African American Historical Association of Western Maryland

Race Relations Forum
2022-04-16 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Washington County Library, 100 S Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD, 21740, United States
Attend this community-focused forum on race relations in Washington County.

Date: April 16, 2022
Time: 2:00 pm ’til 4:00 pm
Location:
Washington County Library
100 South Potomac Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Moderated by the following members of our community:

The Rev. Don Marbury
Brooke Grossman, Candidate for Delegate District 2B
Brad Smith
Karen Milgate
Elder Tracy Brown
HPD Chief of Police, Paul Kifer

The Race Relations Forum is part of the Monthly Education Program series provided by the African American Historical Association of Western Maryland. Listen. Learn. Be the Change.
Download Event Flyer Here >

KHS Presentation on Red Hill African American Church & Cemetery
2022-04-18 19:00 - 20:00 | St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 53 N Main St., Keedysville, MD, United States
A brief discussion of the history of Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Church & Cemetery on Red Hill Road, Keedysville, a project of the African American History Association of Western Maryland. With an update on the reclamation and continuing efforts to document the site and its former congregation and community, presented by Ron Lytle and Ted Ellis
During the mid-18th century, prior to and long after the American Civil War, the Keedysville area was home to a large and thriving rural African American community. Primarily centered around Red Hill mountain, in 1879 they built a church there which was active into the 1950’s. Services had been held there continuously by A.M.E. ministers in another structure since at least the 1840’s. Burials predate the 1879 church.
This community had many contrasts to the modern-day perception of African American life in the 1800’s. One being that many, perhaps most in the community were free people prior to Maryland’s 1864 abolition of the institution of slavery. More than “Black History” this is Local History.
Parking and entrance to the meeting room is at the back of the church. This meeting is open to the public. There will be light refreshments.

Docent Training Workshop 2022
2022-04-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Tolson Chapel and School, 111 E High Street, Sharpsburg, MD, 21782, United States
This year’s docent training workshop will be held on Saturday, April 23, beginning at 10:00 am and should be done by noon. We would love to have you join us for this most-important volunteer opportunity. Without our volunteer docents, we could not maintain a regular open house schedule at the chapel. Currently, we are open the first Saturday of each month, April through October, from noon to 4:00 pm.
Having Tolson’s Chapel and School open to the public is a vital part of our mission to share this significant history with a wider audience. This year, Antietam National Battlefield is adding a new section to their museum, detailing the post-war outcome of emancipation and Reconstruction, using artifacts from Tolson’s Chapel and School to illustrate. We hope this will bring more people to visit the chapel and your participation as a volunteer docent will help make that happen!
I hope to see many new and old faces for this year’s docent training! Please reply to this email (do not “reply all” please) if you would like to register for the workshop.
Edie Wallace
Historian
Sharpsburg, Maryland

Cathy Williams, Female Buffalo Soldier presented by Darlene Colon
2022-05-07 14:00 - 15:30 | Washington County Library, 100 S Potomac Street, Hagerstown, MD, 21740, United States
Join Darlene Colon as she discusses the life of Cathy Williams, the first female Buffalo Soldier. Light refreshments will be served courtesy of Starbucks of Hagerstown.

Red Hill Cemetery Clean-up
2022-05-14 11:00 - 14:00 | Red Hill Cemetery, West of 5628 Red Hill Rd., Keedysville, Maryland
Join us for our Spring Clean-up of the Historical Red Hill Cemetery.

Lincoln's Bodyguard
2022-05-29 14:00 - 15:30 | Embassy Theater, 49 Baltimore St., Cumberland, Maryland
There are over 400 Lincoln reenactors but only one Lincoln bodyguard reenactor. Bob O’Connor, who has been portraying Ward Hill Lamon across the country since 2007, will be appearing for one presentation only, Sunday May 29 at 2 p.m. at the Embassy Theater in Cumberland, MD. For persons who didn’t know President Lincoln had a bodyguard or that Lamon didn’t do a good job, you will find out how Lamon became his bodyguard, what a difficult job that actually was, and where Lamon was on April 14 when Mr. Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Tickets: $10 Adults, $5 Seniors & Students
https://embassytheatrecorp.org/

