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Jeff & Shirley Supik, Stationmasters, Welcome You!
In July 2006 The Emmart-Pierpont Safe House became a Baltimore County Landmark
ensuring that the history will continue and the legacy endure. The path has not always been easy, but isn't that what a safe
house is all about?
The first recorded history of this house was in 1806, when it was used as a church in the home of Michael and Nancy
Emmart.
This house was moved two times to preserve the history, finally coming to rest at its present location in April of 1893.
Caleb and Susanna Emmart donated the land to build
Emmart"s Church in 1855. Caleb and family members
physically built the church by 1856 and it too was used
to hide freedom seekers.
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Hidden in plain sight under a leafy canopy, in a small community called Rockdale in Baltimore County,
Maryland, rests a humble house with a rich history.
A STATION ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD!
Built in 1791, it still stands as a testament to the tenacity and courage
of the human spirit; from the freedom seekers who faced the unknown to those who stood up to do the right thing . This
safe house has a unique distinction from others in that the Emmart family used a "Brick" with a raised icon to identify
it as a safe haven for runaways. Because the house stayed in the family until 1980 when the Supiks purchased it, the
"Brick" is safe and a tangible link to our past.
What was once a secret, the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, and its great works spoken in a whisper, must now be shouted!
It is a part of history that shows great courage, hunanity and hope for a better tomorrow. The Supiks hope that when you see
the symbol that is on the brick, it will remind you that people of diverse cultures even in the worst of times, can come together
for the good of all.
The Supiks will continue to preserve the history of the Emmart-Pierpont Safe House, the freedom seekers and
the Underground Railroad.
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In January 2006, Shirley Supik was the recipient of the prestigious Martin Luther King "Content of Character Award" presented
by County Executive, Jim Smith for Baltimore County.
The Emmart-Pierpont Safe House
3523 North
Rolling Road
Rockdale, Maryland 21244
Phone/Fax: 410-655-7821
http://mysite.verizon.net/epsafehousesupik/
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This is a picture of the actual brick in the basement of the Safe House used by the freedom seekers. When they felt the
raised symbol in the dark, they knew they had reached a safe haven.
The stationmasters provided food, rest, protection and direction. Some worked with conductors to help move freedom seekers
out of harm's way to the next location. Caleb Emmart worked with conductor, Nicholas Smith, his brother-in-law. Smith made
barrels and used them to hide runaways while transporting them to the next station. Smith married Caleb's
wife's sister and the four of them worked diligently for the freedom of slaves. The two sisters, Elizabeth and Susanna Zimmerman,
raised money to buy the freedom of Worthington Slaves. Rezin Worthington was a large slave holder in the area and we believe
most of our freedom seekers came from his farm.
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PASS ON A LEGEND-----KNOWLEDGE IS STRENGTH>
Questions? Comments?
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