There have been numerous books and research materials published about the Underground Railroad dating back to the end of the 1800’s. Many of these stories concern the land routes taken; or about the abolitionists, both white and black, who aided escaped slaves north to freedom. They have thoroughly covered the methods used to move the runaways across country by wagon, train, horseback, or foot; and how they were hid during the day in barns and cellars until it was safe to transport them to the next ‘station’ during the night. Entire networks have been plotted out and established from these materials.

But not much has been researched and written down about those individuals that were transported north from locations like Michigan City to Detroit and Canada by schooners and steamboats. Many questions remain unanswered.

What would have happened to escaped slaves if they made it to places like Hungry Hollow where lumber barks traveled to Canadian ports daily? How would they have hitched a ride north on a boat? Who would have helped them? How did they make contact with the anti-slavery people? Who were the Captains and crews that risked jail time and fines to stow them aboard? Did these ships arrive at other ports of call along the Lakes to pick up additional ‘cargo’ before arriving in Canada? Were there established networks in place or was it all done by chance?

The Briggs Project centers its research on these unanswered questions. We know how escaped slaves got to places like Michigan City and about the people who sheltered them, gave them food, water, and clothes. But what really needs to be determined is what happened to the escaped slaves once they reached the shores of Lake Michigan.