Underground Railroad Festival will be held in Decatur County on April 5

In honor of local historian Bill Smith

(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – A local historian will be honored during the inaugural Underground Railroad Festival in Decatur County in April. 

78-year-old William “Bill” Smith 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. 

The Bill Smith Underground Railroad Festival will include bus tours, speakers and live music on Saturday, April 5. Tours are scheduled at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will last approximately an hour, and will depart from the library.

“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. 

Registration Information: Tours: The sign up link is below or you can call the Greensburg Library at 812-663-2826: 

● 9 AM Bus Tour -> https://bit.ly/UNDERGBT9 

● 1 PM Bus Tour -> https://bit.ly/UNDERGBT1 

Guest Speakers @ Greensburg Library: 

● 9:00 AM-Reverend David Crowley-”The Religious Roots of Antislavery in Indiana With Special Attention to Decatur County” 

● 10:00 AM-Joanna Hahn, Central Region Director at the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site 

● 1100 AM-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” 

Live music @ Greensburg Library: 

● 1:00 PM-Carnegie Quartet-Enjoy the Highest Quality in String Music as the Ensemble Presents Parlor Music From the Underground Railroad Era 

● 2:30 PM-Hot Horns-This Five Piece Horn Band Brings Jazz, Dixieland and Blues ● 3:45 PM 35th Indiana Pipes and Drums-Civil War Music 

● Special Exhibit @ Decatur County Historical Museum: The Underground Railroad in Decatur County. Will also explore local connections to The John Rankin Home and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin."

Contact: John Pratt jowpratt63@gmail.com or 812-593-6724