You can learn Northeast Ohio’s history of anti-slavery activism at Cozad-Bates House

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Nestled off Mayfield Street between East one hundred and fifty fifth Road and Circle Drive is the oldest and solely surviving pre-civil warfare construction in College Circle.

The Cozad-Bates Home Interpretive Heart has a mission to focus on Northeast Ohio’s historical past as a middle of anti-slavery activism.

“If we don’t research the teachings of historical past, we’ll be doomed to repeat it. And I believe that is without doubt one of the main features of the Cozad-Bates Home Interpretive Heart, it units an essential context for anti-slavery activism that occurred earlier than the Civil Struggle even began, what occurred in the course of the Civil Struggle and the struggles that also proceed to at the present time. So that is what we’re about. We’re about educating individuals about what occurred arising so far, and the way these struggles nonetheless exist in trendy instances,” mentioned Becky Voldrich, Senior Director of Communications and Occasions, College Circle Inc.

Inside the house are images, newspaper articles, maps, indicators and different memorabilia documenting historical past.

Exterior the house are constellations embedded within the sidewalk of the Huge Dipper and Little Dipper, the North Star guiding the way in which to freedom.

It’s named for 93-year-old Joan Southgate, retired social employee and activist who based Restore Cleveland Hope and advocated for the home.

The Subsequent 400 staff at 19 Information sat down in 2019 with the grandmother and she or he spoke of her 519-mile stroll throughout Ohio, recreating The Underground Railroad journey years earlier than.

“I discovered that when I started, the strolling was simple for a bit outdated 73-year-old lady. It was simple. So what was that? Spirit. Spirit. Spirit,” mentioned Southgate.

And in that spirit, resonating at Cozad-Bates Home, the place data is energy, the theme of the thirty eighth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration.

“I believe Dr. King’s basic message was about love and acceptance of your fellow human beings. I believe that in a spot just like the Cozad-Bates Home Interpretive Heart, you’ll be able to come and you’ll be taught what occurs the very actual penalties of what occurs once you don’t see individuals as individuals,” mentioned Voldrich. “We have to join with each other. We have to get previous this and simply love one another and be a greater society.”

The Cozad-Bates Home is a shining beacon of sunshine, maintaining Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream alive.

“I wish to imagine he’d be happy with the work that we’re doing right here to, once more, educate the neighborhood, to supply a gathering area the place individuals can come and study material that won’t essentially be comfy to debate, nevertheless it’s so essential if we’re ever going to maneuver ahead,” mentioned Voldrich.

The Cozad-Bates Home, situated at 11508 Mayfield Street, is open to the general public often on Saturdays from midday till 4 p.m.

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