Kenneth Burkett

INTRODUCTION

Tales of the Underground Railroad are deeply entrenched within the 19th century history and folklore of Northwestern Pennsylvania. This chain of devoted individuals provided a systematic transportation of fugitive slaves from the southern states to a safe haven within the free northern states and Canada until the initiation of hostilities beginning the Civil War.

The possibility of recapture was always near as the fugitives were being ushered north. Often, their owners were in close pursuit frequently being aided by northern sympathizers easily converted by the lure of substantial rewards and bounties. Helping runaway slaves was illegal prior to the Civil War with stiff penalties levied upon those who were caught doing so. With the potential of severe punishment to both the slaves and their benefactors, most of the participants within the Underground Railroad remained a closely guarded secret long after the Civil War had ended.

One of the known rural routes of Underground Railroad system in Pennsylvania passed through Jefferson County with identified stopping points located in Brookville, Heathville, Punxsutawney, Sigel, and Summerville (McKnight 1917). While many of the local collaborators involved in this undertaking continue to remain anonymous today, one prominent and historically known public figure, Judge Elijah Heath, was renowned due to his staunch abolitionist views and a public legal recourse that was rendered against him for his involvement.

BACKGROUND

During June 2000, the Jefferson County Historical Society utilizing funding from a Historical Preservation Grant provided by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission undertook the archaeological exploration of a remote passageway and associated chambers located beneath a house at 64 Pickering Street in Brookville, Pennsylvania. This house had been built and occupied by Elijah Heath during the period of his known involvement with the Underground Railroad.

The Heath House Today

The purpose of this project was to establish a possible correlation with Mr. Heath’s activities by developing a basic construction chronology of the house, and compiling information through the recovery and analysis of cultural artifacts associated with the chambers and passageway. This venture also provided an excellent educational opportunity for interested individuals to experience archaeological field methodology. Under the direction of the author with assistance by Edward Kaufman, it was completed with the help of numerous volunteers comprised of students from the Brookville Area High School and members of the Jefferson County Historical Society. The group logged a total of 243 hours completing all aspects of the excavation and carrying out the cleaning and cataloging of recovered artifacts.

HISTORY

Judge Heath Biography

According to Kate Scott (Scott 1888), Elijah Heath was born in Warren county New Jersey in October 1796 and resided there until the war of 1812-15 when he enlisted with the state militia. In 1820 he became one of the earliest settlers to enter Jefferson County and is credited with building the first sawmill along the Mahoning Creek near present day Punxsutawney. He married Mary W. Jenks in 1822 and soon began a long series of local and political offices by being elected as Constable of Perry Township. In 1826 Young Township was created from a portion of Perry Township with the first local elections held at the Heath homestead.

Elijah’s association with Brookville apparently began in or about 1829 when he was elected as County Commissioner. He had apparently moved into town as he is reported to have joined the Brookville Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1830 he was appointed by Governor Wolf as Associate Judge, an office fulfilled until 1835 when he was admitted to the bar and began practicing law. In 1831 he was also elected as the Justice of the Peace for Brookville. This dynamic and obviously energetic individual also co-owned other local business ventures including a mercantile store with his brother on Main Street and a Tannery with Mr. A. Colwell.

Both Scott (1888) and McKnight (1915) refer to Elijah Heath as an avowed abolitionist actively involved in the Underground Railroad during a period when it was an offense to even raise a voice against slavery. The constitutional law of 1793 authorized slave owners or their agents to apprehend fugitives in any state or territory and provided that the owners could apply to a circuit or district judge for a certificate to take custody of runaways. In 1834, two runaway slaves were lodged in the Brookville jail for overnight safekeeping by their owners. Mr. Heath, with the assistance of the jailor, provided tools that enabled the prisoners to file the lock from their cell and escape. His complicity was eventually discovered and a suit filed against him by the owners under the fugitive slave law imposed a fine of $2000.00, a very hefty sum in a county where the average wage at that time totaled $16.00 per month. To escape payment it was reported that he conveyed his properties and other financial holdings to others until he was finally able to negotiate a settlement and reduced fine.

How long the Heath Family actually resided in Brookville is conjectural as Elijah is reported serving as the Heathville Postmaster (Clover Township) during 1841 where he also owned a gristmill and sawmill. Reverend George Reeser notes him at that time as being among the prominent parishioners of the Methodist Church in Troy (Summerville). In 1843 he was elected as one of the overseers of the poor in Clover Township. By 1846 the family had moved back into Brookville with Elijah joining into a law practice with his brother-in-law, Mr. Isaac Gordon. Elijah’s local business ventures also continued with his construction of the American Hotel in 1845 and adding to it a business block called the Arcade in 1846.

