When one thinks of the history of Town on the Chester, Chestertown, it’s usually its Colonial History. It also has a touch of Civil War history, or more precisely Post Civil War.
George Vickers was one of Kent County’s most prominent citizens. In early 1868 he was selected by the Maryland Legislature as a US Senator arriving in time for the Impeachment Trial of President Johnson. The Senate was composed of 54 members representing 27 states. A two thirds majority was needed to remove the President from office. Vickers was one of the 19 Senators to vote not-guilty. Had he not been on the Senate Johnson would have been found guilty.
A historical marker for George Vickers is located near Town Hall.
Just a few steps away on Park Row is the town’s Memorial Plaza. There is a Civil War Trail sign telling the story of how in June 1917 Judge James A. Pearce had a monument placed to honor both sides of the war. One side has the names of those who fought with the confederacy and the other for the union. Family names appear on both sides of the monument.
Pearce did leave off the names of 400 Black soldiers that fought for the North. That error of omission was corrected in 1999 when an obelisk was installed to honor them
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View of the confederate side of the Civil War Monument with the added 1999 Obelisk in the background
After the Civil War ended the Grand Army of the Republic was founded on April 6, 1866 with the principles of “Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty,” in Decatur, Illinois, by Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson.
The Charles Sumner Post #25, Grand Army of the Republic was chartered in 1882 by local Black Veterans in Chestertown. In 1908 the building on Queen Street, a block and a half from Memorial Park, was built by the G.A.R members. The last member died in 1928. During the next few decades the building was used as a community hall. In the later part of the 20th Century the building fell upon neglect and when it appeared that the building would be torn down a preservation group took ownership and did the first stage of restoration. Ultimately a non-profit was born that raised the money to have the building fully restored. Today it serves as a museum.
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