New center tells trials, tribulations of Randolph Slaves in Piqua

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

What was once a beverage carry-out drive-through in Piqua was dedicated Sunday morning as an informational center about the trials and tribulations of the Randolph Slaves.

Once freed, many of the 383 Randolph Slaves arrived in Piqua in 1846 and settled at the north edge of Piqua in an area known as Rossville when they arrived by canal boat.

The new information center is on the north edge of Piqua along North Main Street across the river from Rossville, in an area now known as the Randolph-McCulloch plaza.

William McCulloch was a congressman living in Piqua who was instrumental in crafting and passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 1968 Fair Housing Act.

The dedication ended with the washing of the feet of Piqua Mayor Kazy Hinds by a local minister as a symbolic gesture of unity.

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