First bookmobile is in Washington County
Progressive leadership at the Washington County Free Library sends out the first bookmobile in 1905 to great acclaim.
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Washington County
Military Intelligence Center, Fort Detrick and Camp David are created by the emergency of WWII
The Ritchie Boys, trained in Maryland in 1942, are an important secret weapon for the allies in World War II. Exiled European Jews are trained in intelligence for the allies. They interrogate prisoners, interpret, translate and read code.
America’s first drag queen is born enslaved in Hancock
William Dorsey Swann, born enslaved in Hancock, becomes America’s first drag queen, sponsoring “drag balls” in DC. He is arrested in 1896 and serves 10 months in jail.
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Clara Barton volunteers as nurse in the Civil War.
Clara Barton, volunteer, goes to the front at Antietam battlefield in 1862, risking her life to treat the wounded with much success. After the War she founds the American Red Cross and settles in Glen Echo.
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Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day of the Civil War
The Battle of Antietam in September 1862 has soldiers of both sides falling for 12 straight hours. It is the single bloodiest day of the War (23,000 casualties of 132,00 engaged). Lincoln uses the battle to release the Emancipation Proclamation.
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John Brown hides out at Kennedy Farm, preparing to attack Harpers Ferry
John Brown leaves his 1859 hideout at the Kennedy Farm in Washington County, crosses Potomac with party of 22 to raid the Harpers Ferry Arsenal, intending to create a slave rebellion.
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James C. Pennington, publishes “The Origins and History of Colored People”
James W.C. Pennington, born enslaved in Queen Anne’s County, publishes the first history of African Americans in the US in 1841.
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Jewish men gain rights of citizenship
“Jew Bill” legislation is passed by the Maryland Assembly in 1826, giving Jewish men all the rights of citizenship equal to Christians. Thomas Kennedy of Hagerstown is the tireless sponsor.
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The Washington Monuments in Maryland are first in the country
Baltimore’s Washington Monument is the first erected in 1815 and dedicated to George Washington. The second, more modest Washington Monument is built by Revolutionary War veterans on South Mountain overlooking Boonsboro in 1826.
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The National Road West is the government’s first project
Maryland builds the beginning of an interstate road, a toll road from Baltimore to Cumberland. In a first federal project the government funds next road segment west to Ohio in 1811.
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