In 1850 the Heath family left Jefferson County moving to Pittsburgh. After the death of his wife in October 1863, Elijah’s final years were spent near New Manmouth, New Jersey where he died at the age of 79 in May of 1875.

HOUSE

On April 2, 1830 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed legislation to establish Brookville as the seat of justice for Jefferson County. That year, John Pickering deeded a large portion of property to the Commissioners of Jefferson County which included holdings for the establishment of a square for public buildings and other lots to be sold to private individuals to help pay for the construction of a courthouse and jail.

On September 29, 1838, Elijah Heath purchased lots 16 and 17 for the sum of $80.00. Each of these lots measured 58 feet wide and 150 feet deep (1/5th acre). Water Street, bounded them on the south, Pickering Street on the west, Hunts Alley on the north and Lot number 18 on the east. His initial residence built at this location was a two-story frame house measuring 16.5 feet deep by 31 feet long, with the long axis oriented parallel to and bordering Pickering Street. It was set on a rough stone foundation with hand hewn floor beams and joists supported by a series of multiple low stone pillars. Located directly beneath the house was a stone lined chamber built to serve as a root cellar.

Also part of the early phase of construction was a stone lined well within a brick lined enclosure located at a distance of 16 feet to the rear of the house. The intended use of this well and structure appears to have been a springhouse providing the primary source of water to the residence and an area for the cool storage of perishable foods. How tall the original structure was is unknown, but a wooden roof probably covered it. Kate Scott (1888) notes that Thomas McElhany Barr began brick making in Brookville by 1830 and was actively engaged in bricklaying and masonry work throughout the early community. Probably representative of some of these early bricks are the 8 1/2 X 4 X 2 inch non-fired red brick made by pressed clay mixed with grass and straw used in this building .

Original Construction Plan

Elijah sold the property on December 31, 1846 to his nephew, David Barclay Jenks for the sum of $1200.00. David was another prominent lawyer in Brookville and actively practiced until his sudden death on May 16, 1848. Mrs. Jenks subsequently sold the property to next-door neighbor and prominent Jefferson County gunsmith Mr. William McCullough on May 11, 1849. An 1857 drawing of Brookville published by McKnight (1917) includes a crude representation of the front of the house with a plain façade.

Samuel McElhose purchased the property in 1863 and the guardian of his surviving 14-year-old daughter sold it after his death in 1869. The deed notes that the orphan’s court declared the house to be in such a state of dilapidation and decay that it would be in the best interest of the minor that it be sold.

The new owners, John and Susan Yeaney, probably completed the second major addition and renovation soon after their purchase. The use of square cut nails for this construction verifies that it was built prior to 1890, by which time wire nails had completely replaced the earlier form (Nelson 1968). This expansion doubled the house depth to 31 feet and included the installation of a 1.5-foot thick rough stone foundation that now enclosed the room containing the well under the house. A narrow 2 foot wide brick lined passageway was installed between the east and west chambers making both accessible from a set of stairs reaching the outside in the rear of the house. The bricks appear to have been obtained from the dismantled upper portion of the original springhouse. The well now enclosed under the house apparently retained its use as the primary water source and probably remained so until the December 1, 1883 introduction of the city water system to Pickering Street. At some point thereafter the outside entrance was removed and sealed.

1869 Additions

A. E and Blanch Smith purchased the property in 1888 and held it only two years before selling it to Dr. C. M. Matson whose family became the longest continuous owners.

The third and final phase of construction occurred beginning in 1901 by Dr. Matson. A new addition again doubled house depth to 58 feet on a single story level which included a narrow 9 foot wide porch on the entire East end of the house and the addition of intricate exterior decoration to the front exposure boarding Pickering street. All of this construction was completed with wire cut nails. A published 1904 photograph (Harriger 1984) of Pickering Street shows the front of the house much resembling its present exterior appearance.

1901 Additions

Below the structure a large 12.6-foot wide by 31 foot long cellar lined with cut and trimmed stone was added under the south side of the house, and the entire floor of the earlier structure was elevated by placing overbearing floor joists with new flooring, followed by the removal of the older lower joists and flooring. It was during this rebuilding phase that Dr. Matson reported to the local newspaper (Jefferson Democrat 6/6/1902) of the discovery of a passageway, nearly bricked up, about 2 feet wide and 3 to 4 feet high that led to a room about 8 Feet Square. He attributed this complex as being used by Judge Heath in activities associated with the Underground Railroad. In order to make an entry to this area from the new interior basement stairway, a small wooden doorway was installed, and a trench cut through approximately 4 feet of clay and the brick lined wall. During the 20th century the passageway and chambers were repeatedly used to install wiring, plumbing and sewage runs beneath the house.

