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Cross-Pollinating
History and Nature:
A Story of Bees
BY SARAH ROGERS
Executive Director, Heritage Montgomery
A
fter emancipation in 1864, African
Americans created new lives for
themselves and future generations
by purchasing land and building
nearly 40 communities in Montgom-
ery County. Today, as you drive along our
Scenic Byways and Rustic Roads, you will
see a number of the remaining churches and
homesteads still in use. The Warren Historic
site, located on White’s Ferry Road, is one
of these. Consisting of a church, school, and
benevolent hall, it was built in to the historic
town of Martinsburg by local carpenter W.
Scott Bell, who also built the nearby Sugar-
land Forest church.
 The two-story building on the site
served a special purpose for nearly a cen-
tury while segregation persisted. During
this time, African Americans were unable to
obtain insurance, loans, or death benefits. In
their place, so-called “benevolent halls” filled
the gap by creating and administering com-
munity funds that provided residents with
benefits. The Loving Charity Hall at Warren
was one of these. It not only provided crucial
support for residents, but also opened for
musical concerts, dances, and celebrations.
The Dickerson cornet band played here
regularly.
Before and after Loving Charity Hall restoration. The Loving Charity Hall is
part of one of the only remaining intact historic African American community
centers in the country, containing a church, a school, and a benefit hall. Begin-
ning in1866, it was built in phases to keep up with the growing settlement, which
at one point included two stores and a post office. When restoration is complete,
the buildings will once again serve as a center for concerts, lectures, and events
and the sharing of local African American history to visitors. It will join the rich
tapestry of historic communities in the Agricultural Reserve, which include St.
Paul, Jerusalem, Elijah Rest, and St. Marks.
Discovering the Hive
Early last year, while visiting Martinsburg
and planning the long-awaited restoration of
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