From: Darren English
To: letters@kcstar.com
CC: bthomas@toto.net
Subject: Quindaro Article - Kansas City Star

I was saddened to read the Nov. 5th article about the Quindaro Town
site.  The article quoted Richard Waldbauer, an archaeologist with the
Archaeology and Enthnography Program of the National Park Service, that the Quindaro was "a snapshot of the free black community during the height of the Underground Railroad  period."  No mention was made in the article about the multiracial aspect of the town of Quindaro.

The Quindaro was founded by putting together the land allotments of
thirteen Wyandot Indians including my Great Great Grandfather Ebenezer Zane.  The town was built by Wyandots and named after one of the founder's wives, Nancy Quindaro Brown Guthrie.  These people came together to build what was the first free port on the Missouri River.
The Underground Railroad was active in the Quindaro, but the town also served as a Temperance town and was heavily supported by the New England Immigrant Aid Society.  The town's community was made up of Natives, Blacks and Whites, not simply a "free black community" as Mr. Waldbaur's statement would suggest.  The Temperance movement was of course the precursor to the modern women's rights movement and sought to end violence against women and children and was closely tied to the abolitionist movement of the day.

To ignore the contributions and foundation built by Wyandot Indians does a disservice to the history of the Quindaro as well as to our ancestors, be they Native, Black or White.  To not pay homage to the Temperance history as well as the free port and activity of the Underground Railroad paints a two dimensional picture of the Quindaro site.  The Wyandots involved in the Quindaro town site paid dearly for their involvement.  The town was overrun and virtually destroyed by Union Soldiers that made camp in the Quindaro during the Civil War and the land was seized through illegal taxation.

I would like to echo the sentiments of Marvin Robinson and the others
who have fought to preserve the Quindaro Town site.  The town site must be preserved to honor the memory of those men and women who suffered and sacrificed for their belief in a dream.  We must honor future generations by preserving the multifaceted history of the Quindaro.

Click here for a detailed history of the Quindaro
http//www.sfo.com/~denglish/quindaro/

Niaweh
Darren Zane English
Wyandot Nation of Kansas
Cultural Coordinator