The Matson family maintained this residence for almost 71 years selling it in 1971, and beginning a relatively rapid succession of 5 additional owners to the present.

Photograph ca. 1904

EXCAVATION METHODOLOGY

Prior to the initiation of excavation the house was assigned a designation on the Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey through the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh as 36Je152. All excavation documents and artifact records carry this label.

Our initial overview of the chambers and passageway found a clutter of wood, pipe and stone that had been deliberately dislodged or discarded during the various 20th century utility instillations. After this debris was cleared to expose the intact soil surface, an excavation baseline was established from a point at the northeast corner of the descending stone stairwell and extending along the northern wall of the interior passageway through both the West Chamber and East Chamber. The baseline was bisected in 2.5-foot grid sections in order to record the horizontal distribution of artifacts. The well when encountered was assigned as a separate feature. Due to the shallow deposits and disturbed nature of the interior chambers no attempt was made to stratigraphically record artifacts, except within the well.

Excavtion Plan

Excavation was started simultaneously in both the west and east chambers. Due to the limited accessibility, only 1 or 2 individuals were able to excavate at a time in each of these areas. Soil was removed by carefully toweling the floor surface and was carried outside in buckets where it was completely screened through 1/4" mesh. Artifacts recovered during the excavation and screening were sorted, cataloged and stored relative to the grid sections from which they were recovered.

EXCAVATED STRUCTURAL FEATURES

East Chamber

The East Chamber is the remaining portion of the now enclosed springhouse. Measuring 6.5 feet wide by 8 feet long and 5.2 feet high to the current floor joists, it was constructed on three sides with a stone base that has a remaining 14 courses of red brick capped with a wooden sill. During the enclosure of this chamber under the house, wooden boards were attached vertically from the sill on three sides and from the floor on the south with a small open doorway positioned adjacent to the well. Within the chamber the only artifacts discovered were 20th century construction materials.

The southern wall outside of the chamber was constructed entirely of rough fieldstone and appears to be a later addition to create a wider entrance into the passageway from the stairs.

Stairs

The Stairs originally exited adjacent the door from the East Chamber and were built through the stone foundation to the outside of the house. Created during the second phase of construction, they were built over a ramp and walls lined with both rough and cut fieldstone. Part of the original stairway remains and is assembled with square cut nails and wood possibly salvaged from a set of shelves. Soil that had accumulated at the base of these stairs contained items associated with the household and kitchen including 9 sherds of clear glass from a lamp or candle globe, 5 sherds of a blue stoneware bowl with green and white banding encircling the rim, a shard of mulberry transfer ware, a white shard from a crock, numerous butchered mammal bones, and a few personal items including a suspender buckle and a shell button. The deposition of these materials appears to postdate the projected 1869 construction of the stairwell.

Well

Measuring approximately 5 feet in diameter, a stone lined well was discovered just outside of the East Chamber. Initially unnoticed, this feature was completely filled in with clay and brick fragments from the 1901 intrusion through the passageway wall and with large rocks dislodged from a recent dismantling of part of the foundation wall adjacent to the steps for installation of a septic drainage system. Our explorations descended into the well to a maximum depth of 6 feet and were halted due to safety concerns for the excavators due to the unstable rock walls. Most of the artifacts recovered from the upper levels of the well are construction materials dating to the 20th century, but the lower levels provided several 19th century items including a clay marble, a small shard of Victorian Deep Flow Blue ware, 6 sherds of white undecorated pearlware, a rim fragment from a clear glass container, a bottle fragment, 21 thin flat glass sherds, several small pieces of leather (one from a shoe), a clay marble and numerous butchered mammal bones.

Excavating the East Chamber's Well

Passageway Running 16.5 feet between the East and West chambers was a passageway with a width of 2 feet at the base of the floor and outsloping walls that expanded the top to almost 40 inches wide. From the base of the dirt floor to the current floor joists this passageway is approximately 4 feet 8 inches high. Courses of non-mortared bricks apparently salvaged from the dismantling of the above ground portion of the springhouse during its enclosure beneath the house were set on edge to line this passageway. Because of its shallowness, widening profile and non-supportive capabilities of the unstable brick lining, it appears that the passage was never created or utilized as a tunnel other than with the floor of the house serving as a cover. There was a minimal soil buildup over the apparent hard packed original dirt floor throughout the passageway and what was present can be mostly attributed to refuse from the 1901 intrusion through the southern wall near the West Chamber. Artifacts were almost entirely lacking within the passageway and were limited to a few 19th and 20th century construction related items.

