Events: The 2020 Rapha Festive 500 Day Five
(2020) Ride Distance: 38 Miles/ 170 Remain
It is understandable the southern portion of Bucks County would have numerous Underground Railroad locations. The sprawling farmland north of Philadelphia offered relentless perils of those fleeing the oppression of the south. For the start of the back four days of the Rapha Festive 500, we went in search of one of the most northern stops in Bucks County.
The eight-day event that is Rapha’s Festive 500 has reached the halfway point. Even the most exuberant riders have groaned getting out of bed around now. The prioritization of riding numerous miles is now the motivator to justify those first days. Each year age sets in sooner as do the clicking joints, the lubricated muscles to form a semi-normal gait. Today was forecasted to be a balmy forty degrees (F) and light winds.
To continue the Underground Railroad theme, the route took us into Quakertown, PA. The Underground Railroad, a system of stoppage points for fleeing slaves to get to Canada, had stops in southern Bucks County before reaching the Mount Gilead Church in Buckingham, PA. Some heading north selected New Hope to cross into New Jersey while others moved on to Doylestown. Where the escapees went beyond that is lighter in information. One place was the Richard Moore House.
Richard Moore is described as the type of person any of us would want to be remembered. He was considered extremely hospitable to those going north. Being a potter, he would move his supplies around via horse and wagon. It was under his supplies stowaways were hidden. It is stated Richard Moore and a freed slave Henry Franklin ushered some 600 escaped slaves. That is a remarkable number for one household.
Quakertown itself has been built up. In what is now Richard Moore’s backyard is a school. We took two new roundabouts to get into town. These were built in response to new housing developments. The town itself has reflections. After snapping a photo of the house we rode through cleanup for a car accident; exiting the town we saw paramedics entering a house in full PPEs with a gurney. A car got as close to us as possible at a stop light only to reiterate the notion when pulling away from the light. And at least one house flew the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia (incorrectly called the Confederate flag) to remind us of the struggles across more than a dozen decades.
It will have to be a strong effort to get in the remaining miles, but these felt like the most important. This theme was a study in seeing places who aided enslaved escapees north, trying to see the Underground Railroad stop and to reflect. What was discovered in these quick miles north revealed not much has changed. Writing this leaves the questions of whether Richard Moore would recognize the climate, or would he be needed more than 150 years ago.
