Underground Railroad Festival in Greensburg on April 5

Will feature lectures and music at the library

(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – An inaugural festival will pay homage to Decatur County’s connection to the Underground Railroad.

The underground railroad was a series of secret routes and safe houses used by those escaping slavery in the 1800’s. 

The Bill Smith Underground Railroad Festival will feature speakers and live music at the Greensburg Public Library on April 5. There is a schedule of events listed below. 

There will also be bus tours, however, they have already sold out. Organizers added that self-guided driving tour brochures will be available.

There will also be an exhibit of Decatur County in the Underground Railroad at the Decatur County Historical Museum on that Saturday.

The festival will honor Smith who was a longtime Decatur County Prosecutor who served on various nonprofits and also helped establish the Meals on Wheels program. 

He also had a passion for local history including Decatur County’s connection to the underground railroad. 

“Bill devoted countless hours to advancing our understanding of the Decatur County Underground Railroad. This event aims to share his knowledge with the community and celebrate the hidden history he uncovered,” organizers said. 

Here is the schedule of events at the library on April 5. All events are free to attend. 

Lectures:

9AM - Reverend David Crowley-”The Religious Roots of Antislavery in Indiana With Special Attention to Decatur County”

10AM-Joanna Hahn, Central Region Director at the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site

11AM-Ann Hagedorn, Best-Selling Author and Former Wall Street Journal Reporter will Present On Her book “Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad”

Music:

1PM-Carnegie Quartet-Enjoy the Highest Quality in String Music as the Ensemble Presents Parlor Music From the Underground Railroad Era

2PM-Hot Horns-This Five Piece Horn Band Brings Jazz, Dixieland and Blues

3PM 35th Indiana Pipes and Drums-Civil War Music