NOTTINGHAM, MD—State Senator Carl Jackson is organizing a tour of Dowden Chapel and Cemetery on Thursday to raise awareness and support for the preservation of the historic African American landmark.
The site, located in Maryland’s 8th Legislative District, is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad, where enslaved people sought refuge. It later served as a one-room schoolhouse for Black children during segregation.
The tour will be led by James Harvey, a trustee of the chapel who attended the schoolhouse as a child. He and his siblings were among the first non-white students to attend Perry Hall Elementary after segregation ended.
The grounds also include a cemetery with hand-carved gravestones, some of which are unmarked.
Senator Jackson hopes the tour will highlight the chapel’s historical significance and help secure state funding for renovations. Attendees will include Chairman Ben Zucker, leaders from Morgan State University, and representatives from the Maryland State Archives.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 25, at 12:30 p.m. at Dowden Chapel and Cemetery, 4310 Ridge Road, Nottingham, MD 21236.
