Frostburg in Allegany County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Honoring Brownsville / Park Avenue

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 12, 2022

1. Honoring Brownsville / Park Avenue Marker

Inscription.

Honoring Brownsville, also, Park Avenue. . , Near this spot, a vibrant African American neighborhood existed prior to the construction of the Frostburg State University campus., The name and spirit of Brownsville emerged in the late 19th century largely due to the courage and dedication of Ms. Tamer Brown, a laundress who acquired land here in 1866. A formerly enslaved person, she was a leading force in the establishment of the Lincoln School and in the creation of John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church., Brownsville grew into a vital cultural hub for African American families who lived on and near the future FSU campus in an area that extended from Oak Street to Park Avenue., Between 1927 and 1962, the State of Maryland forced many owners to sell their properties to accommodate the incremental growth of the University campus, displacing residents, organizations and businesses within Brownsville., The memory of Brownsville faded in the years that followed. Today, due to the efforts of Frostburg State University faculty, FSU alumni, FSU students in collaboration with local historians and authors, the legacy of Brownsville and its inspirational founder, Ms. Tamer Brown, has become part of the University's heritage in Western Maryland., Frostburg State University recognizes those families whose properties were purchased by the State of Maryland in order to allow for the university to grow: ,

Abel- 1927 . Brown (McBrown)- 1936 . Bruce- 1927 . Byrd- 1927 . Carter- 1934 . Cole- 1933, 1959 . Dorsey- 1958 . Edwards- 1962 . Gilmore- 1962 . Holly- 1927 . Jackson- 1934, 1935, 1958 . Johnson- 1958 . Kelly- 1934 . Mason- 1958 . Micene- 1927 . Plunkett- 1934 . Smith- 1927 . Stamper- 1958 . Taylor- 1927, 1958 . Threscher- 1934 . Waites- 1933 . Washington- 1958 . Williams- 1972

, Thanks to a grant from the African American Heritage Preservation Program, FSU is able to recognize Brownsville residents who served in the United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) during the U.S. Civil War:

Samuel Abel . James Carter . William Cole . George Denmark . Robert Dorsey . Lewis Galloway (Bush) . Hezekiah Jackson . Shadrach Manokey . William Williams

FSU thanks the Harper Family and the White Family for sharing their stories and memories of Brownsville., This memorial was funded, in part, with generous contributions from community members, students and alumni, including ,

Kathy A. Nicholas Boykins '80 and Earl Boykins . Kurt A. '80 and Bonny M. Pfluger . Angela M. Roberts '82 . Kevin J. Spradlin '17 . J.C.J. Stokes . Elijah Sutton '18

Near this spot, a vibrant African American neighborhood existed prior to the construction of the Frostburg State University campus.

The name and spirit of Brownsville emerged in the late 19th century largely due to the courage and dedication of Ms. Tamer Brown, a laundress who acquired land here in 1866. A formerly enslaved person, she was a leading force in the establishment of the Lincoln School and in the creation of John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church.

Brownsville grew into a vital cultural hub for African American families who lived on and near the future FSU campus in an area that extended from Oak Street to Park Avenue.

Between 1927 and 1962, the State of Maryland forced many owners to sell their properties to accommodate the incremental growth of the University campus, displacing residents, organizations and businesses within Brownsville.

The memory of Brownsville faded in the years that followed. Today, due to the efforts of Frostburg State University faculty, FSU alumni, FSU students in collaboration with local historians and authors, the legacy of Brownsville and its inspirational founder, Ms. Tamer Brown, has become part of the University's heritage in Western Maryland.

Frostburg State University recognizes those families whose properties were purchased by the

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State of Maryland in order to allow for the university to grow:

Abel- 1927 • Brown (McBrown)- 1936 • Bruce- 1927 • Byrd- 1927 • Carter- 1934 • Cole- 1933, 1959 • Dorsey- 1958 • Edwards- 1962 • Gilmore- 1962 • Holly- 1927 • Jackson- 1934, 1935, 1958 • Johnson- 1958 • Kelly- 1934 • Mason- 1958 • Micene- 1927 • Plunkett- 1934 • Smith- 1927 • Stamper- 1958 • Taylor- 1927, 1958 • Threscher- 1934 • Waites- 1933 • Washington- 1958 • Williams- 1972

Thanks to a grant from the African American Heritage Preservation Program, FSU is able to recognize Brownsville residents who served in the United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.) during the U.S. Civil War:

Samuel Abel • James Carter • William Cole • George Denmark • Robert Dorsey • Lewis Galloway (Bush) • Hezekiah Jackson • Shadrach Manokey • William Williams

FSU thanks the Harper Family and the White Family for sharing their stories and memories of Brownsville.

This memorial was funded, in part, with generous contributions from community members, students and alumni, including

Kathy A. Nicholas Boykins '80 & Earl Boykins • Kurt A. '80 & Bonny M. Pfluger • Angela M. Roberts '82 • Kevin J. Spradlin '17 • J.C.J. Stokes • Elijah Sutton '18

Erected by

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 12, 2022

2. Honoring Brownsville / Park Avenue Marker

Frostburg State University.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Education • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 39° 39.139′ N, 78° 55.807′ W. Marker is in Frostburg, Maryland, in Allegany County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East College Avenue and Wood Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 57 E College Ave, Frostburg MD 21532, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cook Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Lowndes Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Main (within shouting distance of this marker); Faculty Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old Main (within shouting distance of this marker); Nelson P. Guild Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Gunter Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Frost Hall (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frostburg.

Additional keywords. displacement

Honoring Brownsville / Park Avenue Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 12, 2022

3. Honoring Brownsville / Park Avenue Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.