From 1830 to 1860, the Miami-Erie Canal, now Verity Pkw., served as an Underground Railroad route. Those traveling along the Underground Railroad found safe stations on North Main Street in the homes of African Americans including Rice, Hawkins, Colston Burget, Miller, Hardy Edwards, Nutter, Davis Smith, Robison, Merrit Armstead, and Mitchell. Census records span 1830 to 1860.