Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Red Brick Courthouse
29 Courthouse Square
— Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour —
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, June 14, 2011
1. Red Brick Courthouse Marker
After the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and Congress created the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands to aid newly freed African Americans. By the time it closed in 1872, the Bureau had provided assistance to four million former slaves making the transition from slavery to freedom, including those in Rockville.
The county courthouse was the site of an 1866 case brought to the court by Rockville’s Freedman’s Bureau to recover money stolen from Rockville’s African American community. In 1858 African American freedmen and slaves raised money through subscriptions to construct a church.
The money was entrusted to J. Mortimer Kilgour, who joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and never returned to Rockville. The Freedmen’s Bureau assisted Daniel Brogdon and Solomon Williams in accusing Kilgour of theft. The Bureau tracked down Mr. Kilgour and returned the money to the Rockville Colored School Board in 1867.
Erected by City of Rockville Historic District Commission, Dept. of Community Planning and Development Services. (Marker Number 1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Notable Events •
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 5.038′ N, 77° 9.1′ W. Marker was in Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker was on Courthouse Square (West Montgomery Ave.) west of Maryland Avenue. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Rockville MD 20850, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Gibbs v. Broome, et al. / 1931 Courthouse (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Red Brick Courthouse (here, next to this marker); Montgomery County Court House (a few steps from this marker); Bicentennial of Maryland's Ratification of the Constitution (within shouting distance of this marker); Rockville (within shouting distance of this marker); 1891 Red Brick Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock and His Men (within shouting distance of this marker); Witness to History (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockville.
Related marker.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, June 14, 2011
2. Red Brick Courthouse Marker - panel on left at the sidewalk,
Additional keywords. Reconstruction
Photographed By Montgomerycountymd.gov
3. Red Brick Courthouse Marker: close-up of the Red Brick Courthouse
4. Red Brick Courthouse Marker: close-up of a receipt reproduced on marker
via Historic Rockville, unknown
5. Rockville’s African American Heritage Walking Tour
City website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,959 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 16, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 5. submitted on May 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
