ost Walk will take audiences for a trip along the Underground Railroad.

Barbara Root, who writes and directs the annual tour through Trumbull County’s history, said this year’s theme was inspired by the historical marker downtown recognizing Leicester King (1789-1856), an outspoken abolitionist who presided over the first meeting of the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society in 1834. He was a judge in Trumbull County and later served as a state senator. He also ran for governor twice.

“I always try to plan them (Ghost Walk themes) a couple years in advance,” Root said. “We were looking at the placard for Leicester King, and one of my actors said they had no idea all of this went on here. This was quite the spot for the Underground Railroad.”

Many former slaves seeking freedom crossed the Ohio River and traveled up Ohio’s eastern corridor through Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties on their way to Ashtabula and Lake Erie.

Tunnels under former properties in the downtown area provided shelter for the slaves and hidden passage to the Mahoning River.

“I found information through the (Trumbull County) Historical Society,” Root said. “They have quite a few books there, and (Executive Director) Meghan Reed is very knowledgeable.”

Looking for information about King led her to other stories. Brookfield was another major hub on the Underground Railroad and also attracted the slave catchers looking to collect the bounty for bringing them back to those who claimed ownership of them.

“Even if you were up North, you could still be dragged back down if you didn’t have any papers,” Root said. “The laws in different states were more about protecting the landowners. Ohio really wasn’t going to help out if you were dragged down. Even if you had free papers, ‘Oh, well, too bad.’ Judge King tried to change some of those laws but wasn’t too successful.”

Many of the stories come directly from local history. Some are based on fact, but they draw from information from outside sources. Female slave catchers were not uncommon in the mid 1800s, and Root used historical accounts about Patty Cannon, an illegal slave trader and catcher on the East Coast, to create one of the Ghost Walk characters.

Historical tales with female characters are valuable, because far more women than men volunteer to portray the historical figures for the Ghost Walk. Judge King’s story is told through his wife, and the story of ALC Day, a prominent African-American barber in Warren, is told through his daughter.

This year’s cast includes Carol Jacobs Stowe, Ellen Saker, Jackie Shannon, Ron Schoch, Don Novorsky, Karen Proutman, Georgia Smith, Adam Jenyk, CJ Jenyk, AJ Jenyk, Mauriah Anderson, Stephanie Young and Root.

The walk starts from First Presbyertian Church, 256 Mahoning Ave. NW, and other stops include the Leicester King marker, Kinsman House, Women’s Park, Perkins Mansion, law office, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, John Stark Edwards House and Morgan House.

While discussions about issues like slavery are taught in school have become flashpoints in political debates, Root said she didn’t want this year’s theme to be viewed politically, and the stories were created to show the bravery of the slaves who came here seeking freedom as well as the residents who aided them on their journey.

“This is just supposed to be, ‘This is how it was,’ and to highlight the courage of both sides,” Root said.

If you go …

WHAT: Ghost Walk

WHEN: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Oct. 21 with tours leaving every 15 minutes

WHERE: Tours start from First Presbyterian Church 256 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren

HOW MUCH: $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and younger. For tickets or more information, go to trumbullcountyhistory.com or call 330-394-4653.