Town of Upper Marlboro Celebrates Black History Month

Upper Marlboro Black History Month Fact:

Columbia Air Center

The first African-American-owned and operated airfield in Maryland, if not the nation, was licensed in 1941 by John W. Greene, Jr., a pioneer in black aviation. He was instrumental in developing the airfield originally called Riverside Field.

Occupied by the U.S. Navy during World War II, the airfield reopened as Columbia Air Center, offering a flying school, charter services, and a maintenance shop. The first African-American Civil Air Patrol Squadron in the Washington, D.C. area was formed here.

The site is located within Patuxent River Park which is owned and operated by The Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission. This site is currently used for agricultural purposes and none of the buildings or runways that once stood on the site are extant; interpretive signage tells the story of the historic airport and provides a map of the airfield when it was in use.

Columbia Air Center- 16000 Croom Airport Road Upper Marlboro MD

*Information provided by MNCPPC http://www.mncppc.org/3181/Columbia-Air-Center

Join PGParks History in celebrating Black History Month and the work of quilter Vera Hall at Darnall's Chance House Museum. In her "We Didn't Wait For Freedom" quilt series, Hall bridges the gap between history and her love of textiles with her quilt creations honoring the lives of famous African Americans whose actions inspired change in America.

Also on display will be quilt blocks made by members of the Uhuru Quilters Guild of Prince George's County. This guild was founded in 1994 to promote the works of African American quilters and preserve the tradition, culture, and history of quilting.

Free admission to view the exhibit. No advanced registration is required. Free on-site parking. Museum tours are an extra fee.

The museum is open to view the exhibit on the following days and times:

Tuesdays - Thursdays: 10 am - 3 pm

Fridays and Sundays: 12 Noon - 4pm

Mondays & Saturdays: Closed

More info visit: https://www.pgparks.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=21624

February Events Committee Meeting Is Blended!

Town Hall & Zoom

Time: Mar 2, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time

Join Zoom Meeting

https://uppermarlboromd-gov.zoom.us/j/88255092412?pwd=emVwWW0vS0RpTStvTWNyUEk4Z2F2UT09

Meeting ID: 882 5509 2412

Passcode: 459984

One tap mobile

+13017158592

Meeting ID: 882 5509 2412

Passcode: 459984

Downtown Upper Marlboro

Sidewalk Upgrades Continues:

Contractors are continuing to update sidewalks in downtown Upper Marlboro. They are currently upgrading the sidewalks in from of Marlboro Grille (still open during construction, just use the Cafe entrance!)

Anticipate lane and sidewalk closures, as these improvements are completed in early April 2023.

This is a part of the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) $982,000 sidewalk improvement project along MD 725 (Main Street) from west of Service Lane to the east of Governor Oden Bowie Drive in Downtown Upper Marlboro.

The pedestrian accessibility upgrade work includes:

-Constructing curb, gutter, sidewalk, and pedestrian ramps.

-Installing rectangular rapid-flashing beacons, signage and pavement markings.

-Reconstructing driveways.

Click on the photo above for more information.

True Crime Book Discussion

"Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime" by Candace Fleming

Monday, February 27, 2023

12:00pm - 2:00pm

Upp e r Marlboro Library

Large Meeting Room

Discuss a true crime book. This month we are discussing "Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime" by Candace Fleming

About the book

In 1924, eighteen-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb made a decision: they would commit the perfect crime by kidnapping and murdering a child they both knew. But they made one crucial error: as they were disposing of the body of young Bobby Franks, whom they had bludgeoned to death, Nathan’s eyeglasses fell from his jacket pocket.

Multi-award-winning author Candace Fleming depicts every twist and turn of this harrowing case–how two wealthy, brilliant young men planned and committed what became known as the crime of the century, how they were caught, why they confessed, and how the renowned criminal defense attorney Clarence Darrow enabled them to avoid the death penalty.

Following on the success of such books as The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh and The Family Romanov, this acclaimed nonfiction writer brings to heart-stopping life one of the most notorious crimes in our country’s history.