local legend

Historian’s Corner: Was There a Secret Tunnel Under East Main Street?

Audio Article

One of the more oft-repeated stories of East Aurora’s role on the Underground Railroad involves a tunnel under East Main Street. According to the account, enslaved individuals seeking passage to Canada could avoid detection while in East Aurora by making their way underground from the house at 793 Main St. to the house at 774 Main St. Analysis of the evidence paints a clearer picture of whether this is myth or grounded in fact.