History Spotlight
Entry 7, July: Auburn
Auburn’s surviving records reveal the essential work of Black women and men who sustained the Sandy Spring farm in the nineteenth century. Diaries and account books preserve the stories of Rachel Bellows, Lizzie and Charlotte Budd, Caroline Sedgwick, and others whose labor shaped daily life at Auburn. Read more
Entry 6, June: Bloomfield
Bloomfield was more than just the home of Caleb Bentley and his son Richard T. Bentley, it was a center of opportunity that helped free Black individuals and families in Sandy Spring build businesses, acquire land, and establish lasting roots in the community. Read more
May, Falling Green
Built ca. 1764 for Basil Brooke, Falling Green is representative of the interdependence relied upon by both the Black and White communities of the greater Sandy Spring area. Over successive generations it witnessed the transition from slavery to a wage-labor and tenant-based system of agriculture. Read more
April, Walnut Hill
Free Black laborers and families played a central role in shaping Walnut Hill, living and working alongside the Lea family for more than four decades. Henson Hill, one of the longest-serving workers, later purchased land in Cincinnati and became a founding member of his community, reflecting both resilience and self-determination. Read more
Fairfield and the People of Riverton
Through land ownership, home-building, and careful financial management, Hill established lasting stability for his family, while Bond’s enlistment reflects the hope and determination that a lot of Black men felt as they looked towards the Civil War as a path for improving their condition. Read more
Black Meadows and the Foundations of Sandy Spring
Built ca. 1848, Black Meadows is significant for its role within the interconnection of the Black and White communities that shaped nineteenth-century Sandy Spring. Rather than hold enslaved individuals, the Peirces employed at least thirty-eight free Black persons who worked in exchange for cash, foodstuff, and barter. Read more