Antietam Battlefield
P. O. Box 158
5831 Dunbar Church Road
Sharpsburg, Md. 21782
(301) 432-5124
If not for the southerners victory at Second Bull Run in August 1862 on the Antietam war grounds the northerners might have secured the secessionists government Europeon recognition,or at least a widening of its ranks by the addition of slave border states that to this date had remained neutral in the war. Later that year,General George B. McClellan and General Lee's army began a minor war that resulted in 23,000 men being killed or wounded. The war began in Harper's Ferry and ended on the eastside of the Antietam Creek.
Negro Mountain
Garrett County
Savage, Md. 20763
Negro Mountain is mountain located in Garrett County, Md. It is 2,827 ft. about sea level and is listed as being the highest point on U. S. Route 40. Negro Mountain is part of a 30- mile mountain range that runs through Garrett County, Md. and Somerset County, Pennsylvania. No one is exactly sure how or why the mountain was named but there are a few local legends that give a clue. The only commonalities between the stories are a battle involving Native Americans, an abnormally tall African-American's death and the name "Nemesis."
One version of the story takes place during the French and Indian War. In the year 1756, a frontiersman named Colonel Daniel Cresap led a force against the Native Americans on Negro Mountain. A member of his force, an African-American named "Nemesis," was killed in the battle. No one is sure whether or not he was Cresap's slave or a scout. In any case, the mountain was named in his honor.
Another version of the story goes somewhat differently. Captain Andrew Friend went on a hunting trip with a few companions. While the men were hunting, the party was attacked by a band of Native Americans. During the ensuing skirmish, "Nemesis," as he is sometimes referred to (or Goliath), a servant of Friend's was wounded. Captain Friend and a member of the hunting party transported the wounded servant to the dense underbrush to care for him during the night. Unfortunately, he died the following morning on the mountain. The mountain where he died defending the life of his master was called Negro mountain in his honor.
Above, to the left is a picture of the Maryland/ Pennsylvania Border near Negro Mountain. Photo courtesy The National Archives in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
91 Key St.
Hagerstown, Md. 21740
The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts does not specialize in the art of African-Americans. Nor does it have an African-American collection. It does however own a few of only two dozen portraits by the nationally famed portrait painter, Joshua Johnston (Johnson).
To the right is a sample of Johnston's surviving paintings. Slide of the painting courtesy Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland.
Kennedy Farm
Kennedy Farmhouse was the planning ground for the infamous John Brown's Raid.
The raid, consisting of John Brown and 21 others was Brown's attempt to end
slavery. The raid began when Brown took over the U. S. Arsenal at Harpers
Ferry, West Virginia and stole a sizable amount of ammunition. He and his
men proceeded to split up and hold people, including a group of schoolchildren,
hostage.
The site is significant to African-American history because some historians
believe that the raid marked the end of chattel slavery and the beginning
of the Civil War. Also, the site marked the actions of an extreme abolitionist
and stands as physical proof of the five African-Americans who took part
in the raid.
According to the owner of the farmhouse, there are no African-American
collections directly associated with it. However the tour that accompanies
the visit to the Kennedy Farmhouse explains the role of the five
African-Americans who participated.
Above, to the left is a picture of the Kennedy Farmhouse. It originally appeared in an issue of Harper's Bazaar Magazine. This print of the original is cortesy The National Archives in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Fort Frederick
The land that now houses Fort Frederick state park was once owned by a manumitted
(freed), African-American named Nathan Williams. Williams was considered
the second wealthiest African-American in Washington County. He bought the
property and used as farmland. During the Civil War, Williams used the farmland
to produced food which he supplied both the Union and the Confederate Armies.
Fort Frederick was built in 1756 as part of the line of frontier fortifications
built during the French and Indian War to protect the western frontier. From
that point on, it was used in some major American wars. The fort was used
during the Revolutionary War to hold captured prisoners of war. It was used
during the Civil War to protect Union troops against the onslaught of fire
as they guarded the C &O Canal and the B & O Railroad.
Old Slave Auction Block
The Old Slave Auction Block is the site of slave auctions in Sharpsburg.
It has retained its original position for over 150 years.
Doleman Heritage Museum
The Doleman Heritage Museum is the display case for a lifetime of Mrs. Doleman's
collecting. Her African-American collection was started twenty-six years
ago and includes domestic artifacts, coins, stamps, toys, military accouterments
and more. Items such as Aunt Jemima cookie jars, salt and pepper shakes,
black Santa Clauses, porcelain figurines and African-American players,
memorabilia from the African-American owned Harmon Hotel, items from the
Black Sambo Restaurant and all postage stamps that picture African-Americans
are on display. The museum also houses over 450 books by or about
African-Americans and posters. The items in the collection have never been
counted but Mrs. Doleman estimates the number to be in the thousands.
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2406 Chestnut Grove Road
Sharpsburg, Md. 21782
Western Washington County
Big Pool near Clear Springs
Southwest corner of Route 65 and Route 34
Sharpsburg, Md.
540 Locust Ave.
Hagerstown, Md.
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