Jeremy Burnside’s vision transformed Portsmouth, Ohio. A devoted attorney and community leader, he founded Friends of Portsmouth, led record-setting civic events, and championed unity through the Portsmouth Unity Project. With his wife, Maddie, he restored the historic Milton Kennedy building, preserving its rich history. Jeremy’s tireless efforts revitalized the city, inspiring generations to come. His legacy of resilience, passion, and dedication lives on in Portsmouth’s renewed spirit.

Abolitionist and entrepreneur Milton Kennedy (1811-1896) shaped Portsmouth, Ohio, with his business success and fight for equality. A key figure in the Underground Railroad, he helped Freedom Seekers escape to safety. He played a crucial role in founding the Republican Party and supporting the Fifteenth Amendment. His historic 1852 Second Street building housed a store, event hall, and Odd Fellows lodge. Milton’s dedication to justice and progress left a lasting mark on Portsmouth.

Built in 1852 by abolitionist Milton Kennedy, this historic Portsmouth building housed his feed store and played a key role in the Underground Railroad. Later, it became a Civil War hospital and the site of the city’s first shoe factory. By the 1890s, it was home to Portsmouth’s first addiction treatment facility. Now beautifully restored by Jeremy and Maddie Burnside, the building stands as a testament to its rich history and the city’s enduring spirit.

Once Milton Kennedy’s feed store and a stop on the Underground Railroad, this 1852 Portsmouth landmark has witnessed history—from Civil War aid to the rise of the city’s shoe industry. It later housed Portsmouth’s first addiction treatment center. Thanks to Jeremy and Maddie Burnside’s restoration, the building’s legacy lives on, preserving a vital piece of the city’s past for future generations.