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Mt. Pleasant (Mt. Healthy) Presbyterian Church

 

The building that housed the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church was constructed in 1829, on the grounds of the present-day school administration building at 7615 Harrison Avenue. The abolitionist Nathan Hastings gave part of his land for the church. In April 1841 an anti-slavery convention for Hamilton County was held at the church,  and the ardent abolitionist Jonathan Blanchard, graduate of Lane Seminary and minister at Sixth Presbyterian Church in downtown Cincinnati, “addressed the meeting somewhat at length, on the fundamental principles of abolition.”

Presbyterian church holds 1841 convention

19 May 1841

 

 

Since Rev. Blanchard was accustomed to giving sermons in Black churches in Cincinnati, he may have been able to use those contacts, as well as his contacts in Mt. Pleasant to connect freedom seekers from downtown Cincinnati to safe haven in Mt. Pleasant. Nathan Hastings, a neighbor of the church, reportedly provided refuge for those journeying on the Underground Railroad. (See Other Mt. Healthy Abolitionists on this site for more about Hastings.)

Karen Arnett, 5 February 2014

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