Passageway During Excavation

West Chamber

The West Chamber is a stone lined structure measuring 14 feet long, 10 feet wide and 5.6 feet high. The stone floor is 6 inches lower than the adjoining passageway. There is no remaining evidence of an original descending stairway from the ground floor, and because of the small room small size, access was by probably by ladder through a trapdoor through the floor of the upper structure. Originally all four walls had been stone lined, but when the brick lined passageway was constructed between the chambers, the east wall was partially destroyed in order to create an entryway. The west wall of this chamber is also part of the building foundation. It was apparent during our excavations that surface water had occasionally seeped into this area from poor drainage along Pickering Street. At one point during the week, with exceptionally heavy rains, approximately 1 inch of water had accumulated by seepage over the subfloor.

This chamber contained a 16-inch deep fill of clay, bricks and brick fragments deposited when the trench was cut through the passageway wall from the basement. Underlying this fill was a dark midden up to four inches thick that contained a few diagnostic artifacts including 36 fragments of thin curved lamp glass probably from an oil lamp or candle scone, a shard of brown opaque glass, a fragment of a writing slate, two metal buttons and melted wax on a stone that served as a candle holder.

View of Passageway connection into West Chamber

Other Areas

Where possible, a cursory visual examination of the intact soil surfaces beneath other areas of the house was completed. This endeavor failed to turn up any other domestic artifacts or indications of additional disturbances.

ARTIFACT ANALYSIS

A total of 446 artifacts were recovered during the excavation. Each object was washed or dry brushed, labeled and cataloged by the students in a processing area adjacent to the site. Unique artifacts were assigned a discreet field specimen number and the artifact providence appropriately recorded. Groups of associated 20th century artifacts (especially construction materials) were often assigned a single catalog number noting the item and quantity from within the specific excavation unit. Artifacts were coded by gross morphological categories including construction materials, household items, personal items and floral or faunal specimens.

Students Cataloging Artifacts

Construction Materials

Three hundred twenty two (322) items associated with house construction included items within the following categories:

19th Century Construction

Buttons - 1 shell button from below the stairs and 2 small metal buttons from the West Chamber.

Botanical

Due to the poor and often wet soil conditions in much of the excavated area botanical specimens did not survive well. Only eight specimens were recovered that include 6 cherry pits, 1 peach pit and 1 hickory nut hull.

Faunal

A total of 36 faunal specimens include 10 cow bones, 1 pig tooth, 3 chicken bones, 2 turkey long bones, 9 rodent (mice) bones and 11 unidentifiable bone fragments. In all cases the meat was apparently prepared by baking or boiling which produces a white patina instead of the blackened surface formed from cooking directly over a fire. No signs of gnawing by domestic dogs or rodents were found on any of the specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

The Elijah Heath House (36Je152) is an important early structure with historical ties to the Underground Railroad. While the deed record shows that Mr. Heath legally owned the property for only 9 years (1838-1846), it is noted that he was living within the community by 1830. Some homes in Brookville were built preceding official proprietorship and it is possible that the original structure was built and occupied by him prior to being deeded by the county, especially in light of the ongoing litigation against him for the 1834 escaped slave incident and his prominent political position. A search of the Jefferson County Court House failed to locate individual tax records for Brookville prior to 1857. These records if discovered may reveal additional important information about his whereabouts and activities during this early period.

When reviewing possible abolitionist activities associated with this house each of the subsequent owners prior to the civil war must be taken into consideration. The second owner, Mr. David Barclay Jenks was Elijah’s nephew and the son of Dr. William Jenks. Dr. Jenks was also a very prominent county citizen and held the office of County Commissioner at the same time as Elijah. He had aided Elijah in initially coming to Jefferson County, and it while not publicized, it is conceivable that this entire family shared like abolitionist beliefs and activities.

The third owner, William McCullough was probably not the tenant, himself living next door. Mr. McCullough’s strong union beliefs were well known. At the age of 49, far too old for most to join, he enlisted in Company C of the elite and hard-fought Second Regiment, of Berdan’s U. S. Sharpshooters, and served with distinction throughout the war. While we do not currently know who occupied the house between 1849 and 1863, with “Uncle Billies” fame of idealistic viewpoints, it is almost assured that the selected tenant(s) also shared his political and abolitionist perspectives.

