A Reader question about Frederick Douglass visiting Westminster

A Reader question about Frederick Douglass visiting Westminster

July 24, 2008

Fredrick Douglass, pictured here in an 1879 photograph by George K. Warren, was born near Hillsboro, Talbot County, Maryland in February 1818.

A reader recently asked if I had ever written about Frederick Douglass visiting Westminster, Maryland.

I briefly mentioned Mr. Douglass’ visit on October 13, 1870 in a Westminster Eagle Article on July 11, 2007:

20070711 The Davis Library part 2

“The continuing odyssey of the Library”

The Davis Library part 2 (See also: 20070627 Davis Library part 1)

Or here: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/tag/westminster+scrapbook+davis+library

Westminster Eagle

July 11, 2007 © by Kevin Dayhoff (669 words – as filed)

[…]

In the beginning “it was open to the public on Friday afternoons at the Odd Fellow’s Hall” – now known as Opera House Printing Company, at 140 East Main Street.

[…]

A brief word about the Odd Fellow’s Hall. According to Chris Weeks’ book, “The Building of Westminster,” the hall is located on what “was the site of Jacob Mathias’ tanyard, shop, and residence” before he sold it for $375.00 in 1854.

According to Ms. Warner [“Carroll County Maryland – A History 1837-1976,” by Nancy Warner,] the building was dedicated in 1858. At the time, it was “the largest building in town except the court house…”

The Odd Fellow’s Hall is a storied place that is involved with much of Carroll County’s history and tradition of moving the ball forward. Ms. Warner notes that over the years, it has “provided rooms for a printing press, schools, libraries, an oyster saloon, plays, club meetings, concerts, and lectures in the nineteenth century, plus movies and a (sewing) factory in the early twentieth century.”

It is also little known that the famed national leader and orator, Frederick Douglass once spoke at the Odd Fellow’s Hall. Ms. Warner notes an October 13, 1870 “American Sentinel” account of his address in which it would appear that he was well received.

[…]

Read the rest here: 20070711 The Davis Library part 2

20080724 A Reader question about Frederick Douglass visiting Westminster

See also:

20070627 Davis Library part 1

20070711 The Davis Library part 2