​A decade ago, Frederick hosted several events associated with the Sesquicentennial commemoration of the American Civil War. Chris Haugh was behind the production of an Emmy® award-winning film entitled “Maryland’s Heart of the Civil War." The documentary debuted in 2012 and was produced by MPT (Maryland Public Television), airing on PBS stations nationwide. In this 4-part course, Chris will offer a detailed recap of events that tied Frederick, both city and county, to the greatest political and physical struggle fought to preserve or destroy the young United States of America. Through the use of illustrated PowerPoint presentations, diary entries and anecdotes from newspapers/history accounts and clips from the “Maryland’s Heart of the Civil War” documentary, this course will explore the three major campaigns that came through our area and the direct impact the Civil War had on the local landscape and citizenry. Topics of discussion will include the 1861 State Legislature in Frederick, Rebel Occupation of Frederick, Barbara Fritchie, Battle of South Mountain, Antietam, Lincoln's Visit, Gen. Meade Change of Command, Gettysburg, Hospital Center, Ransoming of Frederick, and the Battle of Monocacy. The classes will be held live online using the Zoom platform. Internet connectivity is required to participate in class via desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. No additional subscription needed as a special link will be emailed to you.

3-part course on consecutive Wednesday evenings 7-9pm 

Optional special, bonus 4th class will consist of a Civil War-themed Twilight Walking Tour of historic Mount Olivet Cemetery. The scheduled date is Wednesday, September 17th from 6-8pm. Meet at Mount Olivet's historic Key Chapel (located 100 yards behind the Francis Scott Key monument and the 515 S. Market St front gate to the cemetery). 

It has been nearly 30 years since local historian Chris Haugh was inspired to produce the 1997 documentary/film entitled “Up from the Meadows: A History of Black Americans in Frederick County, Maryland.”  As the title suggests, this program includes an interesting study of Frederick County Black history through the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, covering the time periods from slavery to emancipation, and segregation to civil rights equality within a divided Maryland.  “Up from the Meadows” features an esteemed group of former residents as on-camera commentators including Kathleen Snowden, William O. Lee, Jr., Lord Nickens, Arnold Delauter and Dr. Blanche Bourne-Tyree to name a few.

Established in 1748, the north-central Maryland environs of Frederick County is a perfect case study for African-American cultural history, as it once represented “a border county within a border state” during the American Civil War, being situated below the Mason-Dixon Line and Pennsylvania to the north, and the Potomac River and Virginia to the south. Repercussions would continue up through the Civil Rights Movement of the mid 20th century.

The multi-part program was produced by Frederick's former cable company, GS Communications, first airing on local Cable Channel 10. It would go on to be the recipient of a Telly Award of programming excellence, along with earning many citations, topped by the 1998 Beacon Award of Excellence, the highest honor in the Cable Telecommunication’s Industry for public affairs outreach and programming.

This course will be taught in four (2-hour long) classes through lecture accompanied by PowerPoint visuals and segments from the documentary, itself. The location for the class will be the Key Memorial Chapel on the grounds of historic Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick. Class #4 will consist of a Black History Walking Tour of Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Frederick, Maryland's 275 year-old+ story is presented in four-parts/classes by award-winning historian/documentarian Chris Haugh. Students will learn about the city's 1745 founding in the backlands of the Maryland colony to its standing today as one of the top residential and tourist destinations in the United States. 

Based on his 1995 documentary "Frederick Town," Chris will lead a passionate exploration through the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries with colorful storytelling and an array of muli-media elements. Participants are guaranteed to gain a better understanding and appreciation of Frederick and past citizens. 

(*NOTE: This class is a special edition reserved for residents and friends of Woodlands of Urbana.)

Based on Chris' video documentary entitled “Sugarloaf: The Quest for Riches and Redemption in the Monocacy Valley” (produced in 2000), this course is a historical journey into the wild environs of today’s Frederick County as it existed between three and four centuries ago.  This encompasses the European Contact and early colonial period (1600’s and early 1700’s), and nicely bridges the pre-history of the region to the point of the1634 founding of Maryland and European habitation over the next century. The course will explore the early American Indian tribes and European explorers and traders that once traversed the area that would eventually see the establishment of Frederick Town in 1745 and Frederick County in 1748. This course will be taught through a variety of film-video excerpts, Power Point-lecture and some good old-fashioned “show and tell.”