Exhibits / Collections

 

Our History through Artifacts and Documents

COLLECTIONS 

The HRSC collection focuses on the history of Rocky Springs School House and Chapel and on the  people and events associated with them, and is held in trust by HRSC for the education of the public. Information about the HRSC collection is made available on HRSC’s website and in its archives, and through educational exhibits, programming and publications. By maintaining this collections focus, HRSC serves the public by preserving the historic memory of the Rocky Springs area of Frederick County, Maryland, heightens the awareness and enjoyment of its rich cultural legacy, and stimulates the study of connections between Rocky Springs’ past and the broader historical themes of Frederick County, the State of Maryland, and the United States.

HRSC’s collections management program includes evaluating, documenting, storing, moving and maintaining artifacts; researching artifacts and their related topics to develop interpretative exhibits and educational publications and programs; and conserving and preserving historical objects using appropriate conservation and restoration techniques.  HRSC’s collection encompasses a broad range of objects and while the number of artifacts in the HRSC collection is currently small, HRSC is confident that over time, its collection will continue to grow and it will become the community’s primary repository of artifacts pertaining to the history of Rocky Springs Chapel and  School House and the people and events associated with them. Following is a brief description of some of the objects in the HRSC collection:

*Wooden Church Sign: A wooden sign that once hung on the exterior of Rocky Springs Chapel. Although the date of its manufacture is unknown, it appears in photographs taken of the Chapel as early as 1920.

Chapel Sign
Wooden sign that once hung on the exterior of Rocky Springs Chapel
Harry Free and his wife, Estie Kline Free
Former Rocky Springs Chapel trustee, Harry M. Free (1886-1971) and his wife Estie M. (Kline) Free (1892-1965) standing near the sign on Rocky Springs Chapel circa 1939

*School-House Bell:

Rocky Springs School House bell made circa 1839

The bell that hung in the bell tower of Rocky Springs School House until about 1990, when it was removed to prevent its collapse into the building’s interior due to rotting support beams. The bell was likely cast circa 1839 when the school-house was constructed.


*Teacher’s Chair:  A chair manufactured by the J. S. F. J. & Company between 1867 and 1913. Two “revolving screw” teacher’s chairs similar to the one in the HRSC collection are pictured in the book “School-Houses” by James Johonnot, published in 1871.

Teacher's Chair prior to conservation
Teacher’s Chair prior to conservation
Teacher's Chair side view-After conservation
Teacher’s Chair side view-After conservation
Teacher's Chair Leg Details-After conservation
Teacher’s Chair Leg Details-After conservation
Teachers Chair back view-After Conservation
Teachers Chair back view-After Conservation

*Sunday School Honor School Certificate:  A certificate presented to the Rocky Springs Union Sunday School on September 20, 1918, by the Frederick County Sunday School Association, for “having rendered its Annual Statistical Report and contributed at least three cents a Member” for the year 1918.

 

1918 Sunday School Certificate
Sunday School Certificate for the year 1918

*Wooden Collection Plate with Red Interior Lining (front, back and side views)(date unknown).

Collection Plate With Red Interior Lining-Front View
Collection Plate With Red Interior Lining-Front View
Collection Plate With Red Interior Lining-Side View
Collection Plate With Red Interior Lining-Side View
Collection Plate With Red Interior Lining-Back View
Collection Plate With Red Interior Lining-Back View

*Wooden Collection Plate with Green Interior Lining (front, back and side views)(date unknown).

Collection Plate With Green Interior Lining-Front View
Collection Plate With Green Interior Lining-Front View
Collection Plate With Green Interior Lining-Side View
Collection Plate With Green Interior Lining-Side View
Collection Plate With Green Interior Lining-Back View
Collection Plate With Green Interior Lining-Back View

*Teacher’s Cast Iron Hand Bell with Eagle Handle: (date unknown)

Cast Iron Teacher's Hand Bell with Eagle Handle
Cast Iron Teacher’s Hand Bell with Eagle Handle

*Religious Books:  HRSC has numerous books in its collection that were used by former members of the Rocky Springs Chapel congregation, to include The Holy Bible, various church hymnals and books containing sermons and other religious topics. Some of the books are inscribed by past members of the  congregation. Pictured here are three books in the HRSC collection:

“The Forgiveness of Sins and Other Sermons” by George Adam Smith Copyright 1906
“Exalt His Name”  A Hymnal Edited by I H Meredith Copyright 1936
“Church Service Hymns” Copyright 1948

*Wooden Bookcase with Engraved Brass Plate Honoring Dorothy Free Putman (1909-1959), a former member of the Rocky Springs Chapel congregation:

Engraved Brass Plate on Bookcase Honoring Dorothy Free Putman 1909-1959

*Engraved Brass Wall Plaque Honoring Former Rocky Springs Chapel Trustee Harry M. Free and his wife, Estie M. Free, who were both members of the Rocky Springs Chapel congregation:  The plaque reads “In recognition of the leadership given this church by Harry M. Free, 1886-1971 and his wife, Estie M. Free, 1892-1965. This plaque is placed by a grateful congregation.  Nov. 23, 1975

Plaque Honoring Harry M. Free & Estie M. Free

*Historical Sheet Music:
There are thirty-three pieces of historical sheet music in the HRSC collection.  Pictured below are the covers of some of the pieces with their copyright dates:

Sheet Music “It’s A Long, Long Way to Tipperary” (1912)
Sheet Music “In My Merry Oldsmobile” (1915)
Sheet Music “When the Boys Come Home” (1917)
Sheet Music “Over There” (1917)
Sheet Music “Till We Meet Again Song” (1918)
Sheet Music “Ja-Da” (1918)
Sheet Music “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody” (1919)

*Upright Piano manufactured by the Shaw Piano Company, Baltimore, MD, in 1909.

Shaw Upright Piano Built 1909

*Square Piano  built by piano maker Johann Frances Kahl in Washington, D.C., sometime between 1844-1854.

Maker’s Mark on HRSCs J F Kahl Piano

RESEARCH & ARCHIVES
HRSC is the primary center for historical research on Rocky Springs School House and Chapel and  preserves the historic memory of the Rocky Springs area of Frederick County, Maryland for the public.  Therefore, HRSC collects, organizes, preserves, makes accessible, and promotes scholarly and public understanding of their documentary heritage. Examples of the type of materials in the HRSC archives include copies of  historical photographs, maps, genealogies, books, land records, wills, birth certificates, military records, inscriptions from family bibles, letters, news paper articles, architectural drawings, church records, marriage records, school records, diaries, biographies, death notices and cemetery records, tax records, pedigree charts, atlases and plat books, citizenship papers, court records, information on artifacts in the HRSC collection and documents pertaining to the ongoing archaeological excavation of the Rocky Springs School House and Chapel properties by students and professors from Hood College and Frederick Community College.  HRSC is dedicated to maintaining and providing for the storage, protection and preservation of its archival materials under conditions that ensure their availability for research purposes in keeping with professionally accepted standards.


Frederick County Maryland School Bus Used to Transport Rocky Springs School House Students circa 1928
Rocky Springs School House Reunion circa 1962
Image of former Rocky Springs Chapel Trustee D Columbus Kemp (1841-1920)