Outdoor ceremony to unveil Unserheim historical marker

A descendent of a local abolitionist is planning to attend the event.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- "Welcome! Welcome to the protection I can give, with or without the law."
Those words were penned in the 19th century by Quaker and ardent abolitionist Daniel Howell Hise of Salem, and could easily be applied to his east side home, whose German name, "Unserheim," means "Our Home."
Unserheim, with its secret rooms and tunnel, was used extensively as a refuge for runaway slaves seeking shelter as they fled their masters on the Underground Railroad.
Visitors will be welcomed at Unserheim, 1100 Franklin Ave., for a free outdoor ceremony set for 2 p.m. May 17.
The event will be highlighted by the unveiling of an Ohio Historical Society marker that will stand among the tall trees that dot Unserheim's front lawn.
The bronze plaque will note the house's role as a major stop on the Underground Railroad.
The marker also will cite Hise's abolitionist beliefs and his support for women's rights that resulted in visits to Unserheim by famed suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth.
The May 17 event will not feature a tour of the house's interior. Unserheim is a private residence owned by John Zamora.
Focusing on journals
But the affair will feature a nearly hour-long presentation centering on Hise's journals.
The presentation will be made by George W.S. Hays, president of the Salem Historical Society and Salem Public Library director, and Judi Allio of Salem, who has researched Hise and helped transcribe his journals.
The writings, which cover nearly three decades, detail much of his abolitionist and women's-rights involvement, as well as daily life in 19th-century Salem.
Hise's great-great-grandson, Daniel George Hise of Jackson, Miss., is expected to attend, as are representatives of the Ohio Historical Society and the Ohio Bicentennial Commission.
Unserheim was built by Hise's father, Aaron, in the late 1840s, and was later enlarged by Hise, who lived there until his death in 1878.
Hise was a blacksmith who expanded his activities into farming, building, roofing and carpentry.
He owned a sawmill and kiln that manufactured brick used in many of Salem's older buildings, including the former Baptist church. The structure is now home of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and East State Street.
Being recognized with an historical marker isn't the only recognition Unserheim has received.
The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
leigh@vindy.com