Jonathan Street Archeology Hagerstown

A log cabin with significant ties to Hagerstown’s African American community is the subject of research this week for the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA). MDOT SHA archaeologists are in Washington County to study artifacts from the cabin at 417 Jonathan St., Hagerstown, which is estimated to be at least 180 years old.
“Preserving and recording history is a little-known part of our responsibilities at MDOT SHA,” said Administrator Tim Smith. “It is such an honor to be involved in a project that will teach us more about the story of Hagerstown’s roots in Maryland. Our transportation network connects us to life's current opportunities and also our past history.”
MDOT SHA is partnering with Preservation Maryland, the statewide historic preservation nonprofit, which recently purchased and plans to refurbish the cabin. Throughout the week, MDOT SHA chief archaeologist Julie Schablitsky is on site working to determine the cabin’s age, who once lived there and what life was like for those residents.
In addition to the property’s long connection to the African American community, the cabin may have once belonged to Hagerstown’s founder, Jonathan Hager.
“We want to know what these artifacts can tell us about the first citizens of Hagerstown,” Schablitsky said. “The cabin is in the center of an African American neighborhood that was once the main street through Hagerstown. We’re looking at the evolution of Jonathan Street, the cabin and how moving a major transportation route away from that space impacted the neighborhood.”
Black-owned businesses once thrived along Jonathan Street and some were listed in the Green Book, a guide that identified safe spaces for African American travelers during segregation. The cabin at 417 Jonathan St. had been condemned until Preservation Maryland bought the structure as part of a plan to revitalize the community.
Once this week’s research is complete, it will take MDOT SHA archaeologists months of lab study and analysis to make any determination about the property’s history.

[@bless4life710]

I lived there 2009

[@CSAccetura]

I can trace my genealogy directly to Jonathan Hager

[@betsypoole-vancuraphotosan3463]

Please preserve this home and its history it is so important to the future to honor the past and education about the past enriches everyone. My feeling is it should be turned into a museum honoring that neighborhood and its importance to the community. I recently retired from Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright house in PA and moved with my husband to Hagerstown. I marvel every day the the wonderful historic buildings in this area. I would love to lend my expertise if it is turned into a museum. I was wondering too if you have or use volunteers.

[@meritanebeausejour461]

Hi Betsy,
My husband and I have the intention to move to Hagerstown. What do you like most over there? Is there anything you wish you knew before you moved in there?

[@betsypoole-vancuraphotosan3463]

@@meritanebeausejour461 We love it here! it is a small manageable city and has great amenities/ stores. Active Arts community (I have gone back to painting in retirement) and the Maryland opera is based in Hagerstown. It is also a diverse community which we really like. Homes here are much less expensive then closer to DC however DC area is only 1 hour away. Good transportation routes because it is at the crossroads of I-70 and I-81. We purchased a house in the Oak Hill Historic district and its a great place to live. Has a good city park and museum too! Hope this helps. I would be glad to answer your questions and give guidance if you need it.

[@meritanebeausejour461]

Thank you so much, Betsy. I appreciate your comment. I went to Hagerstown yesterday, and unfortunately, I did not like the houses that the realtor showed me as they were not like the pictures. One was in Hollywood rd and sunset ave which I like the neighborhoods, especially the city park view. What do you think about Virginia St? Is it a good neighborhood? I saw one property that might interest me there.

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

I have no problem with saving this historic home but Hagerstown has torn down plenty of other historic buildings over the years including one in the downtown that dated back to the 1820s or 1830s. The downtown has vacant lots where buildings once stood and nothing replaced them. Like this house, they should also have been preserved. Unfortunately Hagerstown has some politicians who want to tear down half the town.

[@WesByrdTV2]

Broadway