Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Jerusalem - Mt. Pleasant Church and Parsonage
21 & 17 Wood Lane
— Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour —
Photographed By Tom Fuchs, June 19, 2010
1. Jerusalem-Mount Pleasant Marker
Racial tensions between African American and white church members peaked immediately before the Civil War. Pro-slavery parishioners joined the M. E. Church South in 1863. By 1868 the predominately African American M. E. Church North owned this property. This church had African American parishioners, slaves and free men but was segregated. White worshipers entered the front door and sat in the sanctuary while African Americans used a separate entrance and sat upstairs in the gallery. Some African American parishioners protested this racist system by refusing to attend church, listening from outside the window. The Parsonage was built in 1912 from trees harvested by the congregation at a church-owned lot in Poolesville. The Reverend James Cole, his wife Lila and their nine children lived here. These two buildings are among the few remaining historic church and parsonage units left in Montgomery County.
Erected by City of Rockville, Historic District Commission, Department of Community Planning and Development Services. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A different marker also named Jerusalem - Mt. Pleasant Church and Parsonage (here, next to this marker); Hebron House and Print Shop (a few steps from this marker); Rockville Methodist Episcopal Church - Jerusalem Mount Pleasant United United Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Galilean Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Lucy Simpson's Rockville Institute (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mr. T's (about 400 feet away); Williams-Wilson House (about 400 feet away); Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockville.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
Also see . . .
1. Jerusalem - Mount Pleasant UMC History. Church website entry (Submitted on July 3, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
2. Jerusalem M. E. Church
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, June 19, 2011
2. Jerusalem - Mount Pleasant Church and Parsonage Marker
3. Jerusalem M. E. Parsonage. Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties (PDF) (Submitted on July 3, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
4. Walking Tour of Rockville's African American Heritage. City website entry (PDF) (Submitted on July 4, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, June 29, 2013
3. West Montgomery Historic District
Jerusalem - Mount Pleasant Church and Parsonage Marker
Jerusalem - Mount Pleasant Church and Parsonage Marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, June 29, 2013
4. Jerusalem - Mount Pleasant Church
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, June 29, 2013
5. Jerusalem - Mount Pleasant Church Parsonage
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2010, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,238 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 22, 2010, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 2. submitted on June 19, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 3, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
