ITHACA, N.Y.(WENY)-- Pastor Terrance King and Trustee Nick Sledziona at  St. James AME Zion Church in Ithaca are working with archaeologists and Professor Gerard Aching from Cornell University to determine if a secret tunnel is located beneath the church. 

Recently a research team led by professor Aching used a ground-penetrating radar scanner to see if they could find evidence of tunnels that may have been used in the Underground Railroad. 

Professor Aching said that a rich Black history already exists among the church and this history would only get richer if the tunnel was discovered. 

“ It would be a testament again to St. James, as a church but also its role in the Underground Railroad,” said Aching. “ We have evidence that Harriet Tubman had been there, we have evidence that Fredrick Douglas had been there and so if there is a tunnel or a hiding place that would just give further evidence,” said Aching. 

St. James AME Zion Church is the oldest church structure in Ithaca and Sledziona said when Harriet Tubman was leading slaves to Canada she would use the Zion church. 

“Many of those three hundred slaves came through St. James and supposedly there is a hidden underground passage somewhere underneath the church,” said Sledziona. 

Sledziona claims to have found news articles dating back to the 70s talking about the tunnels beneath the church and there have even been stories told by community members who had seen hidden doorways when they were children. There is still no solid evidence to prove. 

King said that if a tunnel was uncovered this would help to tell the true history of the Underground Railroad and the true history of the Ithaca area during that time. 

“Hands on tangible evidence that the Underground Railroad was not a figment of history's imagination but it was actually a real thing and it is a very humbling experience to even embark upon this whole experience with Cornell and St. James,” said King. 

If the tunnels end up being nonexistent the archaeologists hope to still dig on the property and find any evidence that can be linked to the Underground Railroad. This digging could start as soon as next summer.