C&T Publications Eye On Fine Art Photography - October 2014 | Page 34

The old Hadaway Chapel, sometimes known as Broad Neck Church, in Maryland's Kent County, near Chestertown, once
served as a place of worship for the local black community of Methodists, who were mostly farmers. It is believed that
the wealthy Hadaway family paid for the construction of the church.
It was built sometime between 1890 and 1900, with older former residents putting it closer to the year 1900. Described
by the Maryland Historic Trust as a rural frame Gothic Revival church structure, with a nave, tall walls, and a tall gable
roof. The tower/narthex was comprised of three levels and was topped by a pyramidal roof. There was a narrower and
lower gable-roofed chancel wing attached to the gable end opposite the tower. It also showed evidence of two
chimneys for stoves, both located on the long walls of the church, set between the windows. The entire building was
constructed of pine weatherboarding and shingles. The foundation was made of parged brick piers.
After WWII the population began to decline as farming families moved into more urban areas to find work in factories.
By the 1950's the church was no longer or rarely in use.
The small cemetery located nearby still accepts burials, with the most recent one appearing to be for a Mr. Tyrone D.
Johnson, who was interred here in January 2012.
Sadly, the church no longer stands as sometime in 1985 it collapsed and burned. It would have been nice if a local
historical society could have restored this glorious old building and preserved its historical importance to the area. ~ the
Editor
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