Joan Southgate
posted by wviz | 8:32 AM
Freedom Quest: Ohio Blog
Welcome! My name is Joan Southgate. In the following posts, I have written a few thoughts I've had during the course of this "Freedom Quest". I will periodically post new thoughts and questions. Your job is to look at each post and respond to or comment on that question. I look forward to a very lively discussion with you!
99 Comments:
I look forward to learning more about your walk. I'll be back. Safe journey!
I really admire what you have done and I can't wait to hear about your journey from beginning to end!
Hello Grandma,
This is your grandson Alex. I am happy to be coming to see you in Cincinatti next week. Mom, Helena and Daddy are coming too. I have learned so much about NASCAR and airplanes too.
Darlene Porter said: I am with you in spirit and in prayer!! I have forwarded your blog to students and friends in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, and North Carolina, who also are following your walk!!
Hi Joan and Terry,
Thank you for the fantastic job you are doing in carrying the message of freedom to those you meet across Ohio. You two are definitely today's Freedom Fighters, keeping the flame of freedom alive in memory of the thousands who sought freedom via the Underground Railroad. God Bless You and all the thousands of peoople you touch as you make this wonderful trek. I will be following your journey.
Hi Aunt Joan,
... I thought you were 76!
I Love you and i hope you are doing well
Dear grandma,
how are you? how is the walk going. everybody says Hi. I enjoyed going to the rankin house the view was great you can see to KY. hope to hear more soon
Your granddaughter Helena
Hi Joan,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with my first grade students at Buckeye Elem. in Salem, Ohio. We will be following you all the way to the end of your trip. As a class we will be taking a walking tour of 4 homes by our school that were part of the UGRR in Salem. Your are making everything we have studied and talked about real to my students. They were so excited to have Ester refer to "Follow the Drinking Gourd" today when Keaton asked his question. We had just finished this story and the children did a writing about it. We look forward to connecting with you next Wed.
Hi Mrs Joany
Hello Ms Schultz, What a wonderful plan. A walking tour right in your neighborhood for 6 and 7 year old children. I wish I was there to walk with you. Email some digital pictures if you can. Please let me know how it goes I hope you have nice weather. That is what is so exciting about Ohio. We can all be proud that so many black and white and native American Indian anti-slavery activists did the dangerous work of the Underground Railroad. They say there were 1,540 sites and trails and conductors.
hey mom hope you are having fun we will miss you and we all love you and we will see you soon
love amanda &fam
Hi grandma Ihope you are doing well. have a good time!
Hello grandma how are you doing? I hope you are have fun at Columbus Ohio.
mom way to go we miss u very much
kk,wpc n {9-3333333333333334;.-cgf fj (translation) i love u grandma love brandon
Hi you came to my school today 4/14/05! I really enjoyed your visit. I think it was a pleasure to have you! I onlyhave one question on the blog. What does it mean by create blog on the second step! I hope you will write back to me and yes it is all spelled correctly! And I also want to know if it costs anythig! I hope you read this and write back thank you for coming!
Sincerely,
a student from mt. orab!
P.S. on the journal how do you veiw the date?
I am from Twin Oak Elementry.You
vistied us this May 2,2005.I loved
the quilt you brought in this morning.When I was listing to you
said that you walked though Ohio?
How many miles did you walk?
Bye-for now
Kayla
dear joan southgate,
Thank you so much for coming to our school! i know that every one really liked you coming. my name is kaitlyn meadway and i enjoyed your story. me and my language arts class learned about race, class, and gender, so we really could connect with your story. thank you so much!
sincerly,
kaitlyn
Dear Joan Southgate,
My name is brittany miller and I am in the seventh grade. I really enjoyed learning about you!
You really inspired me,I really look up to you being the person you are and doing the things you've done like the walk thank you so much for coming to the mount veron middle school ! I hope to meet you agian soon!
dear joan southgate,
I'm in seventh grade my name dean d'arcy. I'm from mount vernon middle school I love when you come because I enjoyed hearing about you and what you have done with your life it is truely amazing when I heard that youu walk that far I was truely amazed of what you did. I couldn't beleave all the slaves walk that.
sincerly,
dean d'arcy
I thought you were awesome and made a big impact on me. You made me belive in anything and think anything is possible. You are a hero to many people includeing me. If you would like to do it again i would love to accompany you in your journey. You have taught me so much on our history that we have in ohio. If you made a differance just in Ohio think what we could do around the country. All the people we will meet and all the history we will run into. I whant to do the same thing you did but through out the united states with help from other people as well. Thanks for comeing to Mount Vernon and talking to us and i hope to see you soon! God bless!!
