannelton near Darlington. When they refused to come out on command, those who had come to capture them filled the mine entrance with brush and set it on fire. The fugitives died.