J. R. Bennett Building

Historical marker location:

Greenville, Illinois

( Marker is at the intersection of 3rd Street (Illinois Route 127) and College Avenue (Illinois Route 127), on the left when traveling north on 3rd Street.)

1870.

The state of Illinois played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by slaves to escape to freedom in the 19th century. Many abolitionists in Illinois provided safe houses for escaping slaves, and Chicago was a key hub on the Underground Railroad.