Your friend,
Tori Chapman
I thought you were amazing and you inspire many kids by what you do! Iwas your helper and i carried some of your bags. I felt so special to help you and meet you. You thaought me to belive in myself and do what i think is right and thats what you did i hope you had a fun time at our school. I had a blast i hope to see you again you are amazing to my and my family. you friend, Kylee Marcum
Dear Mrs. Southgate,
Hello. My name is Susan Alley. I just wanted to say thank you for coming to our school (Mount Vernon, Ohio) and talking to us about your journey. You made a big impact on me, but other people too. I look up to you for all of the things you have done for me and also other kids. You have taught me so many things about Ohio and its history. I really enjoyed listening to you talk about your journey today. You have made a big difference in Ohio! Once again, thank you for visiting our school and I hope I'll see you soon in Mount Vernon! May God bless you richly!
Sincerely,
Susan Alley
Dear Mrs. Southgate,
Hello! My name is Courtnery Schiavi and I just wanted to say I am glad you came to mount vernon middle.I had a great time telling you about the quilts we made and hearing some of the skits we did for you.I was so glad to hear the Mount Vernon was your favorite stop and place to talk about.I hope I will see you agian. God bless and may he always be with you.
Sincerly,
Courtney Schiavi
dear mrs. southgate, hi my name is porsha purdy and i go mount vernon mddle school. You came to visit us the 3 of may 2005. I thought your speech was very interesting. It touched me that you were intrested in your ancestry from the underground rail road. I really thought your trip was amazing. If I was you and I went on that trip I would probably break out in tears because it would o fhurt me to even imagin what the slaves went trough. I even wonder if i was related to any slave owners. I am always scared that if I foiund that I was then my life would change forever. I even wonder if i was related to any of the slaves that ran the underground railroad. I would really like to hear more about your trip . thank you so much for coming to our school and telling us about your trip .
From Mt. Vernon...(homeschooler)
I just had to write you tonight. On our way home from hearing you speak at the Historical Society tonight, my 15 year old daughter whom we adopted 2 years ago from Russia, said, "I would love to take a walk like she did." I said, "Why do you think you'd like it?" She said, "It would be fun to walk underground!" Well, needless to say, my little historical preparation prior to your presentation was not adequate! Back to the drawing board!
Is there a opening to a tunnel in the cemetary next to the Curtis mansion that was used during the under ground railroad?
Good luck
How hard was it to walk from ohio to Canada?
Did you ever get tired of walking?
Did you have fun?
Was it fun that you knew you went across Ohio?What did you see that was interesting?Did you think it was scary?
Was it tireing walking across Ohio
Is there any safety houses left? How long did it take you to get to Canada?
What interesting things did you see on your way through Ohio that you don't see every day?
How many days did it take you to walk you Canada?
How long did it take you.
Good luck on your walk.
why did you go on the walk?
Did you get tired?
Did you have fun?
How long did it take you to get to Ohio?
How long did it take you to walk across Ohio?
Which houses in Mount Vernon were used during the underground railroad?
I think it was amazinng how you walked from Ohio to Canada.I also have a question.How long did it take you to get to canada? Were there days that you could not find a place to eat, and did you have any trouble getting there?
I think it was awsome that you walked all the way to Canada. Do you want to do it again? How many hours did it take to get to Canada?
How many days did it take? Did you have fun? How many times did you stop? Why did you publish your book? How did you take a bath? Was the weather good? Were you hungry a lot? Did you find valeables? Why did you go? Did you have fun?
How did you get interested in the undergroud railroad?
How was your stay at Mt Vernon
I admire your quest to tell the children in different areas new knowledge on the Underground railroad.
How long was your walk?
How did you like ST. Vincent?
Thank you. I enjoyed your presentation. Thanks for coming to our school. Where you in the underground railroad? Thanks!
How did you become intersted in the underground railroad.
How long was the underground railroad in service? Go TECI!!!!!
How far did the underground go?
What year was the Underground railroad discovered?
Did you see or meet any german or irish immigrants?
Did you see the Curtis Mansion in Mt. Vernon? There are many rumors that it actually was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Also, the graveyard was supposed to have sheltered slaves in the masoleum.
What made you interested in visiting the underground railroad?
Tell me about the slaves that passed through Knox County on there way to freedom.
Did you start the site? if so do you have any other sites that we might be interested in?
St. Vincent's is cool, Korey! Stop with the weird comments!
Where did you start in Ohio?
Where did you end up in Canada?
Have you ever visited the Curtis mansion? Thanks for coming to our school and teaching us about the Underground Railroad!
Was it tiering when you were walking the underground railroad.
