From the President of our Board of Directors, Tom Spencer: In my previous blog post, I wrote about stone structures on the National Register located in Maryland and contiguous states that I have visited and photographed during the Pandemic. In this piece, I focus on buildings similarly recognized and located but built of brick.
In spite of the challenges presented by this year, Preservation Maryland continues to invest in the future of our state by preserving the heart of our communities.
While we have all found our activities to be limited during the Pandemic, there remain some that are both safe and rewarding. For Preservation Maryland’s President of the Board, Tom Spencer, an enjoyable activity has been searching out and photographing historic stone structures. The following are a few that he has found to be particularly interesting.
Preservation Maryland at Malone's Church, 2017.
Using measurements gathered during a November workday, Preservation Maryland recently completed measured architectural drawings of the historic Malone’s Church deep in Dorchester County. The church is part of a touchstone in the African American community and a final resting place of many of those related to Harriet Tubman.
Preservation Maryland staff, and architectural intern, Ty Skeiky, measured and documented all of the major aspects of Malone’s Church that was built in the 1890s. Through this fine grain exploration, we discovered the remnants of an historic addition and outdoor shed along with intact woodwork and wainscot in the original choir loft. Above a contemporary drop ceiling remains the original segmented arched ceiling. The vernacular features of this church are often seen in community-built religious structure across the Eastern Shore.
The completed drawings have be delivered to the Board of Directors of the Harrisville Malone Cemetery Maintenance Fund. While there is no active congregation at Malone’s Church there is a strong commitment form the Harrisville organization and larger community have been stewards of the property — this includes general upkeep of the Church and cemetery as they continue to accept new interments.
Presersvation Maryland created a partnership with the Harrisville Malone Cemetery Maintenance Fund through our Six-to-Fix program with the goals of addressing the needs of the historic structure and connecting it as a touchstone and educational opportunity to tell the story of freed African Americans on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Malone’s Church is currently included on maps and brochures associated with the Maryland’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. As Maryland’s Eastern Shore continues to uncover, support, and promote it’s African American story, Malone’s Church has an opportunity to play a larger role in that story and in doing so provide essential resources into it’s preservation and interpretation strategies.
Learn more about Malone’s Church