~~~~The Old Liner~~~~
- Online edition of newsletter -

Robert Ford, Interim Editor
Future Meetings: 4th Tuesday of each month
January 27, 2026, February 24, March 24, April 28, May 26, June 23, July 28, August 25, September 22, October 27, November 24, December 8.
(Time: Doors open at 7:00, Business meeting and Speaker: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Hiss United Methodist Church, 8700 Harford Rd, Parkville, MD 21234 (from the beltway (I-695) the church will be on your right. Pull into the upper parking lot-the lot just before the church building- and walk to the semi-circle at the front. Enter the first door on the right, go up the stairs to the second floor and turn right to the library (rm #208).
 
Views expressed in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of members as a whole,
nor do they represent a position taken by the Baltimore Civil War Roundtable.
Next Meeting: May 26, 2026

PLEASE ATTEND IN PERSON (if you can). Our speaker is coming from Lancaster, Pa. Surely you can come a few miles. 

 

September 11, 1851, an armed confrontation between people, mainly from Maryland, occurred about 20 miles north of the Maryland /Pennsylvania border.  Commonly called The Christiana Resistance, this action between self-emancipated Blacks and slave owners/supporters made national headlines and became one of those contributing factors leading up to the American Civil War a decade later.

 

Learn details about this historical event by joining the Baltimore Civil War Roundtable as we host history Interpreter, reenactor and Christiana Resistant descendant Darlene A. Colon on Tuesday May 26, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be in the library of Hiss United Methodist Church, 8700 Harford Road, Parkville Md., 21234. (From the beltway (I-695) the church will be on your right. Pull into the upper parking lot-the lot just before the church building- and walk to the semi-circle at the front. Enter the first door on the right, go up the stairs to the second floor and turn left then right into the library (rm #208).

 

Darlene Colon is the current President of the Christiana Historical Society and a direct descendant of one of the participants in the 1851 Christiana Resistance. She is also the Vice President of the United States Colored Troops Institute which is based at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY and Founding member and Past President of the African American Historical Society of South-Central Pennsylvania.

 

Darlene Colon also conducts genealogy workshops, as well as performs 1st person interpretations of the only known female Buffalo Soldier, Kathay Williams in addition to local Lancaster businesswoman Lydia Hamilton Smith.

 

A resident of Lancaster, Darlene Colon is a member of the Pennsylvania Past Players, a living history group created by the Cultural and Heritage Tourism Office of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Tourism.

 

Demonstrating her ability to engage and share what she knows, she speaks about her great-great-grandfather, Abraham Quamony, as if she knew him and recites his service record with ease: A resident of Conestoga, he was born in March, 1837. He enlisted in the 24th Regiment on February 13, 1865 at Philadelphia, probably at Camp William Penn. He became a corporal and he saw service around the Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia area. Abraham Quamony was mustered out of service in October, 1865.

 

Ms. Colon’s great-great uncle, John Thompson who lived in Colerain Township, Lancaster, became a member of the 3rd USCT, Company B. He enlisted in June 1863, Ms. Colon says, and was the son of Ezekiel Thompson, one of the resistance fighters at Christiana in 1851. The so-called Christiana Resistance/Uprising are believed by many, Ms. Colon suggested, to be one of the most important moments in history leading to the Civil War.

 

Remember, join the BCWRT as we host Darlene A. Colon in a discussion about the Christiana Resistance at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Hiss United Methodist Church. If you can’t attend in person, register for the Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LbwmvGefTwegy2qEPONdDQ

 

 Gorsuch Tavern marker on York Road

   

 

 

      

      Darlene A. Colon


 

 Notes from the President


Spring has sprung or so it seems. The very The temperature makes it seem, At times, like winter is still here. What's crazy is that the most recent forecast that I hear is predicting summer like temperatures this month1 Imagine how the civil war combatants dealt with those crazy changes in the weather.

 

Last month we had a change in our meeting plans due to the unfortunate death of general Ty Seidule’s father. We will reschedule with general Seidule as soon as possible. If needed, we may do two meetings in one month.

 

We thank all of you who provided suggestions for increasing our roundtable membership at last month's Unplanned business meeting. The board will look into implementing some of those suggestions. If you have any additional ideas, please let me know at Rfordjazz@yahoo.com.

 

We urge you to attend our May 26 meeting in person. Darlene Colon will make a presentation on the 1851 Christiana resistance. If you've ever driven along York Rd. In Baltimore County you may have seen a commemorative sign for the gorsuch Tavern. The gorsuch family, William Parker and many others from Maryland played an important role in this southern Pennsylvania action against the 1850 fugitive slave act.

 

Darlene Cologne was with us a few years ago when she gave her first person interpretation ohh civil war activist Lydia Hamilton Smith. Lydia Hamilton Smith Lydia Hamilton Smith.

 

Remember, as well as sending your membership checks to our treasurer frank arminger, 42 Norwick Circle, Timonium. MD. 21093. you can also Pay for your membership with an electronic transfer through the zelle platform. Our zelle e-mail is farmiger@verizon.net. Yearly membership is $25 per individual and $35 per family. 
     
Links:   May News Articles    Previous Meetings 

Annual Dues Notice

Dues for the Baltimore Civil War Roundtable are due at the beginning of each Calendar Year. Please make check payable to
BCWRT and mail to:

Frank Armiger, 42 Norwick Circle, Timonium. MD. 21093, 410-591-9977.
NEW  >>> Effective 2/11/2026 You may pay your dues via your banking app or website that supports Zelle.  Send dues to farmiger@verizon.net  using Zelle.

NAME ____________________________________________$25 IND ___ $35 FAM ___ PHONE ___________

 

ADDRESS __________________________________________________EMAIL ______________________

Note: If you would like your membership card mailed to you please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Otherwise, you can pick it up at the meeting.