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Haines House was built by one of the first settlers in the area, John Grant. His initial land grant encompassed much of what we know as the west side of Alliance. His daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Ridgeway Haines, operated a station on the Underground Railroad in the House. Their son John Columbus Haines fought in the Civil War. He and his brothers were active in the growing Alliance community through the second half of the 19th Century and founded the first Alliance City Band. The Haines House represents what is special about our community and can serve to build our sense of community identity.

The First Five Years

Much of our efforts during the first three years was focused on rehabilitating the Haines House. It is clear that Haines House is structurally sound and will last for a long time, provided the process of renovation continues.

While the preservation is very important, we believe that this project is much more than saving an historic structure. Key to our efforts has been using the Haines House as a means to help integrate local history in our schools - - - bringing the past alive for our children. Specific education plans are detailed below. We also see a vital opportunity to build a volunteer base and awareness of our community's history among adults as well. We offer exhibits and public programs about Alliance history and the Underground Railroad to the community, both within the walls of the House and as outreach activities.

The Haines House's role as an Underground Railroad station serves as a focal point to bring the diverse, and sometimes divided, members of our community together today to understand how black and white came together 150 years ago to address a grave social injustice. This role also connects us to other communities throughout the state and around the nation striving to recognize and learn more about the Underground Railroad.

We also want to work with our immediate neighbors to improve conditions in the area. With the extension of West Main Street and new schools through the city, the neighborhoods near Main Street from downtown to Sawburg Avenue is an ideal area for housing revitalization. We think Haines House can be a motivating factor in promoting neighborhood pride.

See the details of our Three-Year Plan here

 

Educational Programs

The Alliance Area Preservation Society has made the Haines House an accessible resource for the community that celebrates Alliance History, African American History, and the Underground Railroad. The Society's Educational Committee uses the house as a base for research and be an interactive facility for learning.

The committee has developed three programs for children and adults.

1. Historic Preservation Teacher's Manual - includes 38 pages of activities for third grade social studies classrooms in Alliance. It provides teachers with the lesson plans for teaching the history of Alliance by using local architecture and the Haines House to tell the story. The activities are keyed to the Ohio Instructional Objectives.

2. History of the Haines House - a 40-minute slide presentation using slides of the house to tell its story from 1803 to the present. There are 5 members of the committee who are able to present the program to adults and classrooms. The presentation includes facts about the architecture, interior, original owners and subsequent residents. It has been presented numerous times to many organizations.

3. The Underground Railroad in Alliance - a school tour program at the Haines House to explain the workings of the Underground Railroad in this area to elementary school children. Stations, conductors, and passengers are discussed as well as modes of travel, destinations, and laws during the 1850s. We piloted this program with three schools in the Alliance City School District in 2003 and expanded the program to ten schools in three districts in 2004. For more information contact Walt Walker at 330-877-2488

Operations

On September 22, 2001, the members of the Alliance Area Preservation Society conducted an Open House for the community attended by almost 200 people. After a year and a half of negotiation and struggle to gain ownership of the House, it was most rewarding to see our groups interest reflected in visitation by the community. Although many parts of the House have been going through renovation over the past three years (with another year of renovation work to go), we have already had over 3,000 visitors.

Since 2002, we have opened the house every day during the Alliance community's ten-day Carnation Festival in August. We are also open the first weekend of every month, Saturday 10 am to 12 Noon and Sunday 1:00 to 3:00 pm. We also hold special events and are open by appointment. We welcome meetings of community groups within the building and have hosted regular meetings of the local genealogical society, garden clubs, educational groups and service organizations.

© 2007 - Alliance Area Preservation Society. For additional information contact the webmaster at rhyde@neo.rr.com. All rights reserved. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal. Subject to availability. Your mileage may vary.