Tolson's Chapel and School facts for kids
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Tolson's Chapel and School
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Tolson's Chapel, September 2012
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 111 E. High St., Sharpsburg, Maryland |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1866 |
| Architectural style | Single log pen |
| Part of | Sharpsburg Historic District (ID08001218) |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001012, 100006233 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 21, 2008 |
| Designated NHL | January 13, 2021 |
| Designated CP | December 24, 2008 |
Tolson's Chapel and School is a very important historic building. It is located in Sharpsburg, Maryland. This chapel was built in 1866. It served as both a church and a school. It helped African American people in Sharpsburg right after the American Civil War. The chapel is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
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About Tolson's Chapel
Tolson's Chapel is on the south side of Sharpsburg village. It is a one-story building made of logs. The outside has a special siding called board-and-batten. It has a pointed roof with a small square bell tower on top.
What the Chapel Looks Like
The front of the building is simple. It has a main door with a small window above it. There is also a small window in the roof's peak. Windows are on both sides of the building. Inside, there is one large room. Wooden benches, called pews, are set up around a middle aisle. At one end, there is a raised area with a pulpit. This is where the minister would stand. At the other end, there is a balcony for more seating. Some walls still have blackboards. These are a reminder of when the building was a school.
A Place for Worship and Learning
Local African American people built the chapel in 1866. Samuel Craig, a free Black man, gave the land. The first minister was John Tolson. He was a Methodist minister who visited Sharpsburg. The chapel was named after him when he passed away in 1870 at age 30. The chapel was used actively as a church for many years. It closed in 1994 because fewer people were attending. In 1998, it was formally closed as a church. A local non-profit group took over the building in 2000.
The Chapel as a School
Besides being a church, the building was also a community center. It was especially important as a school for local African Americans. In 1868, the Freedmen's Bureau helped. This group provided money for teachers. This support lasted for a short time. Later, in 1872, Maryland passed a new education law. This law required schools for African American children. Tolson's Chapel was used as a school again until 1899.
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