McKean County Democrat July 15, 1937

Prof. Richard Shattock of the Smethport high school faculty has purchased the Medbury residence on East Main Street, formerly occupied by Ralph Yerdon.

The house is one of the oldest in town and is a fine example of pioneer architecture.

Squire and Mrs. Medbury built it over 100 years ago. The residence was an important “station” on the “underground railroad” the route to safety in Canada traveled by escaped slaves from the south before the Civil War,

Squire and Mrs. Medbury were ardently opposed to slavery and many other local people were abolitionists
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The history of McKean, elk, Cameron, and potter counties says: “as long ago as 1827 or 1828 Smethport was a way station on the underground railroad leading g from the south to the north, whereon runaway slaves used to travel in making their escape into Canada, then a land of freedom to the black man. In other words, runaway slaves striking the Allegany river at warren, would take a short cut, the one used by lumbermen in the region returning from Pittsburgh, and reaching what was then known as the “four corners,” pass through Smethport, Eldred and Olean, and so on by way of buffalo and Canada. It was at the above-mentioned, that four forlorn looking slaves, footsore and weary and terribly hungry withal, arrived in the little village of Smethport, and stopped at a hotel kept by David young. They acknowledged they were runaway slaves fleeing from hardhearted masters, and were also out of money. Through the kindness of several people of Smethport, the Negroes were provided with a good meal at a hotel and small amounts of money furnished them, and were sent on their way. The next stopping place was in Olean, at the hotel kept by Backus. Fearing pursuit from their masters, the slaves were directed to a lumber camp about one mile from the village, which shelter they used for a hiding place, and also intended to make it their resting place for the night. Hardly had these to men left Smethport when two men on horseback arrived in pursuit, they being the owners of the runaways. Getting no information from the Smethport people, the horseman hurried to Olean, at which place they arrived just as the slaves entered their hiding place, though unseen by their masters—and here comes the gist of our tale. The citizens of Olean, who were aware of the pursuit, and fearing that the Negroes might be captured, employed a little strategy for the occasion. Sending messengers to the camp with information about the state of matters, the slaves speedily sought their safety. In the meantime the slave owners were informed that the objects of their pursuit might be found in a certain camp near Olean, and kind hands directed their course to the desired point. But upon their arrival a sad fate awaited them. A bucket of tar and a quantity of feather were in readiness, and masked men spread the unsightly covering without stint upon the persons of the slave owners, and then left them to their musing. The next seen of the pursuers, who by this time had become sadder, but wiser men, was in a hotel kept by john lee nearby where the bridge crosses the Allegany at Eldred. Through grease, soap, water, and other appliances and a sojourn of a week, the unfortunate slaver owners presented a somewhat better appearance and departed for their southern homes, and their poor slaves reached the Mecca of their hopes in Canada.”