HAGERSTOWN – The Friends of Halfway African American Cemetery will hold its annual fundraiser in Hagerstown on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 3-5 p.m. The public is invited to attend this event for an afternoon of fellowship and to witness the progress made at the cemetery since its restoration began in March 2020.
Join descendants, historians and archeologists at this significant resting place for a silent auction, tours, entertainment and light refreshments. Proceeds from the fundraiser will foster the ongoing preservation of this African American cemetery.
The cemetery was founded in 1897 by the Perseverance Lodge No. 3 Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria, a black fraternal organization in Hagerstown. It served the Jonathan Street community for over three decades, with the last burial taking place in 1933. The cemetery also contains burials dating back to 1844, and it is believed these remains were relocated to Halfway from the Bethel/Ebenezer A.M.E Church cemetery on Bethel Street in Hagerstown.
On the cemetery’s website (halfwayafricanamericancemetery.org), a list of the known 400 burials is detailed for people who want to research their descendants. These burials include 14 Civil War veterans and one man who served in World War I. The cemetery is also the final resting place for a cross-section of Hagerstown’s citizens from that era, which includes musicians, domestic workers, infants, property owners, a pastor, a nurse, a civil servant and a teacher. Research continues on the burials at Halfway, and several descendants serve on the FHAAC board.
The cemetery was originally six acres, but after the Samaritan lodge became inactive, most of the land was sold to a developer in 1944, and this 1100 block of Clinton Avenue was later converted into a housing development. This real estate transaction left only one acre for the cemetery, which was largely hidden and tucked between suburban yards. In recent decades, the cemetery was inaccessible and mostly forgotten, with overgrown vegetation and downed trees. Most of the original tombstones were moved, and the remaining stones were damaged, leaving the cemetery in deplorable condition.
Restoration efforts began in 2020, and the results have been remarkable. Volunteers cleared brush, helped clean the remaining headstones and installed fencing. The site’s landscaping was regularly maintained, and ground-penetrating radar was used to locate gravesites. In 2024, a significant achievement was the creation of a new street entry, which gave the public access to the cemetery for the first time in decades.
The Halfway cemetery project was funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. This successful restoration uncovered a unique history lesson, and it preserves a cultural legacy in Hagerstown. But the work continues, and the non-profit FHAAC volunteers and board members are dedicated to maintaining the positive momentum they established the past five years. The group schedules regular cemetery cleanups and other restorative events.
Like any burial ground, a visit to Halfway African American Cemetery is a journey back in time, providing glimpses into the customs of remembrance, which include period styles of monuments and graveside stonework. An exploration at Halfway also creates the impetus to learn more about the people who rest here, along with the enjoyment of a natural setting that offers solitude and time for reflection.
Tickets for the Roots & Stones event are $25 and can be purchased on the FHAAC’s Zeffy page (https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/tickets/roots-and-stones-2025-an-afternoon-in-the-cemetery) or by mailing a check to FHAAC at 411 Belview Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21741. The cemetery is located at 11027 Clinton Ave. in Hagerstown. The rain date for the event is Sunday, Sept. 14, from 3-5 p.m.
