John Hossack House
Encyclopedia
The John Hossack House is a historic house in Ottawa, Illinois
, USA. It was built in 1854–55 and was a "station" on the Underground Railroad. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
, a Scottish born Ottawan. Hossack had worked on the Illinois-Michigan Canal in Chicago
before arriving in Ottawa. Hossack was an abolitionist who hid as many as 13 fugitive slave
s in his house as a stop on the Underground Railroad
. In a famous 1860 case involving fugitive slave Jim Gray, Hossack and other Ottawans were convicted in Federal Court
in Chicago of violating the Fugitive Slave law.
overlooking the city. The building was designed by Sylvanus Grow and constructed by Alonzo Edwards. The house is a good example of Greek Revival architecture. Its details and proportions draw a conscious connection to the Classical tradition.
on March 16, 1972.
Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,786...
, USA. It was built in 1854–55 and was a "station" on the Underground Railroad. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
History
The John Hossack House was built in 1854–55 by John HossackJohn Hossack
John Hossack was a Scottish-American abolitionist whose home, John Hossack House, was a "station" on the Underground Railroad...
, a Scottish born Ottawan. Hossack had worked on the Illinois-Michigan Canal in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
before arriving in Ottawa. Hossack was an abolitionist who hid as many as 13 fugitive slave
Fugitive slave
In the history of slavery in the United States, "fugitive slaves" were slaves who had escaped from their master to travel to a place where slavery was banned or illegal. Many went to northern territories including Pennsylvania and Massachusetts until the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed...
s in his house as a stop on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. In a famous 1860 case involving fugitive slave Jim Gray, Hossack and other Ottawans were convicted in Federal Court
United States federal courts
The United States federal courts make up the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government.-Categories:...
in Chicago of violating the Fugitive Slave law.
Architecture
The John Hossack House is considered one of Ottawa's most beautiful houses. It is sited on the banks of the Illinois RiverIllinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
overlooking the city. The building was designed by Sylvanus Grow and constructed by Alonzo Edwards. The house is a good example of Greek Revival architecture. Its details and proportions draw a conscious connection to the Classical tradition.
Historic significance
The house is significant for its role as part of the Underground Railroad as well as the commercial and political significance of its original owner. The John Hossack House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on March 16, 1972.
External links
- Aboard the Underground Railroad: John Hossack House, National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
site - Older Photos of the home