Nathaniel “Uncle Nace” Hopkins was born enslaved on the Eastern Shore, served with the U.S. Colored Troops, and came home to help build churches, schools, roads—and Maryland’s first Emancipation Day celebration in 1867. This tradition still lives on in Trappe from that moment on. In this Spy interview, volunteer leaders Dale Kevin Brown and Paul Callahan talk about why his story matters now and how the community is keeping it alive.
They preview this year’s events: Saturday, November 1, in Trappe—10:00 a.m. service at Scotts United Methodist Church, a library dedication at Nathaniel “Uncle Nace” Hopkins Park, food and activities, a 1:00 p.m. parade, and the 2:00 p.m. living-history performance, Uncle Nace: The Day Freedom Came. A second performance follows Monday, November 3, 5:30 p.m., at the Oxford Community Center (free; RSVP at oxfordcc.org).
This video is approximately four minutes in length.
Saturday November 1st
10:00 am – Service at Scotts United Methodist (UM) Church – 3748 Main Street, Trappe
11:30 am – Library Dedication at Nathaniel “Uncle Nace” Hopkins Park
12:00 pm – Food, Vendors and Activities at Scotts UM Church Grounds
1:00 pm – Parade – Main Street, Trappe
2:00 pm – Theatrical Performance: “Uncle Nace: The Day Freedom Came”- Scotts UM Church
Monday November 3rd
5:30 pm – Theatrical Performance: “Uncle Nace: The Day Freedom Came” – The Oxford
Community Center, Oxford – Free but Please RSVP at www.oxfordcc.org
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.