Village of Vandalia, Michigan

Underground Railroad Days in Vandalia

To celebrate the village’s heritage, Vandalia Public Works Director Bill Ayers conceived the celebration “Underground Railroad Days” in Vandalia. The Underground Railroad Society of Cass County (URSCC) anchored several tents that told the story of the Underground Railroad in Vandalia and the surrounding area. The Minority Coalition of Cass County provided information on the Sanctuary and Deliverance mural in Cassopolis, and the URSCC guided tours of Underground Railroad sites up and down M-60. The tours were packed—people were amazed at the stories of Ramptown, the Kentucky Raid, and the courage and compassion of the Quakers and African Americans who participated. Tragically, Bill Ayers passed away before the July event occurred; the village commemorated the beloved employee with a stone memorial.

Bill Ayers

Ayer's Memorial Rock