HISTORY OF CHURCH LANE
OAKLAND PARK ROAD
AND WINANDS ROAD
Randallstown, Maryland has been in existence for hundreds and hundreds of years. Within this community in Baltimore County are three historic African American communities that have been in existence since the slavery era: Church Lane, Oakland Park Road and Winands Road. To give one some idea of just how long African Americans have been free in this area, the only African American church in the area for generations have been Union Bethel A.M.E. Church. It was due to the generousity of White people in the area that in 1822, gave land to the free African Americans in the area to have a place to worship and to bury their dead. Since 1822, both Union Bethel A.M.E. Church and the small cemetery behind the original church on Liberty Road, maintained by the Baltimore County Beneficial Society has been active. At one point in time, the Society built a Lodge, called St. Thomas Lodge that was located behind the church that served as a school house for the African American children in the area.
Union Bethel A.M.E. Church located in Randallstown. The church has been
active since 1822, and was once used as a safehouse on the Underground
Railroad St. Thomas Lodge, built by the Baltimore County Beneficial
Society in 1885 as a school for the African American children in the area.
St. Thomas Lodge.
Mrs. Ruth Dorsey shared stories passed down from her grandmother of
slaves hiding under a bridge near Windsor Mill Road waiting for the
nighttime to arrive. She resided on Old Court Road for many years.
Mrs. Ruth Waters Johnson who was born and reared on Chickory Hill Road
in Randallstown, and still reside there. She resided for a while on
historic Oakland Park Road, and told of a tavern that was on that road
during the early part of the 1900s.