People Sarah Kilmon People Sarah Kilmon

Isaiah Fountain

: Isaiah Fountain was a bold and resourceful African American farmer from Trappe who became the central figure in one of the biggest news stories to occur in Talbot County. In 1919 the Easton Star-Democrat wrote that the Isaiah Fountain case was "one of the most noted in the State's annals." A century later, lawyer and author, Sherrilyn Ifill wrote that the Fountain case "was one of the most notorious on the [Eastern] Shore during the early part of the twentieth century. Ifill also wrote that the case also involved Talbot County's largest incident of mob violence in its history. Today Isaiah Fountain's case is little known.

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People Sarah Kilmon People Sarah Kilmon

The story of Nathaniel Nace Hopkins

To continue Black History Month coverage, WMDT presents the life of Nathan Nace Hopkins. The man who helped enslaved people in Talbot County become free. He did that not only physically, but mentally, and emotionally. His great-great-grandchild, Dale Kevin Brown, said his significance to the area is enormous.

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Story Sarah Kilmon Story Sarah Kilmon

Talbot County’s United States Colored Troops fought with valor and honor

Though President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued on Jan. 1, 1863, did not free the enslaved people in Maryland, it allowed African Americans throughout the nation to serve in the Union Army as part of the United States Colored Troops. This gave Black Americans the opportunity to fight not only for their nation, but also for their freedom and citizenship — and fight they did.

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People Sarah Kilmon People Sarah Kilmon

Thelma Alford

Thelma Alfred was a dedicated educator and civil rights leader who founded the Talbot County NAACP in 1949, leading efforts for desegregation and racial equality. Her lifelong commitment to education, activism, and community service left a lasting impact on Talbot County.

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People Sarah Kilmon People Sarah Kilmon

Nathaniel “Nace” Hopkins

Nathaniel “Nace” Hopkins, known as "Uncle Nace," was a man of resilience, leadership, and vision. Born into slavery around 1830 in Trappe, Maryland, his life was marked by a determination to uplift his community.

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Place Sarah Kilmon Place Sarah Kilmon

The Water’s Edge Museum marks four years of Black history and community

The Water’s Edge Museum (WEM) in Oxford, Maryland, is gearing up to celebrate its fourth anniversary on Saturday, February 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. This milestone marks its unique place as Talbot County’s first African American museum and the first on the Eastern Shore directed by a woman of African descent. The event promises to be both a celebration of history and a tribute to the community’s roots.

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