For the decades preceding the Civil War when slavery still populated portions of the United States, the community of Sugar Grove and its neighboring locations provided aid and safe harbor to escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad.  Neither underground nor a railroad, the Underground Railroad became the term used generally in America for the means by which slaves escaped from bondage.  The term Underground Railroad basically means that they “escaped very quickly without detection.”

In the area around Sugar Grove, the term Underground Railroad was rarely used in writing, usually “The Flight to Freedom” or “Visiting the Goddess of Liberty” were terms that alluded to the task which was being undertaken.  Beginning in the year 1831 and going up to the Civil War, many of residents of the Sugar Grove area worked both physicially and politically to bring about an end to the "peculiar institution" that they considered immoral.

Diaries of local families and local residents’ first-hand accounts point to a community approach to aid for escaping slaves.  It was the practice that while one family provided shelter, another neighbor would provide the meals.  New clothing and shoes would be provided by the Ladies Fugitive Aid Society, and protection from bounty-hunters courtesy of the Vigilance Committee.  If the fugitive slave chose to remain in the area for a few months or longer accounts point to access to education, health care and ongoing employment.

Along with physical aid being provided, there are also accounts of money being given to escaping slaves who chose to continue travel rather than stay and potentially risk capture.  A Silver Dollar seems to have been the most common amount listed.  Although that may not seem like a lot, the worth at the time is equal to 28 hours worked at minimum wage today, so, about half a week’s wage.  The money could have been used toward the purchase of a ticket on one of the steam ships that crossed to Canada in the 18940’s which cost about $4.

Most of the fugitive slaves coming through the area were escaping from what it today West Virginia, coming along the communities of the western border of Pennsylvania, until eventually arriving in Sugar Grove which is about half-way on their journey.  From here more than 37 documented families in the community and more than 24 other surrounding it risked their own property and freedom to guarantee the rights of all Americans in the country first civil rights movement.