The Railroad is VERY interesting
Did you talk to the perffessors at the collages in aboutthe history of the area
she said she was studying slaves, not immigrants. and of course she met immigrants. this is ohio
How far did the underground raile road?¿
Thank you for coming to my school and teaching me about your journey.
What are some of the stations in Mt. Vernon? Did you ever get to meet any of the conductors families? It was great getting to meet you and Teci. Cool quilt.
Thank you From Fillip Hord
Why did they use quilts.
How far did the underground railroud go.
HUH
What was your favorite part of the trip?
Your call to action is amazing. May your story inspire us all to find ways in our lives to step up and act.
I really appreciate you coming to our school to talk to us about your journey.I wish you could've stayed longer and i hope you enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed yours.
Mrs. Southgate,
Hi My name is Jeanie McCutchen. I am from Mount Vernon Middle School. We really enjoyed you visit to our school and hope you come back soon. I hope you enjoyed your visit to our school. I can't wait to read your book. I hope its a good one.Well I'll be back soon!!! Bye!! Would you ever do this again????
I am having such a wonderful and BUSY time in MT. Vernon, but I want to say THANK YOU,THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone and I'll write more later after I take a nap. A very long nap :-) Peace & Joy, Joan
I diden't get to write to you when you came so i just wanted to say hi and good luck in your future!
Hey Joan its Katie from St. Vincents again just typing to say hey i was wonderen if you likrf visiting the people at the underground rail road. bye
Good luck on your trip
Good luck on your trip
You are a strong woman
How many days many did it took to to Repiely Ohio all the way to Canada?
Good luck on your trip.
Were do plan on stop in this journey?
hi my name is raven and
I have one comment.When you Walk do you get tired ?if I walk that long I well get tired
dear grandma,
what time did you get in the bed last night? I hope you are having fun on your trip. Your website is huge. Hope to hear from you soon.
Good day.How is your trip?
What did you eat?
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD LUCK ON YOUR TRIP.HOPE YOU HAVE FUN. I CANT BELIVE IT.
you are a great woman.
i hope you have a good week.
Good joib.I like yuor walk. I wnet to walk.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD LUCK
What did you eat on your jorney?
Did you have a great trip?
I have been lerning about your walk in afterschool.
Dear Ms. Southgate I hope
you have a good journey. I wish I could come I know it's fun.
I stumbled upon your web site while doing research on the Underground Railroad. I think you are a remarkable woman to do this. At 71, the best I can do is walk around the block! How are you authenticating all of this?
From one grandmother to another, i learned on Mother's Day that I will have twin grandbabies by Christmas. I simply cannot imagine families living as slaves.
Ms. Southgate, Could I interest you in speaking at my church (Lee Heights Community Church) for Black History Month, 2006? I had the priviledge of listening to you speak at the Cleveland Hts Rec center and feel others would benefit from hearing about your experience.
It took three motns altogether to do my walk. It was divided into three sections. Two months in spring 2002. One week in the fall of 2202 and three weeks in the spring of 2003. All of it was glorius. I have met so many wonderful people along the way they inspire me to think of doing another walk across Ohio. Want to come along? :-)
Whoops As you can see the above comment just proves you should preview your comment before publishing. Look at all of the typos. Months not motns. 2002 not 2202 and glorious not glorius. But it is true, the people I have met have inspired me to consider doing another long and wonderful walk across Ohio. It certainly would take a lot of planning and I would have to get back into excellent shape with months of physical training, but I'm sure it would be as much fun as the first time.
I am way behind in response. Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. All of the people who have helped all of you have greeted us along the way have made our trek an exciting reminder of the Underground Railroad spirit.
This is our last week on the road we will be in Ashtabula. Each town has its unique way of remembering and celebrating history. I love discovering something new, and Ohio has so much to explore this will not be my last trip.
To Alex and Helena, See you soon at cousins' camp. Thanks for logging on this website and thanks for coming to Cincinnati to be part of this trip across Ohio. Love, Grandma
To the Shelby,Orlando Grandmother: Congratulations on the new grandbabies. The walking was possible only after 14 serious months of training. Dumb bells and ankle weights plus walking longer and longer distances with 10 miles a day as goal. It has been a glorious journey and I wrote a book called IN THEIR PATH based on the whole educational project. Check out my web site: www.intheirpath.org
Joan has brought history to life for students and adults in Knox County. It has been so exciting to see children and adults from different communities work together to seek out our "stories" and walk "In Their Path..." with Joan!
This project has been such an inspiration! Joan asks us to look at the courage of the fugitives and the courage of those who risked everything to help them escape to freedom.
Hello, my name is faaizah I am in your daughters class and I just want to say hey.
Post a Comment
<< Home