Downtown in Frederick in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Kemp Hall
1861 - 1961
In the year 1861 the legislature of Maryland, called into extraordinary session by Governor Thomas Holliday Hicks, held session in this building owned by the Evangelical Reformed Church (now the Evangelical and Reformed - United Church of Christ).
After convening in the court house on April 26, the senators and delegates assembled here on April 27. The senators on the second floor and the delegates on the third floor.
A peace and safety bill was referred to a joint committee and reported favorably, but after an amendment demanding secession was rejected the bill was recommitted. The legislature adjourned in September without passage of the bill because of lack of a quorum due to the arrest of a number of senators and delegates by Federal order, and Maryland never seceded from the Union.
On February 15, 1961, the legislature met again in this building to commemorate the Civil War session.
From Frederick County
1861 Session | 1961 Session
Thomas J. Glaggett | Charles H. Collins
John A. Johnson | William M. Hough
Andrew Sessler, Jr. | Joseph B. Payne
David W Haill | Charles H. Smelser
Jonathan Routzahn | Gary L. Literback
William B. Salmon | C. Clifton Verts
Delegate | Delegate
Dedicated on February 15, 1961
J. Millard Tawes, Governer
this page online
Maryland Civil War Centennial Commission
George L. Radcliffe, Chairman
Frederick County Civil War Centennial, Inc.
C Lease Bussard, President
Erected 1961 by Maryland Civil War Centennial Commission / Frederick County Civil War Centennial, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1677.
Location. 39° 24.917′ N, 77° 24.64′ W. Marker is in Frederick, Maryland, in Frederick County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of East Church Street and Market Street, on the right when traveling east on East Church Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 52 North Market Street, Frederick MD 21701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Capital for a Summer (here, next to this marker); In April 1861 The Legislature Of Maryland Met Here In Special Session (here, next to this marker); The News (a few steps from this marker); Cultures Meet (within shouting distance of this marker); John Thomas Schley (within shouting distance of this marker); Hood College (within shouting distance of this marker); The Congregation in Frederick
Another marker is no longer nearby. Capital For A Summer (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . The General Assembly Moves to Frederick, 1861. Maryland Stete Archives website entry:
(Submitted on September 25, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Photographed by Adam Margolis, January 17, 2022
3. Kemp Hall
The marker can be seen in the middle left of the image along the side of the building.
via Maryland State Archives, 1870
4. Kemp Hall
Photographed by Craig Swain, September 3, 2007
5. Kemp Hall
Now occupied by the Candy Kitchen, a local favorite specialty shop.
Library of Congress
6. Thomas Holliday Hicks
Governor of Maryland
1861
Governor of Maryland
1861
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,405 times since then and 91 times this year. Last updated on June 19, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 4, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on March 19, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 4. submitted on April 24, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on September 25, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on June 19, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
