Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw: The Real Story of the Old Slave House and America's Reverse Underground R.R.

Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw tells the story of the Old Slave House which may be America's last station standing on the Reverse Underground Railroad. Originally built as the manor house for John Hart Crenshaw's Hickory Hill plantation, folklore renamed the site the Old Slave House by the early 20th Century following decades of stories associating slaves on the third floor attic. Although located in the supposedly free state of Illinois, Crenshaw kidnapped free persons of color and sold them south into slavery. The title comes from mid 20th Century consultant's report who didn't care much for the site. Following its closing after 70 years as a private museum and tourist attraction, Jon Musgrave joined two other local historians trying to dig past the folklore for the actual history of Crenshaw and the house. What they found surprised even them. Kidnappers targeted more than 100 persons in southeastern Illinois prior to the Civil War. Almost two-thirds have been tied to Crenshaw and his activities. The book also covers the history of the saltworks between Equality and Shawneetown, Illinois, and Crenshaw's role as the "Salt King" as well as his other business ventures including his controversial role in slave breeding with the stud slave Bob Wilson who lived to 1946 and told his story to dozens of people during the last quarter century of his life. This 3rd Edition replaces the out-of-print hardcover 2nd Edition. Other than minor edits it has not been updated.