1846 Israel Blodgett House
Mon September 18, 2023
The 1846 Blodgett House at the Downers Grove Museum has been accepted into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
In 1998, legislation titled the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 was passed, creating the Network to Freedom program. This program honors, preserves and promotes the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, which continues to inspire people worldwide. Through its mission, the Network to Freedom helps to advance the idea that all human beings embrace the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression.
1846 Israel Blodgett House
The 1846 Israel Blodgett House was built by Israel and Avis Blodgett in 1846 and is one of the oldest houses in Downers Grove. Israel and Avis came to Downers Grove in February 1836 from Amherst, Massachusetts. The family first settled in a small, one-room log cabin while Israel worked as the town’s blacksmith. The members of the Blodgett family held abolitionist beliefs, and it is believed that the Blodgett’s provided assistance to enslaved people during the Civil War era.
Network to Freedom: Building UGRR Connections
Saturday, Sept. 23, from 1-2:30pm
FREE! Join us at the Downers Grove Museum as we celebrate the acceptance of the 1846 Israel and Avis Blodgett’s House into the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom! The Network to Freedom, a National Park Service program, coordinates preservation and education efforts nationwide associated with the Underground Railroad. We’ll learn more about the Network to Freedom and about the connection of the Blodgett House and other UGRR sites in DuPage County. The Blodgett House will also be open for tours. Pre-registration is required.
