Local documentary about history of African American mutual aid societies premieres in downtown Bethesda June 3
A documentary short film exploring the vital role that African American benevolent societies played during the era of racial segregation in Maryland will premiere at the Round House Theater in Bethesda on the evening of Tuesday June 3rd.
“Help Us to Help Each Other, Lord: The Story of Morningstar Tabernacle No. 88 of Cabin John, Maryland,” written and directed by local historian L. Paige Whitley, recounts the history of the Order of Moses lodge, located on what is now Seven Locks Road.
Ticket sales will help the non-profit Friends of Moses Hall restore and preserve the historic Morningstar Tabernacle No. 88 Cemetery and Hall site.
Following the film there will be a panel discussion featuring Chris Haley, Director of the Legacy of Slavery Program in Maryland at
the Maryland State Archives; Dr. Kami Fletcher, a Death Scholar who centers her research on African American deathways; Lisa Fager, who leads the preservation and commemoration of the oldest intact Black cemeteries in DC; and Dr. Elgin Klugh, President of a non-profit focused on researching and memorializing Baltimore’s Laurel Cemetery.
To purchase tickets, view the movie trailer, and read more about the panelists, visit:
https://www.friendsofmoseshall.org/helpustohelpeachother-docfilm
Join us in celebrating the coming arrival of summer at the Bethesda Meeting House Sunday June 8th!
You’ll have an opportunity to tour the buildings and learn more about the history of this amazing place. You can bring your gloves, garden tools, rakes, shovels and battery-powered leaf blowers to help us garden.
We look forward to seeing you. No need to RSVP. Ample parking is available. We’re at 9400 Rockville Pike, accessible only when driving south towards NIH. See you then!
Watch 2024's fabulous start
to the preservation of the Bethesda Meeting House!
A huge thank you to the dozens of volunteers who made 2024 such an incredible year for the Bethesda Historical Society and Bethesda Meeting House Foundation. As you can see from this video, we accomplished an amazing amount and we could not have done it without you!
We're always interested in Bethesda memorabilia
Do you have a copy of a history or reminiscences about your Bethesda neighborhood or your street?
Do you collect historical artifacts of Bethesda life that you’d like to share with the community? Do you have videos of past Bethesda?
Are you interested in recording an oral history of your memories of Bethesda?
The Bethesda Historical Society would like to talk with you!
Email us at bethesdahistory@gmail.com
Past, Present and Future of the
Bethesda Meeting House
Watch Hank Levine, president of the Bethesda Meeting House Foundation, present an illustrated tour of this iconic building’s history, architecture and significance.
Click here to watch it on Youtube.
Hank’s presentation begins at the 3:10 mark.
Support the Bethesda Meeting House Foundation!
The Bethesda Meeting House Foundation is raising funds through Garden for Wildlife native plant sales. This is a “feel good, do good” fundraiser that helps our organization not only earn much needed financial resources but it also helps our community!
The Bethesda Meeting House will earn 15 percent of all plant sales when you use our unique sales link:
Contact us at bethesdahistory@gmail.com
Bethesda Historical Society
4300 Montgomery Avenue #104
Bethesda, MD 20814
Office is open by appointment