Since I will be at Mt. Moriah Church to sign books on Saturday, September 22 for its Community and Friends Day at 11 a.m., it seemed appropriate to write a post about both the church and its location in Pleasant Valley. First, here is Pleasant Valley in the summer, looking at Elk Ridge from Crampton's Gap. That's Maryland Heights on the left end of the ridge. Mt. Moriah is in the valley maybe a bit to the left of center. Elie Crampton's farm is to the right of the photograph.
The photograph of Mt. Moriah Church, to the right, was taken at a different time of year. It was built by stonemason Robert Anderson. He not only was one of the church's founders, he also started the first black school in Pleasant Valley after the Civil War when he bought the land for that purpose in 1867. That original school was at a different location. Classes were later moved to this church. Later, the state built a proper school, which is the white structure next to the church. It was still segregated. After the Supreme Court ordered integration, the school was closed. The building was turned over to the church, which uses it for events.
The church keeps a large photograph of Robert Anderson in the basement. You can see not only that as a stonemason Anderson was a powerfully built man but also that he was the kind of man who would have the determination and drive to start a school for the black community as soon as the Civil War was over.
The final photograph in this collection is of Elk Ridge as it appears from the church. "The mountain" as it is called locally isn't very high, but it is steep and therefore seems to loom over the valley. Maryland Heights is at the far left end. That is where the Potomac River cuts through the ridge line, and the town of Harpers Ferry is just past the Heights.
Since I will be at Mt. Moriah Church to sign books on Saturday, September 22 for its Community and Friends Day at 11 a.m., it seemed appropriate to write a post about both the church and its location in Pleasant Valley. First, here is Pleasant Valley in the summer, looking at Elk Ridge from Crampton's Gap. That's Maryland Heights on the left end of the ridge. Mt. Moriah is in the valley maybe a bit to the left of center. Elie Crampton's farm is to the right of the photograph.
The photograph of Mt. Moriah Church, to the right, was taken at a different time of year. It was built by stonemason Robert Anderson. He not only was one of the church's founders, he also started the first black school in Pleasant Valley after the Civil War when he bought the land for that purpose in 1867. That original school was at a different location. Classes were later moved to this church. Later, the state built a proper school, which is the white structure next to the church. It was still segregated. After the Supreme Court ordered integration, the school was closed. The building was turned over to the church, which uses it for events.
The church keeps a large photograph of Robert Anderson in the basement. You can see not only that as a stonemason Anderson was a powerfully built man but also that he was the kind of man who would have the determination and drive to start a school for the black community as soon as the Civil War was over.
The final photograph in this collection is of Elk Ridge as it appears from the church. "The mountain" as it is called locally isn't very high, but it is steep and therefore seems to loom over the valley. Maryland Heights is at the far left end. That is where the Potomac River cuts through the ridge line, and the town of Harpers Ferry is just past the Heights.
How delightful to see this posting about the people of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. When I began researching John Brown memories in 1977, these were the people with the most direct reminiscences to share. You have done a great service with your history of Robert Anderson and the church history.
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