Laboring Sons Memorial Grounds facts for kids

The Laboring Sons Memorial Grounds is a special place in Frederick, Maryland. It's a memorial ground and a former cemetery. It was started in 1851 by a group called the Laboring Sons Beneficial Society. They created it as a burial ground for free African Americans in the city.

Later, in 1949, the land was given to the City of Frederick. The city changed the grounds into a park that was only for white people. In 1999, people rediscovered the true history of the place. The City of Frederick then promised to fix what happened. In 2001, the site was officially named the Laboring Sons Memorial Grounds. The new memorial was finished in 2003.

What the Memorial Grounds Look Like

The Laboring Sons Memorial Grounds cover about 1.17 acres. They are located between 5th and 6th Street on Chapel Alley. The park takes up most of its block. Sidewalks surround the park on three sides.

The main entrance is on the side that borders 6th Street. It has a metal archway. Sidewalks inside the park lead towards a small hill in the center. On this hill stands a monument. This monument honors those who are buried on the grounds. It lists the names of the people who have been identified as buried there. It also shares a short history of the grounds. A note on the monument thanks the Laboring Sons Memorial Committee and the City of Frederick for their work to restore the site.

The Story of the Grounds

How It Started and Changed

The Laboring Sons Beneficial Society was formed in 1837. Its goal was to help its members when they were in need. They also wanted to make sure members were buried with respect. The society officially became a group in 1867. Both free and enslaved African Americans from Frederick were members. At that time, about 790 free African Americans lived in Frederick. This was about 16% of the city's population.

In 1851, the society bought 1.17 acres of land for $265. This land became the cemetery. It was located between 5th and 6th Street on Chapel Alley. At the time, there were not many cemeteries where African Americans could be buried in the city. The available space was also limited. In 1852, a part of the cemetery was divided into burial plots. These plots were marked with white marble corner posts. Over time, more burial plots were sold. This helped fund the society's activities.

By 1949, about 1,500 people were buried in the cemetery. However, no one was left to care for the grounds. The cemetery had fallen into disrepair. A newspaper photo from 1948 showed it covered in weeds. Garland Makel Jr., whose grandfather was one of the last society officials, said, "There was nobody left to take care of it any more."

On October 1, 1948, the society gave the grounds to the City of Frederick. The city promised to restore the grounds. The agreement stated that the city would keep the land as a public park and playground. It would be called Laboring Sons Memorial Park. No new burials would be allowed, except for special cases. A monument was supposed to be built. The park would be open to African American residents. All existing monuments and stones were to be left alone. The city also promised to fund a study about young African Americans.

The Park's Transformation

Instead of restoring the grounds, the city removed the remaining grave stones in 1949. Newspapers reported that some of the remains in the cemetery were disturbed. Workers buried some headstones to create a smooth surface. The city then covered the grounds with black-top. They added play equipment like swings and a basketball court. The grounds were turned into a park only for white people. It was named Chapel Park. During this construction, a list of names of those buried there was started. But it stopped after only 161 names.

City workers who moved the grave stones said they just followed orders. They claimed no bodies were moved. However, an official from Fairview Cemetery said some bodies were moved there. Lord Nickens, a civil rights activist, also said some bodies were removed. The city has no record of anyone objecting at the time. For some time, the original purpose of the grounds was forgotten.

How the Truth Was Found

In the 1990s, a Frederick resident named Jackie Berry researched where her great-great-uncle was buried. His death certificate said he was buried in Laboring Sons Cemetery. She realized that Laboring Sons Park might be the same place. Around the same time, former alderman Bill Lee and Bernard Brown urged the city to acknowledge what had happened.

In 1999, the City of Frederick decided to rename all the alleys in the city. They wanted to name them after important African American citizens. A local resident suggested naming Chapel Alley "Laboring Sons Alley." This was to honor the Laboring Sons Beneficial Society and those buried under the park. A newspaper article in 2000 helped gain support for restoring the grounds. A reporter found an old map in city hall. It labeled the grounds "Colored Cemetery." This showed the city knew the land's original purpose.

In January 2000, the board of aldermen promised to make amends. They would honor those buried there with a plaque. In February 2000, a retired engineer came forward. He remembered when the changes happened. He had worked on the grounds and helped record names. He showed city officials a map of the cemetery and a partial list of names. This helped them find the grave locations. After the names were found, plans for the plaque changed. It would now list the names of those buried there, not just describe the history.

A committee was formed in June 2000 to research the site and plan a memorial. An archaeologist company offered to do a remote sensing of the grounds for free. They found 10 possible burial spots. The committee suggested removing all play equipment and the asphalt. They wanted a monument with names and dates. They also suggested creating paths and benches in areas not over graves. Another play area would be built elsewhere. Finally, the site would be rededicated as Laboring Sons Memorial Park.

Bringing the Memorial Back to Life

Work on the memorial faced many delays. Roelky Myers, Frederick's parks and recreation director in 2003, said the committee didn't know they needed approval from the Historic District Commission. This caused delays. In September 2002, the Frederick Historic District Commission approved the basic design of the park. They also approved a 4-foot tall and 11-foot wide granite monument.

Barbara Wyatt, the city's director of historic preservation, volunteered to design the park. William O. Lee Jr., a committee member, said, "Without her we wouldn't be this far." The park's design grew from simple benches and paths to a more detailed plan. It included trees, crisscrossing pathways, and short walls to sit on. City officials promised to rename it Laboring Sons.

The city set aside $40,000 in federal grant money for the restoration. Another $60,000 came from donations and the city's capital improvement program.

Jennifer Dougherty, who became mayor of Frederick in 2002, promised to restore the grounds during her campaign. She said, "It seems logical to say a burial ground should never become something other than a burial ground, or at least a place of honor." As mayor, she made identifying those buried there a priority.

Building the memorial park was tricky because bodies were found. Workers had to bring in a lot of dirt to cover them. This dirt created a new top layer of soil. This way, any construction would happen on the new soil, and the bodies would not be disturbed. The State's Attorney was told every time a new body was found.

In 2001, the site was dedicated as a memorial garden. Its name changed to Laboring Sons Memorial Ground. In 2003, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the site was rededicated. A plaque was put up listing the names of 117 people known to be buried there. A second dedication ceremony happened on June 20, 2003, when construction was finished.