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 is commemorated by historic marker. It is the first stop on the Portland Freedom Trail. It is located on Franklin and Thames Streets opposite the Maine State Pier.
Waymark Code: WMP3NR
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 06/25/2015
Views: 6
Before the Civil War slaves 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.
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.