Martinsburg near Dickerson in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Warren Historic Site
Following the war, free blacks and former slaves purchased land in the area and developed a community of 30-40 homesteads. At the center of the community three principal institutions of historical significance were erected, a church, the Warren Methodist Episcopal Church, a one-room schoolhouse, the Martinsburg Negro School, and a benefit society lodge hall, the Loving Charity Lodge.
On January 22, 1876 this site was purchased for $50. In 1903 the existing church was built at a cost of $150.00 and named in memory of Isaac Warren a member of the first board of trustees of the church. The Martinsburg Negro School was built in 1886 serving grades 1-5 with 40-50 students attending classes. The Loving Charity Lodge Hall was built in 1914. The Loving Charity Society was founded to provide sick and burial events for free blacks and former slaves who were not able to purchase these forms of coverage from insurance companies. The hall served as a community center where plays, dances, and lectures were held, in addition to being the site where the organizational activities of the Loving Charity Society were conducted.
These three building were the anchor for the new thriving Martinsburg community and served as the center for religious worship, educational development, and social interaction for the residents of the area.
The Warren Historic District Site Committee, Inc., takes pride in preserving these valuable historic assets and maintaining the cultural heritage of the African American community which they represent.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Education. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1861.
Location. 39° 9.829′ N, 77° 28.46′ W. Marker is near Dickerson, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is in Martinsburg. Marker is at the intersection of Whites Ferry Road (State Road 107) and Martinsburg Road on Whites Ferry Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22625 Whites Ferry Rd, Poolesville MD 20837, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. White’s Ford (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); East Oaks (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named White's Ford (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Monacan Confederacy and Culture (approx. 1.7 miles away in Virginia); Early Crosses At White's Ford (approx. 1.7 miles away in Virginia); Lee Crosses Into Maryland (approx. 1.7 miles away in Virginia); a different marker also named White's Ford (approx. 2.1 miles away); Seneca Stone Barn (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dickerson.
Also see . . . Warren Historic Site. (Submitted on January 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,259 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.