In the years leading up to the Civil War, did enslaved people seeking freedom find help along the Underground Railroad in Christian County?
That’s a question that Wynn Radford, a retired insurance executive and student of history, has been researching for several months.
Radford will present his findings in a History on Tap program, titled “The Underground Railroad and Christian County,” at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, at Hopkinsville Brewing Co.
“With the help of court records, wills and other sources, Radford provides a compelling narrative of local participation in the emancipation of enslaved people,” said Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, in a press release. “This connection to the Underground Railroad expands our understanding of our community’s history.”
The museum sponsors History on Tap. It is a free, monthly series designed to share local history in a relaxed, fun setting.
Radford has previously presented History on Tap programs, including one in May 2022 about a federal grand jury probe of Hopkinsville city government and police in the 1950s.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
