Government and Law

Two Black Policemen

Newspaper records indicate that the City of Cumberland's Police Department did indeed have black police officers. In July 1899, the Cumberland Police Department was comprised of fifteen men. Just one year earlier, on June 27, 1898 the Cumberland newspaper reported that a black policeman by the name of Edwards made his first arrest, that being of a man who fired a gun from the Valley Street Bridge. On June 3, 1902, the newspaper reported that among the fifteen men appointed to the Police Department was a black officer named, Thomas G. Washington.

Jones appointed to state history, culture commission

CUMBERLAND — Mary Louise Jones had for some time known the first African American school in Allegany County was owned by a former slave owner named Mary Hoye. A religious woman, Hoye wanted children to read the Bible, so she donated land for a building in her will following her death in 1875 at the age of 87.

The local African-American community, both Republican and Democrat, was apparently well organized with efforts being made to get out the vote. Note the identification of a separate campaign headquarters for colored Republicans. The Election of 1938 featured the Maryland Gubernatorial contest between the incumbent, Harry W. Nice (1877-1941), a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Herbert R. O'Conor (1896-1960). O'Conor won.

The Cumberland Evening Times, Monday, November 7, 1938

CITY BRIEFS

Commission expands horizons

Members seek input on area's history, culture

RICHARD KERNS
CUMBERLAND —

A state commission that promotes the preservation of African-American history brought its mission to the mountain side of Maryland on Monday.

The Maryland Commission on African-American History and Culture gathered for a day-long strategy meeting at the Cumberland Holiday Inn. It was the first time that the nine-member commission met in Western Maryland.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was one of the New Deal programs established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. Known as FDR's "tree army," these men did public improvements and conservation work across the country until 1942. Company 335-C (colored) of the CCC consisted of over 100 men and was stationed at Camp Green Ridge near Flintstone in Allegany County, Maryland. The camp featured a reading room, baseball team, basketball team, dispensary, education building, vocational shop, retreat, canteen, and camp quartet.

Police officer mortally wounded in Shantytown

City lawman breaks up brawl, manages to place suspect under arrest after being shot

James Rada
Cumberland Times-News

There's no harm in a drink once in a while or so the saying goes, but those harmless little drinks once cost two men their lives, nearly ruined a hospital, nearly killed one man and got another man beaten up.

Not that unusual for an evening in Shantytown.

New police on duty

Marcellus Martin, Chief - Official Acts of Mayor Kean.

Bridging the Divide - Saying "No" to Hate

Civil Rights Rally, 1968 - Allegany County Courthouse

John W. Wormack, Sr.
1905-1993

John Wormack was a retired Baltimore and Ohio Railroad employee who for many years had been active in a variety of civic and community service organizations. He is also the first African-American to seek political office in the City of Cumberland and as such was elected and served as Commissioner of Streets and Public Property for a four-year term from 1974 to 1978. John also served as a member and Chairman of the Community Relations Commission for the City of Cumberland for a period of over eleven years.