æz ɐn ɪmpˈoːɹtənt tˈɜːmɪnəs ʌvðɪ ˈʌndɚɡɹˌaʊnd ɹˈeɪlɹoʊd vˈaɪəɹ ˌoʊvɚlˈænd ænd mɚɹˈiːn ɹˈaʊts ðə tˈaʊn wʌz pˈɑːɹt əvə sˈɛɾəlmənt fˈɔːɹmɚli nˈoʊn æz ðə dˈɔːn sˈɛɾəlmənt.
As an important terminus of the Underground Railroad via overland and marine routes the town was part of a settlement formerly known as the Dawn Settlement.