Real Estate Developer Partners with African American Descendants, Community and Civil Rights Activists to Honor Historic Burial Site
BETHESDA, MD — Recently, a coalition of civil rights activists, historians, county officials, and business leaders met to discuss a Phase I plan to memorialize the historic African American burial site known as White’s Tabernacle №39 Cemetery on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland. The history of those buried at the site can be traced back to the early 1900s. Family records indicate they built schools, homes, small businesses, a cemetery and belonged to the benevolent society known as Ancient United Order Sons and Daughters Brothers and Sisters of Moses.
Representatives from Bethesda Self-Storage Partners (BSSP), and Friends of Moses Hall, Descendants of the Order of Moses, briefed the county’s Department of Parks and Planning on their plans to honor the proud history and legacy of a community once forgotten. The Coalition has also invited the local NAACP and representatives of the Montgomery County School System to participate in planning efforts. The Coalition’s goal is to work collaboratively in creating a memorial to illustrate, educate and accurately tell the story of the first known African American settlers in Bethesda.
“The history and legacy of African American burial sites in Montgomery County have gone silent for too long,” said Kelly McKone of Bethesda Self-Storage Partners/1784 Capital Partners. “We are excited to partner with the descendants of Order of Moses and other relevant members of the community to help memorialize and celebrate their ancestor’s contributions to this area and across the entire county.”
The Friends of Moses descendant community details their family history back to the early 1880s when a small group of African American families purchased land from a white landowner. By 1885, their descendants formed the first documented Order of Moses benevolent society and cemetery in Montgomery County, naming it Morningstar Tabernacle №88. In the early 1900s, members from Morningstar Tabernacle №88 were instrumental in helping their extended families to organize and build communities in Montgomery County, including White’s Tabernacle №39 of the Order of Moses in 1911, which initially was based in the Tenleytown area of Washington, DC. From 1911 to 1958, this community on River Road prospered.
“Honoring the legacy and role our ancestors played in building Montgomery County is very important to us,” said Diane Baxter, a community activist and Descendant of the Order of Moses. “We look forward to working with coalition members and others who are interested in telling the truth about the proud and rich history of African Americans in this county.”
Since coming to Bethesda, BSSP has worked closely with local elected officials, quasi-governmental organizations, and churches whose mission it is to make Montgomery County a better place to live for everyone. In December 2020, BSSP donated $25,000 to Church in Bethesda to help meet the food insecurity and housing needs of residents impacted by COVID. Church in Bethesda works in partnership with Bethesda Cares to feed the homeless and help with rental assistance.
BSSP has asked the community coalition to develop creative concepts for the site. Preliminary Phase I ideas include display cases chronicling African Americans’ arrival in the Bethesda community, a seating area for visitors, and a 200-foot painted mural celebrating the accomplishments and contributions African Americans have made in Bethesda and Montgomery County. Phase I plans will be revealed early Summer 2021.
###
