The Free Union Fire of 1896: Tragedy and Injustices

July 6, 2023

Helice Jones, Erik Irtenkauf and Alice Cannon will present the story of the Free Union Fire of 1896

One White man died in a fire  in Free Union on a cold January night in 1896 and four Black Men fell under suspicion for his death.  One was hanged, one sent to the penitentiary for 18 years, one sentenced to five years in prison and one testified to the untrue story that convicted the others and he went free.

 Helice Jones is a descendant of Taylor Harmon, who was executed.  Alice Cannon has been researching this difficult narrative since Helice told her about it and Erik has mapped the extensive network of people involved as witnesses or suspects in the aftermath of the fire.

Next Meeting:

  • The Ledger and the Chain with Joshua Rothman
    February 6, 2025 Join us on Zoom where Joshua D. Rothman will give CVHR a short presentation on The Ledger and The Chain, How Domestic Slave Traders Shaped America. He will then answer questions through the meeting’s moderators. An excellent overview presentation on the domestic slave trade by Dr. Rothman, Sold South, a Brief History
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Questions?

If you have questions about CVHR, or would like to ask our members a research question, please send us an email using the link at the top of this page.