We recently celebrated the 275th anniversary of Frederick County, Maryland, originally founded in the year 1748. This achievement couldn't have occurred without a gentleman named Daniel Dulany, a businessman, politician and land speculator living in Annapolis. Dulany had laid out the county seat three years earlier in 1745, naming it Frederick Town.
Over thirty years ago, I began work on what would culminate in a 10-hour-long video documentary chronicling the story of the founding of our town (and county) in advance of Frederick's 250th anniversary celebration in September of 1995.
The film was aptly called Frederick Town and aired as a multi-part program by my former employer GS Communications, first showing on local Cable Channel 10. The program went on to air on other local and regional television channels including Maryland Public Television.
The project commemorated the September 1745 founding of Frederick in the backlands of the Maryland colony and took viewers on a journey up through the 1800s and 1900s, culminating with 1995. Interesting "new" items discussed at the end of the documentary were a minor league baseball team (the Keys), a museum that focused on Civil War History, a linear creek project for downtown Frederick and predictions for suburban expansion in all directions. Funny to think those "beginnings" are also considered town "history" today.
Featuring more than a dozen on-camera historians and commentators, I presented Frederick’s story in the Ken Burns' PBS/documentary style through the use of vintage artwork, photographs and artifacts, scenic mood footage and voiced quotes and diary passages. The program was part of a full-lineup of local special events planned to mark the City’s 250th anniversary, and would go on to be the recipient of a Telly Award of programming excellence, along with earning many citations, topped by the 1995 Frederick County Preservation Award presented by the Historical Society of Frederick County.
So, here we are 30 years later, and sadly, only one of my featured commentators is still with us. However, the faces and stories shared by those others live on in the documentary itself, and serve as everlasting guides to me in my continuing local history pursuits. My knowledge and experience with Frederick history has grown exponentially (and thirty-fold) through continued engagement with public history over the past three decades since starting my production journey with Frederick Town. This has included my subsequent employments with the Tourism Council of Frederick County and Mount Olivet Cemetery. I've had the chance to make additional documentaries, present hundreds of lectures and programs, build interpretive history exhibits, organize special commemorative events, and conduct walking and motor coach tours and other field trips. Of course, I continue to research, write and publish articles and blogs on Frederick people, places and events through my work with Mount Olivet Cemetery and "Stories in Stone." I've also been featured on other websites, including this one with the HistoryShark Blog.
Over thirty years ago, I began work on what would culminate in a 10-hour-long video documentary chronicling the story of the founding of our town (and county) in advance of Frederick's 250th anniversary celebration in September of 1995.
The film was aptly called Frederick Town and aired as a multi-part program by my former employer GS Communications, first showing on local Cable Channel 10. The program went on to air on other local and regional television channels including Maryland Public Television.
The project commemorated the September 1745 founding of Frederick in the backlands of the Maryland colony and took viewers on a journey up through the 1800s and 1900s, culminating with 1995. Interesting "new" items discussed at the end of the documentary were a minor league baseball team (the Keys), a museum that focused on Civil War History, a linear creek project for downtown Frederick and predictions for suburban expansion in all directions. Funny to think those "beginnings" are also considered town "history" today.
Featuring more than a dozen on-camera historians and commentators, I presented Frederick’s story in the Ken Burns' PBS/documentary style through the use of vintage artwork, photographs and artifacts, scenic mood footage and voiced quotes and diary passages. The program was part of a full-lineup of local special events planned to mark the City’s 250th anniversary, and would go on to be the recipient of a Telly Award of programming excellence, along with earning many citations, topped by the 1995 Frederick County Preservation Award presented by the Historical Society of Frederick County.
So, here we are 30 years later, and sadly, only one of my featured commentators is still with us. However, the faces and stories shared by those others live on in the documentary itself, and serve as everlasting guides to me in my continuing local history pursuits. My knowledge and experience with Frederick history has grown exponentially (and thirty-fold) through continued engagement with public history over the past three decades since starting my production journey with Frederick Town. This has included my subsequent employments with the Tourism Council of Frederick County and Mount Olivet Cemetery. I've had the chance to make additional documentaries, present hundreds of lectures and programs, build interpretive history exhibits, organize special commemorative events, and conduct walking and motor coach tours and other field trips. Of course, I continue to research, write and publish articles and blogs on Frederick people, places and events through my work with Mount Olivet Cemetery and "Stories in Stone." I've also been featured on other websites, including this one with the HistoryShark Blog.
