Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw: The Real Story of the Old Slave House and America's Reverse Underground R.R.

by Jon Musgrave

The Old Slave House has stood for some 166 years a few miles east of the village of Equality, Illinois. An antebellum plantation manor, it's long held the history of nefarious activities in its attic, stories of kidnappings and victims held against their will. It's been recognized for its ghosts — some say it's one of the most haunted places in America. It's been recognized for its architecture. That's why it's on the National Register of Historic Places and in September 2004, the National Park Service recognized it for its history as a station on the Reverse Underground Railroad by naming it to its National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program. Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw is the result of eight years of research into the real history behind the stories long told to visitors, from the kidnappings and slave breeding to the visit of Abraham Lincoln and the potent political connections, both real and those just claimed, held by the owner John Hart Crenshaw and his family.

Paperback

Published October 24, 2004

Reviews

[Rick McGrath]

OMG... How'd I get to be my age and not know or realize there was such a thing as a "reverse underground R.R". Leading up to and through the Civil War a form of organized crime network trafficing in kidnapping both freed and escaped blacks, transporting them back south to the Ohio River to then be "sold down the river". Would seem this corner of our emerging country (Southern IL)was particularly lawless for much of it's history and such lawless enterprises as this and others were able to continue for many years in secret or perhaps open secret, don't know.

Awful, terrible, eye opening stories of which I'm sorry to say I was ignorant. I'm only 100 pages into it but feel compelled not to wait to share this book addressing a topic I don't think is much known about.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story centered around a house that a great many people may have visited when they were young. The Old Slave House in Equality in deep southern Illinois. The house itself is more folklore than fact. Not the man who owned it, John Hart Crenshaw was not. This is the story of slavery in Illinois, and the salt industry that utilized that labor. And the dark story of the Reverse Underground Railroad. The kidnapping of not only escaped slaves but freed men and women who were sold in the south. It all happened in southern Illinois and so many, Illinoisans especially, know very little about this part of the states history. An interesting book.

[Monita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is a bit choppy in this non-fiction history, but the sheer amount of research is fascinating in this tome of little-known history.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

The research supporting this book is extensive, but the editing is nonexistent.

[Bekah]

Best book ever. Mr.Musgrave really outdid himself. I believe this is his magnum opus! I even got the lucky chance to meet him over 10+ times in the span of my life.

Songs recommendations for reading this masterpiece:
Teenagers - My Chemical Romance
Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana
Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
A Match Into Water - Pierce the Veil
Beachboy - McCafferty
Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
If You Seek Amy - Britney Spears
Mia Khalifa - iLOVEFRiDAY
Real Man - Beabadoobee
Real Men - Mitski

Thank you Jon Musgrave for this amazing book!