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THE SLAVE HOUSE IN COLLEGE HILL 

          Sally and Samuel Wilson helped African Americans make there way north. The Wilsons were known for making things easier for people escaping by supplying clothing, food, and a place to hide out for the time being. The Wilsons and their seven children traveled from New Hampshire to Cincinnati in 1828. In 1849 they built a house in College Hill, this became part of the safe houses in Cincinnati next to the neighborhood of Walnut Hills. The Wilson family felt the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act was unjust and inhumane so that’s why they risked the possibility of going to jail to help these people. Their contribution in the Underground Railroad can be found in the Cincinnati Historic Society if you want to know more about their family history. The Wilsons were very educated and demonstrated a lot of leadership in helping runaways find their freedom.  

          The two-story house was built in 1852 in the area of College Hill. The property location was off of Hamilton Avenue at 1502 Astor Place. The house has nine rooms, four bedrooms, and one full bath. The house is understood to have a cellar in the backyard where the Wilsons would hide fugitives. In route from Kentucky the fugitives would cross the Ohio River. This most likely took place at night while during the day they planned their way to escape. In the neighborhood of Cumminsville, the fugitives got offered clothing, food, and guidance to the next station, ten miles up Hamilton Ave.

          The runaways would end up in College Hill. The house has been recognized through out the City of Cincinnati and was placed on the National Register of historic houses. The house was recognized for the history, religion and the education of the role it played in the Underground Railroad. Former Cincinnati Policeman John O’Neil, who lived in the house since he was born, now owns the house. He often got visits from former slaves when he was a child. O’Neil is now 83 and still remembers all the history his house carries. 

[Brittany Ellis]

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