Waverly Community House to unveil Underground Railroad historic marker
Community House staff will formally dedicate the marker on June 19 — Juneteenth — at 10 a.m. EJ Murphy, program manager for Destination Freedom, the interactive historical program that examines the township's history with a focus on its role in the Underground Railroad, will lead walking tours around the community house grounds following the dedication. The Destination Freedom gallery will also be open.
The marker details the history of Waverly as it relates to the Underground Railroad and how the township connects with other municipalities in Northeast Pennsylvania that were significant to the cooperative system among antislavery people in the United States by which Blacks were secretly helped to reach the North. It also highlights the abolitionists and formerly enslaved people, some of whom fought for the union during the Civil War, who made the area their home.
'It's just an overview of what you can learn here if you come and take our tour,' Murphy said.
Posture Interactive of Scranton designed the sign, and the base was made by Pannier Graphics of Gibsonia. Funding for the marker came from two $5,000 grants from Lackawanna Heritage Valley and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, as well as donations through the state's Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
Murphy was inspired to add a sign detailing Waverly's role in the Underground Railroad after seeing it referenced in books on the secret network of routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans. The Underground Railroad is also mentioned on a state historic marker across from Hickory Grove Cemetery.
'I wanted to try to find a way that even if you're just walking around or even just walking your dog, you can kind of get a sense of the history that we offer here,' he said.
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EJ Murphy, program manager for Destination Freedom, stands beside the base that will hold a historic marker that will detail Waverly's role in the Underground Railroad Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The Waverly Community House will dedicate the historic marker on Juneteenth. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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Gia Tugend, interim executive director of the Waverly Community House, looks through books on the American Civil War at the community house's archives Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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EJ Murphy, program manager for Destination Freedom, talks about some of the Civil War items on display at the Waverly Community House Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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A display of artifacts related to the American Civil War and the Underground Railroad is on display at the Waverly Community House Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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EJ Murphy, program manager for Destination Freedom, stands beside the base that will hold a historic marker that will detail Waverly's role in the Underground Railroad Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The Waverly Community House will dedicate the historic marker on Juneteenth. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)
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In addition to being the home of several formerly enslaved African Americans, Waverly was home to people involved with the Underground Railroad. Murphy said the marker makes more people aware of that role.
'It's just a way for people to get that connection to this history that they might not otherwise be aware of,' he said.
Destination Freedom guided tours began in 2017, and in 2022 they were added to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, which connects sites throughout the U.S.
Gia Tugend, the Waverly Community House's interim executive director, said the marker is in line with the community house's mission of education, recreation and culture.
Murphy and Tugend said Juneteenth is a good way to recognize the abolition of slavery in the U.S. Destination Freedom, they added, shows the local connection to the fight to end slavery.
'I think local history makes something a little bit more tangible,' Tugend said. 'It allows people to actually see something in a different way. I feel like because they're able to be here and see the homes and see the churches and the locations on the tour … it adds a different perspective, and I feel like that's so important to us to be able to do that.'
Destination Freedom tours will be offered Tuesdays at 2 p.m. during the summer months.
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