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Walk the time-buried streets of the first American town founded by former slaves, and go in search of the schoolhouse where the town’s children could learn in freedom.
TIME TEAM AMERICA digs for the remains of the first American
town founded by former slaves. In 1836 "Free Frank" McWorter
purchased his freedom from a Kentucky plantation owner and headed
North. When he reached Illinois, he planted roots, started a town,
and sold enough property to purchase the rest of his family out of
slavery. Now farmers' fields cover this dramatic testament to
victory over enslavement. The local landowners, descendants of the
town's residents, and the McWorter family want to uncover what
remains of New Philadelphia to commemorate its place in history.
TIME TEAM AMERICA joins in the search for the pre-Civil War
schoolhouse where New Philadelphia's African American children
learned to read and write in freedom.