Exploring Freetown: A Historic Place For New Beginnings A place where newly freed slaves could navigate their new way of life. and last updated 2021-02-17 20:08:40-05 Freetown - between University Avenue and the Evangeline Thruway â is a cultural jewel. This areaâs historic value can be traced back to the 1800s. When the Civil War ended, this neighborhood became a safe haven for newly freed slaves. Here, they could navigate their new freedom, and work as craftsmen. During the Reconstruction Era, community leaders started running for local office. Some members of this community formed The True Friends, a society that would, later on, fight the KKK and The Riders of the White Camelia.