Benjamin Lundy House and Free Labor Store Restoration Underway
Ohio History Connection continues to restore the Benjamin Lundy House and Free Labor Store in Mount Pleasant, Ohio. The site was once the home of abolitionist and publisher Benjamin Lundy, and the place where he wrote his antislavery newspaper The Genius of Universal Emancipation.
Mount Pleasant is a National Historic Landmark District, a recognition by the United States government for outstanding historical significance. The rural town served as a stop on the Underground Railroad and was a force of leadership in the fight against the injustices of slavery. The historic character of the village remains intact, with more than 40 properties contributing to its story. The Historical Society of Mount Pleasant partners with the Ohio History Connection to manage the Quaker Yearly Meeting House and, once fully restored, the Benjamin Lundy House and Free Labor Store.
Ohio History Connection acquired the Benjamin Lundy House and Free Labor Store in 2015. Prior to this acquisition, the home and store were badly deteriorated and in danger of being lost forever. Now, their team of architects and preservationists are working to stabilize and restore the site to its1815 appearance.
Lundy settled in Mount Pleasant and began publishing his paper The Genius of Universal Emancipation in 1821. In addition to his publishing work, Lundy was also an early proponent of the free produce movement; a boycott against goods produced by slave labor. On the home’s property is also the Free Labor Store, operated by the Quakers. People who staunchly opposed slavery were drawn to free labor stores to engage in socially conscious commerce as it sold no goods that had ever been touched by slavery at any point in the supply chain. The Free Labor Store in Mount Pleasant is the last surviving store in Ohio, and as far as can be determined, the last surviving example in the United States.
Beginning in spring 2021, work began on the house to, one by one, dismantle and then rebuild the exterior masonry walls. Work began in the back kitchen wing and will continue on the remaining walls. In June, the front wall facing the street will be dismantled and rebuilt.
While this work goes on, structural repairs are being made to floor joists and roof rafters to secure wood heavily rotted from water damage. Once all the masonry work is complete, the Free Labor Store, which has developed a lean due to the structural issues of the attached masonry building, will be shifted back into place, repaired and painted.
After the walls and structure are secured, a new wood shake roof will be installed. Finally, windows and doors will be restored, or replaced when necessary, and reinstalled to finish the exterior restoration.
Once completed, the restored Benjamin Lundy House and Free Labor Store will set alongside another Ohio History Connection historic site in Mount Pleasant, the Quaker Yearly Meeting House, to tell the story of the important role that this community played nationally to mobilize the nation to end slavery.
Learn more about the history of Benjamin Lundy and his work in Mount Pleasant here.
About Ohio History Connection
The Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio, and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history. This includes housing the state historic preservation office, the official state archives, a local history office, and managing more than 50 historic sites and museums across Ohio. Learn more at ohiohistory.org.
About Historical Society of Mount Pleasant
The Historical Society of Mount Pleasant was established in 1948. Its original purpose was to save the Yearly Meeting House from ruin. Now, after nearly 75 years the primary purpose of the Historical Society has grown to preserve and promote the history, historical sites and buildings of Mount Pleasant and the area surrounding the village. The society owns and operates 6 historic buildings, in addition to our partnership with Ohio History Connection. Visit mtp1803.org for more.
