Today in Piqua we honor Juneteenth by highlighting the Randolph & McCulloch Freedom’s Struggle Complex located at 655 N. Main St. This facility is situated along the Great Miami River on a well-known pathway to fugitives on the Underground Railroad and overlooks the Randolph settlement of Rossville.
In 1846 the arrival of nearly 400 Randolph Freedmen came by way of the Miami-Eri Canal where this would serve as a swing bridge between Lock 9 and the Johnston Farm, the home of Colonel John Johnston the Indian agent and a Commissioner on the Miami-Erie Canal. The Randolph & McCulloch Freedom’s Struggle Complex presents a multicultural and inclusive perspective on American history sharing print graphics, Linda Hamilton’s West African symbols, and wall murals that showcase the Randolph narrative and the fight for Civil Rights through the leadership of Piqua Congressman William McCulloch.
The Arthur Thomas Learning Center inside the complex provides an educational setting for sharing the story of the Randolph Freedmen and the challenges faced by black pioneer settlers. The facility welcomes school field trips and mentoring partnerships from May to October.
For more information please contact Larry Hamilton at 937-778-1035.
