Come to the rescue, again

In southern Lorain County, the city of Oberlin and the village of Wellington are preparing to celebrate 150th anniversary of the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue. A pivotal event in the history of both Oberlin and Wellington, and of our country, it also goes by the name of the Wellington Rescue because key event occurred in the village of Wellington.

For those unfamiliar with the Rescue, on Sept. 13, 1858, an escaped slave named John Price was captured in Oberlin by slave catchers and a federal marshal, who brought him to Wellington to catch the afternoon train south. When news of the capture reached downtown Oberlin, a mob of college students and professors and townspeople hurried to Wellington to rescue Price.

Residents from Wellington joined the group from Oberlin at Wadsworth's Hotel, where Price was being held, and, together with the Oberlinians, called for Price's release. After several hours of fruitless negotiation, the mob forced their way into the hotel and brought Price back to Oberlin, hiding him until he could be moved to Canada.

Thirty-seven of the Rescuers, including 12 from Wellington, were indicted for violating the federal Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. While none of the Wellingtonians were convicted, they shared in the trials faced by those from Oberlin as surely as they participated in the brave raid.

Wellington has every right to claim the Wellington Rescue as part of its heritage. The village will reinforce that point when mayor Barb O'Keefe unveils a plaque on Friday, commemorating key events in Wellington history, including the Rescue.

We urge residents to attend the unveiling Friday, Feb. 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the gazebo in front of Village Hall. And we encourage residents to join O'Keefe in Oberlin on Saturday as she helps the city celebrate the anniversary of our shared event.