Determining specific short-term cultural activities through archaeological analysis is always a difficult endeavor. An overall evaluation of the recovered personal and household items from the excavation of the chambers, passageway and well points to a discontinued use of these remote areas beneath the house for all domestic purposes by the end of the 19th century.

While the West Chamber, East Chamber and Well appear to have been constructed prior to the civil war, their association with activities involving the Underground Railroad remains conjectural. The east chamber, which at that time was not attached to the house, was mostly devoid of pre-twentieth century non-construction related artifacts. The complete absence of domestic materials associated with this area suggests that it was routinely cleaned of debris during its use as a springhouse and water source.

Interestingly, the archaeological evidence supports an abnormal use of the West Chamber, which at the lowest level contained only artifacts classified as household or personal instead of the expected quantities of fragmented crockery, canning jars or other items often associated with long-term food storage. While sparse, these items do possibly point to the chambers early utilization for other purposes which could include a secrete hide-away used to harbor fugitive slaves.

RECOMMENDATIONS

In light of the probable historical significance of this structure, an attempt should be made to preserve the remote chambers, passageway and well by adequately securing the entrance to protect them from damage and destruction by curious individuals or future renovations.

As a common depository for trash and other small items, a further penetration into the well might produce additional intact and significant early 19th century deposits. This endeavor must be initiated only by individuals experienced in proper safety techniques for shoring and stabilization of the rock walls. A testing survey of the back yard may also provide additional information about other associated outbuildings and activities relating to the history of the house and its occupants.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission should earmark this structure because of its historical significance for placement of a Historical Marker. Remaining structures associated with the Underground Railroad are rare in Northwestern Pennsylvania and a properly installed educational marker will contribute to the knowledge and continued public interest in this very important but secretive 19th century endeavor that provided a means to freedom for many southern slaves.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research would not have been possible without many individuals including, the generous cooperation of Tim and Marti Fenstermaker for permitting a disruption by so many individuals intruding into their basement, the Jefferson County Historical society for administration of the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission grant, Mr. John Johnson and his devoted group of Brookville Area High School Student Historians, and Mr. Randy Bartley for providing an continued liaison among all participants. Students involved in the project included: Benjamin Darr, Ryan French, Katie Frontino, Brad Glinkerman, Jonni Johnson, Mandy Johnson, Kyle Mater, Steve Small, Emily Stratiff and Quinn Wonderling.

On August 31, 2005, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission formally dedicated a historical marker to Elijah Heath at his residence built in 1830 on Pickering Street in Brookville. The marker was nominated by the Jefferson County Historical Society.

Pennsylvania Historicl Marker Commerating Judge Elijah Heath

REFERENCES

Anonymous
1902 In The Early Days of Brookville. Jefferson Democrat, Brookville, PA June 6, Article

Harriger, Russell E.
1984 Longrifles of Pennsylvania Volume 1, Jefferson and Clarion Counties. W & M Printing., Mechanicsburg, PA

Jefferson County Deed Books
1996 Deed Book 61, Page 6. Jefferson County Court House
1983 Deed Book 490, Page 938. Jefferson County Court

House
1978 Deed Book 449, Page 938. Jefferson County Court

House
1975 Deed Book 425, Page 1149. Jefferson County Court

House
1971 Deed Book 405, Page 429. Jefferson County Court

House
1900 Deed Book 89, Page 203. Jefferson County Court House
1888 Deed Book 54, Page 654. Jefferson County Court House
1869 Deed Book 22, Page 423. Jefferson County Court House
1863 Deed Book 15, Page 163. Jefferson County Court House
1861 Deed Book 15, Page 139. Jefferson County Court House
1856 Deed Book 15, Page 137. Jefferson County Court House
1849 Deed Book 5, Page 94. Jefferson County Court House
1846 Deed Book 4, Page 560. Jefferson County Court House
1838 Deed Book 2, Page 293. Jefferson County Court House

Nelson, Lee H.
1968 Nail Chronology as an aid to Dating Old Buildings. History News 23 (11): 1-12

Scott, Kate M.
1888 History of Jefferson County Pennsylvania. D. Mason and Co. Syracuse, NY

Mcknight, William J.
1917 Jefferson County Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People 1800-1915. J. H. Beers & Company, Chicago, IL