African American Heritage Sites Brochure

New African American Heritage Brochure Announced on the 145th Anniversary of Frederick’s First Emancipation Celebration

 
August 23, 2010

Download PDF version of brochure African American Brochure Launch

Frederick, MD - On Monday, August 23, 2010, the Tourism Council of Frederick County in partnership with the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium launched the release of the updated African American Heritage Brochure during a 9 a.m. program at the Carroll Creek Park Amphitheater in Frederick, MD.  The release of the brochure coincides with the 145th Anniversary of Frederick’s first Emancipation Celebration.  Remarks were given by Kevin Lollar, Randy Jones, and John Fieseler, and the program concluded with the Asbury UM Mass Choir performing a hymn that was sung at the original Emancipation Celebration in 1865. 

The new brochure is an updated version of the original piece published in 2001. “It includes five additional points of interest, more illustrations, and properties designated on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom like Monocacy National Battlefield and Catoctin Furnace,” explained Liz Shatto, Coordinator of the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium, the organization that coordinated the project.  Additions include sites that have instituted regular public hours since the first brochure was created and new memorials.  The brochure has a suggested walking tour itinerary that links sites in the City of Frederick, and visitors can explore County locations by the themes of “Communities and Churches,” “Industry,” and “Plantation Life.” 

During the program, Kevin Lollar, a member of the project’s Advisory Committee and Director of Development for the Housing Authority for the City of Frederick, remarked on the significance of the African American experience in Frederick City and County and the Emancipation anniversary.  “One hundred and forty five years ago, on this very day, Frederick celebrated Emancipation with enormous festivity, and it is our honor to commemorate that occasion today with the release of the new African American heritage brochure,” said Lollar.   

“African American heritage tourism is deeply connected with Frederick’s rich history, and our new brochure allows visitors to explore African American heritage points of interest based on themes and related sites,” explained Shatto.   A ten member Advisory Committee worked on the project under the leadership of Shatto.  “The recent discovery of the extensive, intact slave village at Monocacy National Battlefield, one of the new sites in the brochure, underscores just how deeply rooted African American history and heritage is in our County,” she said. 

According to Randy Jones, Tourism Council of Frederick County Board member, brochure Advisory Committee member, and the owner of Café 611, “Research has brought new information on local African American history to life, the community has developed sites that did not exist nine years ago, and more sites that include African American interpretation are now accessible to the public.” 

“We’re seeing an increase in visitors asking about African American history and interpretation, and the brochure is a great tool for visitors who want to experience these sites,” said John Fieseler, Executive Director of the Tourism Council of Frederick County.  “The timing of the brochure release is ideal as well.  Our new Frederick Visitor Center is opening in 2011 and will provide an ideal launching point for this tour and other visitor destinations in Frederick City and County,” he explained.  

The program concluded with the Asbury United Methodist Mass Choir, under the direction of Rocky Twyman, singing Charles Wesley’s hymn, Blow Ye the Trumpet Blow.  This was sung on this day in 1865 during the Emancipation Celebration, and it was a favorite hymn of abolitionists.   

The African American Heritage brochure is now available free of charge at the Frederick Visitor Center, 19 E. Church Street, Frederick MD and available at www.fredericktourism.org.  It is possible to arrange supplies for youth and school groups by calling (301) 600-4047. The brochure is published by the Tourism Council of Frederick County in cooperation with the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium.  Funding was provided by the Community Foundation of Frederick County and the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority through a mini-grant from the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area.

African American Heritage Sites Image








Download PDF version of brochure


Photo Caption: Kevin Lollar, African American Heritage Brochure Advisory Committee member and Director of Development for Housing Authority for the City of Frederick, speaks during the African American Heritage Sites Brochure Launch. August 23, 2010

Supplemental Information                                                                           

African American Heritage Brochure Advisory CommitteeA ten member Advisory Committee worked on this project under the leadership of Liz Shatto, Coordinator of the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium.  They included:   
·         Rose Chaney (served on committee in 2001, affiliated with AARCH)
·         Janet Davis (served on committee in 2001, Frederick County Historic Preservation Planner, affiliated with AARCH and the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Advisory Board)
·         Marie Anne Erickson (copy writer for original brochure in 2001)
·         Joy Onley (served on committee in 2001, affiliated with AARCH, member of Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Frederick County )
·         Belva King (independent historian, AARCH member)
·         Kevin Lollar (Director of Development for the Housing Authority for the City of Frederick)
·         Randy Jones (Tourism Council of Frederick County Board liaison, local restaurant owner)
·         Heidi Campbell Shoaf (Director, Historical Society of Frederick County)
·         Dr. Dean Herrin (NPS coordinator, Catoctin Center for Regional Studies)
·         Chris Haugh (Tourism Council of Frederick County staff) 

Milestones of Freedom:  Emancipation

Exactly one hundred and forty-five years ago, on August 23, 1865, thousands of African Americans gathered to honor their historical experience as free and enslaved Blacks, and to celebrate Emancipation.   Milestones of freedom and emancipation include:

·         The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in rebellious territories in Jan. 1863, but Maryland had never seceded from the Union and the status of Maryland’s enslaved did not change as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation.
·         Almost two years later, Maryland slaves were emancipated in November of 1864 with the ratification of a new state constitution.
·         The abolition of slavery nationwide did not become official until the passage of the 13th amendment to the US Constitution in Dec. 1865.

But even before the passage of the 13th amendment, Frederick African Americans held their first emancipation celebration on August 23, 1865.   A report of the celebration in the Frederick Examiner claimed that 3000 people attended the event which was held in an area known as “Howard’s Woods.”  The reporter noted “one of the most eloquent and impressive prayers it was ever our good fortune to listen to,” was offered by Rev. Benjamin Tucker Tanner of Frederick’s Bethel Church. Bethel is known today as Quinn AME Church, and you can read about Quinn and Rev. Tanner in our new brochure.  The main event on this occasion was an address by former slave Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, who was one of the most prominent African American leaders in the country at the time.   

Two years later even more people attended the Frederick County emancipation celebration.  Between 5-8,000 people crowded into an area known as Worman’s Woods, north of town, preceded by a grand parade with over 2500 participants. This annual event, which continued until 1939, often included train excursions bringing visitors from, Hagerstown, Westminster, and other cities to enjoy picnics, parades, a variety of entertainments, and inspirational messages.