November 1 – Voices of the Civil War in Rockville

Jubilee Voices with Abraham Lincoln and Anna Maria Weems
Jubilee Voices, Lincoln, and other actors help celebrate the Sesquicentennial of Maryland Emancipation Day

On November 1, 1864, a new Maryland Constitution went into effect that abolished slavery throughout the State. This occurred about two years after slaves in the District of Columbia were freed by Congress and slaves in Confederate states were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. By abolishing slavery, Maryland became the first state below the Mason-Dixon line to voluntarily free slaves within its boundaries by popular vote.

On November 1, 2014, exactly 150 years later, Washington Revels will help commemorate that day during a 4-hour event at the Beall-Dawson Park in Rockville sponsored by the Montgomery County Historical Society. The Washington Revels Jubilee Voices will perform three 30-minute concerts, and five of the actors who make up our Voices of History – Abraham Lincoln (Scott Sedar), his secretary John Nicolay (Keegan Cassady), fugitive slave Ann Maria Weems (Lauren Du Pree), and prominent African-Americans Enoch George Howard (Harold Blackford) and Harriet Anne Howard (Andrea Blackford) – will speak, pose for photos and interact with attendees. The afternoon will also feature family stories told by descendants of Montgomery County slaves, exhibit of documents and artifacts, and more.

COST: Free and open to the public
DATE/TIME: Saturday, November 1, 2014, Noon to 4:00pm *
* Check back for performance times for Jubilee Voices and the actors.
LOCATION: Beall-Dawson Park, 111 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 <directions & map>
EVENT SITE: www.montgomeryhistory.org