Historic Black Communities of the Ag Reserve

Thanks to Kenny Sholes for his presentation on the development of our local Black communities following the Civil War. The 1864 Maryland Constitution freed the 5421 enslaved persons in Montgomery County (almost 30% of the population). Many of them remained working on the properties where they were formerly enslaved. 

Kenny followed the progress made from the 1870s with the founding of Black communities in the areas of Big Woods, Martinsburg, Boyds, Jerusalem, Jonesville, and Sugarland, the building of churches and small schools and the 1956 integration of the Poolesville combined school. 

Kenny highlighted the need for ‘Fair Access’ in the Ag Reserve and how that quest is not new but dates back more than a century. Watch the recording of this event on our Facebook and YouTube channels.