Allegany County Maryland--History

Richard W. "Baldy" Powell (1940-1992) - City Council Candidate

In April 1982, the Cumberland News announced that Richard Wendell "Baldy" Powell had declared his candidacy for Cumberland City Council. Richard Powell had graduated from Allegany High School where he excelled in sports and continued to be a well-known sports figure in the community. He resided at 311 Avirett Avenue with his wife, Patricia.

Susan Marie Jones (1942-)

Susan M. Jones, a Democrat, is the first African-American, man or woman, to be elected to Allegany County-wide office.
This was in 1990 when she was elected as a Judge to the Allegany County Orphan's Court. Jones served in this capacity from 1991-1995.

Darrell Lee Powell (1959- ) -
Candidate for the Circuit Court

Darrell Lee Powell was born in Cumberland. He is a 1978 graduate of Fort Hill High School, and a 1983 graduate from Frostburg State University. Powell is a former television news reporter, having worked for WHAG-NBC 25 Television.

Peck Commended For Detective Work

A native of Cumberland who is a 20-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C., has received a commendation for his part in a complex two-year investigation.

Cumberland Police Chief Charlie Hinnant, right, congratulates, from left, Patrolman Christopher Hill, 2006 Officer of the Year; Patrolman James Burt, 2005 Officer of the Year; and Cpl. Andrew Linthicum, who earned the honor in 2004. Looking on is Mayor Lee Fiedler.

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.