Saving History Saturday: Nearly $1 Million Allocated to Save 12 African-American History Sites in Maryland

There is no better way to honor Black History Month than to preserve the sites related to African American heritage and history. Last week, it was announced that the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, as well as the Maryland Historical Trust, had awarded nearly $1 million in grant funds to assist in the renovations of twelve African American historic sites in their state.

According to the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, the goal of the African American Heritage Preservation Program is “to identify and preserve buildings, communities, and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland.” Funding is available for projects that need assistance for “acquisition, construction, capital improvement, and certain predevelopment costs.” In their 8+ years of existence, the program has awarded $8 million in grant funds to over 100 different projects.

Here is the list of each of the twelve projects awarded for FY2020:

• Fairmount Heights World War II Monument – Prince George’s County
  ($12,250)
• Liberty Grace Church of God – Baltimore City
  ($100,000)
• Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church – Cambridge, Dorchester County
  ($100,000)
• Warren Historic Site: Church and School – Dickerson, Montgomery County
  ($100,000)
• Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Tunnels – Cumberland, Allegany County
  ($100,000)
• McConchie One-Room School – La Plata, Charles County
  ($99,000)
• Zion United Methodist Church – Federalsburg, Caroline County
  ($100,000)
• Robert W. Johnson Community Center – Hagerstown, Washington County
  ($100,000)
• Sotterley Plantation: Slave Cabin – Hollywood, St. Mary’s County
  ($78,000)
• Ellsworth Cemetery – Westminster, Carroll County
  ($65,000)
• Asbury M.E. Church – Easton, Talbot County
  ($100,000)
• Fruitland Community Center – Wicomico County
  ($44,000)