Did you
know that...
- Montgomery County, MD was part of
the Underground Railroad network, which helped runaway slaves find freedom?
- Josiah Henson, who worked as a
slave on a county plantation, later published an autobiography that influenced
the abolition of slavery?
- Because of the community of
Quakers living in the Sandy Spring area, many slaves were freed as early as the
1820s, 40 years before the Civil War?
In honor
of Black History Month, we’d like to share the extraordinary stories behind some
of Montgomery County’s African American historical sites and provide resources
and links to explore them further. Each of these Montgomery Parks sites have been or are in the process of being restored.
Visitors can gain insight into life as an African American in
centuries past, reflecting on the brutality of slavery in colonial America, while
also learning about the rich cultural practices of African Americans passed
down to later generations. The information below is compiled primarily from
Montgomery Parks’ literature, MCPL databases and newspaper articles. Please see
the reference list at the end of this post for more details.
 |
This
log cabin, built in 1850, was used as a kitchen
on the Riley Plantation.
|
Montgomery
County acquired the Riley home in 2006. The log cabin dates back to 1850 and was built after Henson escaped, but ongoing archeological excavations are
underway to
locate the slave quarters that may have housed Henson. At this time, the Josiah Henson Park is
open only for special events and school visits. Montgomery Parks plans to build
a museum and interpretive center at the site. In celebration of Black History
Month, tours and special events are scheduled for the weekend of February 25 and 26.
 |
One of the remaining slave quarters
in Montgomery County, MD.
|
The
Oakley Cabin African American Museum & Park is only 2 miles from Olney Library, just west of Brookeville, MD. Originally built as one of
three cabins in the early 19th century, this home was part of a
larger farm owned by the Brooke family. Before emancipation, slaves lived here
and helped run Oakley Farm. Census records reveal that from 1880 to 1930, African American and white laborers, farm workers, blacksmiths, and other
craftspeople resided here. Historians believe they formed a community that sold produce and hand-made items
to travelers
along busy Brookeville Road. The cabin remained occupied until the 1970s.
The
Oakley Cabin has been restored and is now a museum that displays historical
tools and artifacts used in the 19th century, such as a coin and crystal found buried by
the back door,
an African tradition. Visitors can get a sense of life during the Civil War,
Reconstruction and beyond. The museum is open the 2nd and 4th
Saturdays, 12:00 PM -4:00 PM, April through November. Special programs such as Emancipation Day are planned annually and school group visits
can be arranged. Learn more about slavery in Maryland from resources in MCPL’s collection and our online resources.
 |
Entrance
to the Underground Railroad
Experience Trail
|
The
Quakers, a Christian movement first started in England, built a thriving
community around Sandy Spring, Brookeville and Olney, MD, from the early 18th
century. Because of their anti-violence beliefs, Quakers didn’t participate in wars. They were also early abolitionists who established “one
of the largest land-owning African American communities in Maryland” (Sandy Spring Museum). Quakers were active in the Underground
Railroad, helping runaway slaves escape to freedom. See MCPL’s resources about the Quakers and the Underground Railroad. Please also visit our research databases, such
as the Oxford African American Studies
Center.
 |
This
3-story stone barn was recently converted
into an interactive visitors center. |
The
Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park consists of several buildings built by Quakers
in the 19th century. A multimedia visitors center, housed in an 1832
stone barn, opened in the summer 2016. Each floor displays a different aspect of
life, from managing a large plantation to working on the Underground Railroad. The center also hosts a two-mile Underground Railroad Experience Trail that gives visitors a chance to experience the
dangers confronted by escaped slaves and the skills needed to survive in the
wild. The trail and grounds are open year-round; the Woodlawn Visitor Center is
open Wednesdays through
Sundays, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, April through November.
Want to read more? Check out our earlier blog posts.
REFERENCES
Hembree, Michael. "Josiah Henson." Encyclopedia
of African-American Culture and History, Gale, 2006. Biography in
Context, proxy.montgomerylibrary.org:2048/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K3444700598/BIC1?u=rock21695&xid=2548e208.
Accessed 30 Jan. 2017.
"Josiah Henson." Contemporary Black Biography,
vol. 90, Gale, 2011. Biography in Context, proxy.montgomerylibrary.org:2048/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1606005287/BIC1?u=rock21695&xid=b73cafae.
Accessed 30 Jan. 2017.
Labels: Books, Databases, History, Olney, Programs and Events, Research
The
Oakley Cabin has been restored and is now a museum that displays historical
tools and artifacts used in the 19th century, such as a coin and crystal found buried by
the back door,
an African tradition. Visitors can get a sense of life during the Civil War,
Reconstruction and beyond. The museum is open the 2nd and 4th
Saturdays, 12:00 PM -4:00 PM, April through November. Special programs such as Emancipation Day are planned annually and school group visits
can be arranged. Learn more about slavery in Maryland from resources in MCPL’s collection and our online resources.
