10-02-2025
University Circle home is key Underground Railroad site
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Tucked amidst the towering structures of Cleveland's University Circle, an old brick house stands as a testament to the city's pivotal role in the abolitionist movement.
The Cozad-Bates House might seem out of place in a neighborhood dominated by modern buildings.
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But the house predates them all, and its legacy reaches back to the turbulent days just before the Civil War.
Built in 1853, the home was originally a part of the Cozad family's farmstead—one of several the family owned in the area. At the time, Cleveland was a hotbed of abolitionist activity, and University Circle itself was a key location on the Underground Railroad.
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'This farmstead, when it was built, was one of several that the Cozad family owned in the area,' said Matt Provolt of University Circle Inc. 'They, along with families like the Fords, were known to be active abolitionists, and Cleveland, especially in the 1850s, had one of the densest concentrations of abolitionist activity and Underground Railroad stops.'
Provolt emphasized that Cleveland was not just a sanctuary for runaway slaves but also a place where both Black and white abolitionists united to fight for freedom. The home often served as a gathering spot for abolitionists during a volatile period in U.S. history.
'The 1850s were one of the most volatile decades outside of the Civil War,' Provolt said. 'The nation was sharply divided, and it was a powder keg. Many people were struggling to figure out how to repair a system that was so inherently broken.'
Andrew Cozad and his family were staunch advocates for abolition, even as doing so put them at great personal risk. At the time, assisting an escaped slave could lead to prison or the loss of property.
Though there is no direct evidence that the house was used to hide runaway slaves, Provolt noted that the Cozad family made their position clear. Justus Cozad, who the house was built for, wrote in his journal about working alongside runaway slaves in the fields during the day and sharing meals with them at night. This act of solidarity demonstrated the family's commitment to equality and human rights.
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Today, the Cozad-Bates House stands as the oldest building in University Circle and one of the few pre-Civil War structures still standing in Cleveland. After the Cozad family sold the property in the early 1900s, the house became a boarding house and later apartments. It eventually fell into disrepair, remaining vacant for many years before being restored.
Now an interpretive center, the house preserves the history of Cleveland's abolitionist movement, ensuring that the brave actions of the Cozads, the Fords, and others are not forgotten.
Click here for more on Cozad Bates house.
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