Allegany County Maryland--History

Susan Jones top honoree at NAACP Voice of Freedom Awards ceremony

CUMBERLAND — Tifani Fisher had tears in her eyes while she described “a little tiny house with a little tiny lady” and the role model who taught her to pursue her dreams despite racial barriers.
Fisher was referring to Susan M. Jones, 80, who received the top honor at the Allegany County NAACP 7007 Annual Voice of Freedom Awards ceremony Saturday night.
The event was held in the multi-purpose building at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.

Jane Gates
Circa 1819 - 1888

It's a mystery. Jane Gates is the great-great grandmother of Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Born in Piedmont, West Virginia, Gates is the W.E.B. DuBois professor of the Humanities and chair of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. For many years Henry Louis Gates, along with his cousin John Gates of Cumberland, have wondered about their great-great grandmother and their own heritage. Was it true Jane's white owner, one Samuel Brady, had fathered her children? Was it he who later purchased a house for her in Cumberland?

FOLCKS MILL - by John McGrain

Excerpts from the Allegany Almanack

Atty. W. A. Gunter has loaned the editor an interesting booklet entitled "The Allegany County Letter League" published by the Monarch Press in 1945. It was an Almanack containing much relevant history of Allegany County which was sent to the boys overseas during World War II along with a monthly mimeographed letter. Mr. Gunter supervised and edited most of the material from his law office, and was assisted by Judge Sloan and Mary C. Kelly, their Secretary:

Hancock to Green Spring depot - Ted Alexander

The Alleganian

Cumberland, Maryland, Wednesday Morning, Nov. 2, 1864.

Publication office in Mechanic Street near the National Hotel.

A SALVO OF ONE HUNDRED GUNS, in honor of the abolition of slavery in this State, which took effect agreeably to the proclamation of the Governor yesterday, was fired from one of the forts surrounding the city.

Dash into our Lines.

—A rebel force, said to have been a portion of McNeill's command, made a dash into Oldtown in this county on yesterday morning, capturing the greater portion of a company of New York cavalry stationed there, with their horses, equipments, &e. The company is said to have numbered but forty-five men, rank and file. A Lieutenant and four or five men were wounded in the skirmish. They were brought to town by the Express train that passed Green Spring yesterday morning, which only escaped capture by being behind time.

ALLEGANY COUNTY OFFICIAL

The following is the official result of the election held in the county on Wednesday and Thursday last, on the question of the Ratification or Rejection of the new Constitution. The election was quiet and orderly. Some citizens after taking the oath required by the Constitution, were refused their votes because they declined to answer a series of interrogatories prepared for the judges of election.                     
District               For       Against
1       Glades       40       10
2       Selbysport       69       24

Local News.

The Draft.—-The drawing to make up what deficiencies may exist in the quotas of the various districts of this State, did not commence on Monday, nor has any day been yet positively fixed. The Baltimore Sun says that it was thought in official quarters that a few weeks more would be given to enable Maryland to fill its quota, at the same time to enable the various provost marshals to arrange their books, tickets. &c, preparatory to commencing the drawing.