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My passion is to share what I've researched and learned over the years from countless others about the history of this great place that has served as my home for nearly half a century. I've been fortunate to teach Frederick history to others for well over half of that span. I've continued to do this by presenting special lectures all over the county, and through course offerings through FCC's ILR (Institute for Learning in Retirement) program. I've been affiliated with the latter for the past eight years and plan to continue to doing so with brand new offerings in the future.
However, the time has come now to teach under the umbrella of History Shark Productions. I have put together a four-week/part course entitled Chris Haugh's "Frederick History 101," first taught in June, 2023. As the name suggests, it is based on my past work and I is nothing like a stereotypical "ho-hum" old-school, history lecture featuring a speaker reading his prepared paper at a lectern. No, this will include a multi-media presentation featuring PowerPoint slides, film clips and even tangible, "show & tell" items. On display will be my unique presentation style which includes high energy, humor, and, yes, at times, even a hint of sarcasm. But, most of all, it will include a passion for our past.
The 4-part course has been taught on-location at the Key Memorial Chapel on the grounds of historic Mount Olivet Cemetery, where I also serve as historian and preservation manager by day. I've also presented the course remotely via the Zoom platform. This allows former residents and "out of towners" the opportunity to "attend," as well as those that would rather take the course in the comfort of their own home for a variety of reasons.
However, the time has come now to teach under the umbrella of History Shark Productions. I have put together a four-week/part course entitled Chris Haugh's "Frederick History 101," first taught in June, 2023. As the name suggests, it is based on my past work and I is nothing like a stereotypical "ho-hum" old-school, history lecture featuring a speaker reading his prepared paper at a lectern. No, this will include a multi-media presentation featuring PowerPoint slides, film clips and even tangible, "show & tell" items. On display will be my unique presentation style which includes high energy, humor, and, yes, at times, even a hint of sarcasm. But, most of all, it will include a passion for our past.
The 4-part course has been taught on-location at the Key Memorial Chapel on the grounds of historic Mount Olivet Cemetery, where I also serve as historian and preservation manager by day. I've also presented the course remotely via the Zoom platform. This allows former residents and "out of towners" the opportunity to "attend," as well as those that would rather take the course in the comfort of their own home for a variety of reasons.
View from Prospect Hill (c. 1844) by John J. Markell (1820-1844) with original in the collection of Heritage Frederick
This 4-class bundle of Frederick history is a must for local residents. If you are relatively new to the area, my Frederick Town history will give you a much better appreciation and understanding of why Frederick is so unique and special. And if you are a life-long Frederick local, this course will serve as a great refresher course, sure to bring feelings of pride for your hometown and that of ancestors.
The class is open to all ages and will consist of four, 2.5 hour classes. These are typically held in the Key Memorial Chapel at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Separate complimentary classes will include a "1700s/1800s Walking Tour" & and a "1900s-Current Day" Walking Tour of Mount Olivet where we will visit the graves of unique and outstanding local historical figures talked about in the class.
Note: A "Frederick History 201" level online class will be offered in January 2025 which we will look at outstanding events and personalities of Frederick's past with an even deeper detail.
The class is open to all ages and will consist of four, 2.5 hour classes. These are typically held in the Key Memorial Chapel at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Separate complimentary classes will include a "1700s/1800s Walking Tour" & and a "1900s-Current Day" Walking Tour of Mount Olivet where we will visit the graves of unique and outstanding local historical figures talked about in the class.
Note: A "Frederick History 201" level online class will be offered in January 2025 which we will look at outstanding events and personalities of Frederick's past with an even deeper detail.
History Shark Productions presents:
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Course Registration
Click the button below to access our secure registration and payment site at CourseStorm.com.
Cost: $79/each (incl. all 4 classes of Frederick 101) (Makeup class opportunities will be available) 
"Frederick History 101" Cemetery WalKING ToursFrederick History 101 Cemetery Walking (Class) Tours ($20 each)
*VERSION I: "1700s/1800s" edition Spring 2025 *VERSION II: "1900s-Current" edition Spring 2025 Registration link below |