Juneteenth Celebration
2022-06-19 11:00 - 18:00 | Rockland Estate, 9030 Sharpsburg Pike, Fairplay, 21733
Join us on Sunday, June 19th, 2022 for our annual Juneteenth Celebration and fundraiser! Juneteenth is a day when we celebrate the freedom of all people and it marks a very important event in history- the arrival of Federal troops at Galveston, Texas to make sure that slavery would be ended forever!
Location Updated
The 2022 Juneteenth celebration and fundraiser has been relocated to:
Rockland Estates
9030 Sharpsburg Pike
Fairplay, MD 21733
Admission

Family of (4) / (2) adults & (2) youth: $35
Single Adult $15
Seniors $12
Students (college & high & middle-school): $10 per-person
K – 5th grade ) Free

Rockland Estates was once known as Frisby Tilghman Farm and was the home of James W.C. Pennington, a slave who escaped the farm and went on to become a famous orator, minister, writer, and abolitionist activist. Dean Herrin, retired Chief Historian, of the National Capital Region of the National Park Service will be joining us to the fascinating story of Mr. Pennington!
Schedule of Events
11:00 – 11:10: Opening Ceremony with Remarks by Ron Lytle
11:10 – 11:20: Opening Music by CKG
11:20 – 11:35: Storytelling by Fanny Crawford
11:35 – 12:00: Dean Herrin Presentation on James W. Pennington
12:00 – 12:45: Janice Greene (GRIO) as Harriet Tubman
12:45 – 1:00 Authors Showcase with Bob O’Connor, Ted Ellis, Ed Malaskis, and Dr. Emile Amt and More
1:00 – 1:10: Gospel Music by Keith Harper
1:15 – 1:30: Jean Libby Presentation of Rev. Thomas Henry
1:30 – 2:30: Doug Doubs Appearing as John Brown
2:30 – 3:00: Gospel Music by Crystal Cheron
3:00 – 4:00: Tim Hodges Appearing as Martin Delaney
4:00 – 4:10: Gospel Music by MD Delegate Brenda Thiam
4:15 – 5:15: Nathan Richardson Appearing as Frederick Douglas
5:15 – 5:45: Jazz Singer, Crystal Cheron
5:45 – 6:00: Music by CKG
6:00 – 7:00: Mr. Kelly Wright, Gospel Singer

REENACTORS TENT: James Pennington, Harriet Tubman, Rev. Thomas Henry, John Brown and Martin Delaney
VENDORS AND CRAFTS TENT:: Arts & Crafts for Children with Tracy Brown & David Gibney | Fanny Crawford, Storyteller | Awakened Authentic Self LLC. & Goodness Jewelry Boutique | Voters Registration | Authors |
and Lite Refreshments Available for Purchase
FOOD TRUCK: Whistle Punk Farm
Additional Vendors Welcome with Donation to Go Fund Me (See below for contact info)
Special Thanks to Big Chuck, Our MC and SMU Entertainment, Starbucks
AAHAWD Juneteenth Event PDF here >

Sponsored by the African American Historical Association of Western Maryland and the Hagerstown & Washington County Maryland Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Contact Info:
RLYTLE2017@GMAIL.COM
304-539-1650

Williams Family History Presentation
2026-05-17 13:00 | Fort Frederick, 11100 Fort Frederick Road, Big Pool, MD, 21711, United States
Celebrate African American Heritage at Fort Frederick Visitor Center.
May 17th, 2026 at 1:00pm
Presentation by: Robert Ambrose – National Park Service
Sponsorship by: African American Historical Association & National park Service of Fort Frederick
Located at Fort Frederick State Park Complex
11100 Fort Frederick Road, Big Pool, MD 21711
Visit us online @ https://aahawmd.org/ or on Facebook!

Help Clean-up Historical Red Hill Cemetery
2026-05-23 12:00 | Red Hill Cemetery, West of 5628 Red Hill Rd., Keedysville, Maryland
Need volunteers to help clean-up Historical Red Hill Cemetery
Refreshments provided. Tools needed: Tree trimmers, Weed wackers, Prunners.
Contact: Ron Lytle
Email: ronelytly6531@gmail.com
Phone #: 240-896-9471
More info Here!
