IN WESTERN MARYLAND. 11 NEWS REPORTER LOWELL MELSER HAS .RE REPORTER: THEY SAY BIG THINGS COME IN SMALLER PACKAGES AND THATS TRUE IN HAGERSTOWN AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF A00 6 SQUARE-FOOT CABIN SPARKED A MOVEMENT IN THE JONATHAN STREET NEIGHBORHOOD, HIGHLIGHTEIN THE EXHIBIT AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE AS.RT IT WAS BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 11 2021 NEWS WAS ABLE TTAO G ALONG AS ARCHAEOLOGISTS FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENOFT TRANSPORTATION AND PRESERVATION MARYLAND DUG AROUND THISMA S CABIN LOCATED ON JONATHAN STREET DATING BACK TO T 1830’S DISCOVERED WHEN A CAR ACCIDENTALLY CRASHED INTO IT. >> YOU ARE SEEING A SMALL SPARK IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS GROWING MUCH LARGER. REPORTER: NOW FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS. REGGIE TURNER COMMISSIONER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CU LTURE IN WASHINGTON COUNTY TOOK US FOR A TOUR INSIDE THE RENOVATED CABIN WITH AN ADDDE 200 SQREUA FEET AND MODERN AMENITIES. THE CABIN IS LOCATED IN ATASWH ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITI OESN THE EAST COAST. IN THE EIG 1HT800S AND EARLY 1900S IT WAS BUSTLING WITH BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES MANY WHICH WERE LISTED IN T GREENHE BOOK. NOW THIS TINY LITTLE CABIN IS GENERATING A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE FORM OF DONATIONS AND GRANTS. >> IT IS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE, WE ARE SEEGIN IT ALREADY IN REGARDS TO INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GARNER FOR THE COUNMMITY, IT’S BEEN CLOSE TO $2 MILLION AT THIS POINT AND SUBSNTTAIALLY MORE INTERT.ES >> FOR EXAMPLE YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THAT. REPORTER: THE CABIN HAS ALSO PEAKED INTEREST AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. AN EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY OF JONHAATN STREET SHOWS WHAT THE COMMUNITY LOOKED LIKE WHEN IT WAS THRIVING AS LLWE AS SOME OF THE MOSTRE TASURED ARTIFACTS DISCOVERED IN THE 2020 G. >> PRIOR TO THE DISCOVERY OF THE CABIN THERE SWA ANOTHERLD O STRUCTURE IN JONATHAN STRTEE THATHE T COMMUNITY WAS NOT ABLE TO SAVE SO PRESERVING THIS CABIN BECOSME A SYMBOL FOR VALUING THE HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. REPORTER: THE CABIN WILL BE PUT ON THE MARKET SOON WITH A NEW OWNER MOVING IN BY FALL. THE HO IPES TO ENCOURAGE MORE HOMEOWNERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AT THE SAME TIME BRI ING BUSINESSES AND THE ARTS. >> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE NCA DO TO MOVE THIS WORK THROUGHOUT THENTIRE E HISTORIC BLACK COMMUNITY. REPORTER: IF YOU WOULD LIKE MO REINFORMATION ABOUT THIS EXHIBIT WHICH RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER WE HAVE MORE ON OUR WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP.
Cabin has significant ties to African American history in Western Maryland
Updated: 12:53 PM EDT Jun 1, 2022
It has been two years since a tiny log cabin was discovered in the once-famous Jonathan Street District in downtown Hagerstown. It turns out the cabin — slated for demolition — had major ties to the history of African Americans in Western Maryland.Now, it has been reconstructed — and will soon be rented out — as part of a major move to bring homeowners and businesses back to that district. In September 2020, 11 News was able to tag along as archaeologists from the Maryland Department of Transportation and Preservation Maryland dug around a small cabin located on Jonathan Street dating back to the 1830s, that was discovered when a car accidentally crashed into it.”You’re seeing a small spark in a community that’s growing much larger,” said Reggie Turner, Washington County’s commissioner of African American History and Culture.Now, fast forward two years, turner took 11 News for a tour inside the renovated cabin that has an added 200 square feet and modern amenities. The cabin is located in what was one of the most well-known African American communities on the East Coast.In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was bustling with Black-owned businesses, many of which were listed in the Green Book. Now, the tiny little cabin is generating much support for the neighborhood in the form of donations and grants.”It’s a catalyst for change. We’re seeing it already in regard to investment. We’ve been able to garner for the community close to about $2 million at this point and substantially more interest,” Turner said.The cabin has also piqued interest at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. An exhibit highlighting the history of Jonathan Street shows what the community looked like when it was thriving, as well as some of the most treasured artifacts discovered in the 2020 dig.”Prior to the discovery of the cabin, there was another old structure at Jonathan Street that the community was not able to save so preserving this cabin becomes a symbol for valuing The history of the neighborhood,” Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Executive Director Sarah Hall said.The cabin will be put on the market soon, with a new owner moving in by fall. The hope is to encourage more homeowners in the neighborhood and at the same time, bring in businesses and the arts.”We’re excited about what we can do to move this work throughout this entire historic Black community,” Turner said.For more information on the Jonathan Street exhibit, which runs through September, click here.
It has been two years since a tiny log cabin was discovered in the once-famous Jonathan Street District in downtown Hagerstown. It turns out the cabin — slated for demolition — had major ties to the history of African Americans in Western Maryland.
Now, it has been reconstructed — and will soon be rented out — as part of a major move to bring homeowners and businesses back to that district.
In September 2020, 11 News was able to tag along as archaeologists from the Maryland Department of Transportation and Preservation Maryland dug around a small cabin located on Jonathan Street dating back to the 1830s, that was discovered when a car accidentally crashed into it.
“You’re seeing a small spark in a community that’s growing much larger,” said Reggie Turner, Washington County’s commissioner of African American History and Culture.
Now, fast forward two years, turner took 11 News for a tour inside the renovated cabin that has an added 200 square feet and modern amenities. The cabin is located in what was one of the most well-known African American communities on the East Coast.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was bustling with Black-owned businesses, many of which were listed in the Green Book. Now, the tiny little cabin is generating much support for the neighborhood in the form of donations and grants.
“It’s a catalyst for change. We’re seeing it already in regard to investment. We’ve been able to garner for the community close to about $2 million at this point and substantially more interest,” Turner said.
The cabin has also piqued interest at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. An exhibit highlighting the history of Jonathan Street shows what the community looked like when it was thriving, as well as some of the most treasured artifacts discovered in the 2020 dig.
“Prior to the discovery of the cabin, there was another old structure at Jonathan Street that the community was not able to save so preserving this cabin becomes a symbol for valuing The history of the neighborhood,” Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Executive Director Sarah Hall said.
The cabin will be put on the market soon, with a new owner moving in by fall. The hope is to encourage more homeowners in the neighborhood and at the same time, bring in businesses and the arts.
“We’re excited about what we can do to move this work throughout this entire historic Black community,” Turner said.
For more information on the Jonathan Street exhibit, which runs through September, click here.
