SW Rides XII

There are at least five other structures in Salem that are somehow linked to the Underground Railroad. I am not sure where they all are but my Dad knew most of them and talked of a tunnel that used to run from one to the other. In many ways the entire community was planned and developed around the idea of providing an escape route for runaway slaves.

Dad tells stories of more recent events in the community. Unfortunately, I didn’t write them down and don’t remember many of the details. I marveled at his memory. He spent his whole life talking to people, taking notes, and researching historical documents.

Leaving Salem we could go west to Hillsboro or head east towards Salem Stub. Let’s go to Hillsboro first. Hillsboro is in a forgotten corner of the county. Many of the residents are a little edgy about that.

It’s original name as Washington. Then in 1844 it was changed to Hillsborough. In 1887 it was changed to the present Hillsboro. It’s not hilly so it is hard telling where that name came from?

The Hoaglins are from the Hillsboro area. Dad worked for the Hoaglins who owned a department store in Mt. Pleasant in the 1940s and 50s. Dad had great admiration for the family.

In the Hillsboro City Park there is a stone marker that tells the story of the military roads that intersected there. The roads date back to 1839. There apparently was also a very elegant opera house in Hillsboro at one time but there is little record of it. I have a feeling Hillsboro has a lot of stories to tell. I wish I knew more of them.

We turn around and head back through Salem. Salem had the first electrical distribution system in Iowa. It was home of the respected Whittier College. Nearby is Fish Creek Bridge. It was built in 1894 and is on the National Register because there a few left that are structured like it.

We head east towards Salem Stub. We pass the Cammack farm where we have fished many times in their ponds. This is where Angie caught a big bass when she was about five years old. It is also where Dad caught a big catfish one time. We can’t help but talk about it as we drive past.

We get to Salem Stub, which is really only a gas station on Highway 218. Where it’s name came from I am not sure. We turn left and head back towards Mt. Pleasant. Just after we cross the Skunk River we turn left and get on old Highway 218. This is near where Webster Mill was located. We have visited the site a few times. There is still a house there. It was also where travelers forded the river when traveling south.

From there it is on towards home. We enter town on south Main and Dad drops me off at our West Clay house and he heads home to his house on West Madison.

So, that’s more or less, the southwest trip. There is a lot more to tell but that will have to wait for another time. I’ll write about the rides to the southeast and northeast later.