WAYNESBORO, Pa. – One down, a few more to go.
Doug Stine just checked an item off his bucket list with the recent publication of “A History of the Black Community of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, ‘From Civil War to Civil Rights.’”
The idea for the book first began after a conversation in the 1990s with another local historian interested in the subject who wanted Stine’s assistance. “I didn’t think I could do it because I was working 10-hour days,” noted the Waynesboro man, who describes himself as “a lover of local history.” Stine was a draftsman designer at Volvo North America (Mack Trucks) in Hagerstown for 44 years before retiring in 2015.
Fast forward to a Christmas present from daughter Amy. “It’s called Storywork, where I was asked a question every week and had to write a small story. There were 50 of them. It’s a legacy to leave to my family and inspired me that I could write a book. I don’t have the vocabulary, but what I do have is a daughter with an English degree. I think she went through three red pencils while proofreading, but I think it turned out very well.”
Stine said the book needed to be written because “every community surrounding Waynesboro has a book, museum, tour or program emphasizing the history and contributions of its Black citizens. No one has ever written a book on Waynesboro’s Black community. I was a little apprehensive … a white person writing about the Black community, but when I thought, ‘I’m not writing on culture, I’m writing on history,’ it didn’t take me long to decide.”
Stine began the process by reviewing the notes of the late historian, Dean Calimer, and then conducting research at Waynesboro Historical Society and Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library, where he pored over newspaper articles. He also spoke with other area local history authors.
Photos of St. Paul AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church, 30 W. King St., are featured prominently on both covers. “The reason is because since 1890 it has been the one thing that has remained so constant and crucial to the Waynesboro Black community,” according to Stine.
The church also is the beneficiary of all sales. “The book costs $15, and all the money goes to AME church for its building fund. I wanted to give something back to the community,” added Stine, who purchased 500 copies of the book printed by Mercersburg Printing. I’m getting ready to give them their first installment (from the sales). Hopefully it’s the first of five. This will give them a foundation. They want to put a kitchen on the back (of the church).”
During his research, Stine and his wife, Deb, became good friends with Kay (Snively) Washington of Carlisle, a former Waynesboro resident, who is the historian of the church. “She is still very active in the church and provided me with an incredible amount of history and lent me her scrapbooks. She did so much for me.”
Stine said he and his wife attended a service at the church. “We’ve never felt so welcome in our lives. They called us brother and sister. Everyone came up and talked to us.”
Stine also spoke about the history of the church with Chip Lowman, a former local resident who lives in Hawaii. “He is the son of the late Rev. Phillip Leroy Lowman, a former pastor of the church. “He even drew a caricature of me for my Facebook page,” he added.
Topics of the book, which also includes numerous photos, include census records, notable Waynesboro Black citizens, and excerpts from early Waynesboro newspapers, as well as what Stine refers to as “the good, the bad and the ugly. The good is the underground railroad, the bad is the KKK and the ugly is slavery. It’s history. It happened, and we have to know the past,” he said.
“Any kind of history that you could have – Native American, Revolutionary War, Civil War – you can find right here in ‘little old Waynesboro,’” added Stine who’s also participated in local archaeological digs. “I’ve also done a lot of people’s genealogy.”
Stine has fond memories of the day he and Deb picked up the books. “To see those boxes being loaded into the car …. It gave me a sensation in my heart, and Deb said, ‘I’m really proud of you.’ It doesn’t get any better than that. His next book will focus on Rouzerville and surrounding area “because, again, no one‘s ever written about it. I also have ideas for other ones and would like to write one a year,” added Stine, who volunteers at Waynesboro Historical Society and is a member of many historical groups in the area.
To order the book, readers may contact Stine on Facebook or:
