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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250517T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250517T203000
DTSTAMP:20250512T201606Z
CREATED:20250506T204503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T201606Z
UID:10001049-1747508400-1747513800@fortmonroe.org
SUMMARY:Special Event:  Escape to Freedom presented by the Contraband Historical Society
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an inspiring evening as we honor a pivotal moment in American history — the Contraband Decision of 1861\, which opened the path to freedom for thousands of enslaved people. \nHear the powerful story of Frank Baker\, Shepard Mallory\, and James Townsend\, three brave men who escaped enslavement and sought refuge at Fort Monroe. In a historic move\, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler declared them “Contraband of War” — a bold decision that marked the beginning of a mass movement toward emancipation. \nThis commemoration will celebrate their courage\, faith\, and the hope that fueled a historic quest for freedom. \nPROGRAM\nContraband Decision Reading\nPrayer & Blessing from the Elders – Minister Larry Gibson\n“Rise Up” – April Burwell\nContraband Records Reading – Tim Rutherford\n“Prelude to Freedom” Selection\nContraband: Martha Ann Fields Story – Yemima Davis\nThe Contraband to United States Colored Troops (USCT) – Performed by Living History Co. as the USCT
URL:https://fortmonroe.org/event/special-event-escape-to-freedom-presented-by-the-contraband-historical-society/
LOCATION:Chapel of the Centurion\, 61 Bernard Road\, Fort Monroe\, 23651
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://fortmonroe.org/wp-content/uploads/Escape-to-Freedom-May-17-2025.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Cynthia Harges":MAILTO:contrabandhs@gmail.com
GEO:37.0026828;-76.3077103
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Chapel of the Centurion 61 Bernard Road Fort Monroe 23651;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=61 Bernard Road:geo:-76.3077103,37.0026828
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240518T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240518T203000
DTSTAMP:20240509T214757Z
CREATED:20240401T211341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240509T214757Z
UID:10000766-1716058800-1716064200@fortmonroe.org
SUMMARY:Special Event:  "Escape to Freedom" hosted by the Contraband Historical Society
DESCRIPTION:The Contraband Historical Society of Hampton\, Virginia\, will hold its annual commemoration of the Contraband Decision of 1861. In partnership with the Fort Monroe Authority\, the Society will bring together “Contraband” descendants with historical reenactors and extraordinary local musical talent. We’ll explore the most recent and exciting Contraband research and have a short preview of the documentary: The Gate: The Untold Story of America’s First Contraband\, currently in development.\nThis event will take place at the historic Chapel of the Centurion\, 157 Bernard Road at Fort Monroe\, and will pay tribute to the first three enslaved men\, Frank Baker\, Shepard Mallory\, and James Townsend to self-emancipate there in May of 1861. Their actions inspired Union Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler to make an unprecedented decision to grant them sanctuary. As a result\, Fort Monroe and Hampton became the first “safe” destination for thousands of enslaved people in their fight for freedom during the Civil War.\nCome hear more about this often-overlooked piece of American history and about CHS’s many new initiatives to bring the ancestors’ histories into the light.\nThe May 18th program is free\, open to the public\, and will include:\n● A historical reenactment of the 1861 Contraband Decision at Fort Monroe\n● Historian Dr. William Wiggins will tell the story of recently discovered Contraband and US Army soldier Nelson Ballard\, who is buried in Hampton.\n● Musical performances by Jonah’s Run and the Western Branch High School Chorus under the direction of Choral Director Robin Duncan.\n● A short preview of the documentary in development\, The Gate: The Untold Stories of America’s First Contrabands\n\nIF YOU FIND YOU CAN NOT PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON PLEASE JOIN VIA ZOOM.\nTOPIC: “ESCAPE TO FREEDOM” CONTRABAND COMMEMORATION 2024\nTIME: MAY 18\, 2024 | 07:00 PM ET | HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/83860716768\n\nCONTACT: Phillip Adderley\, President\, Contrabandhs@gmail.com\, 757 868-4782 or Cynthia Harges 757 573-2888
URL:https://fortmonroe.org/event/special-event-escape-to-freedom-hosted-by-the-contraband-historical-society/
LOCATION:Chapel of the Centurion\, 61 Bernard Road\, Fort Monroe\, 23651
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=application/pdf:https://fortmonroe.org/wp-content/uploads/CHS2024Invite.pdf
ORGANIZER;CN="Cynthia Harges":MAILTO:contrabandhs@gmail.com
GEO:37.0026828;-76.3077103
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Chapel of the Centurion 61 Bernard Road Fort Monroe 23651;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=61 Bernard Road:geo:-76.3077103,37.0026828
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230524T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230524T203000
DTSTAMP:20230516T194332Z
CREATED:20230426T174419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230516T194332Z
UID:10000409-1684954800-1684960200@fortmonroe.org
SUMMARY:Special Event:  “Remembering the Contraband and their Descendants”
DESCRIPTION:On May 24th\, 2023 at 7pm at the historic Chapel of the Centurion at Fort Monroe\, the Contraband Historical Society will bring together local “Contraband” descendants with a\n3rd-great-grandson of Major General Benjamin Butler. The Society annually commemorates this date in 1861\, when local enslaved men Frank Baker\, Shepard Mallory and James Townsend\nfled to Fort Monroe and requested asylum. Their actions inspired Butler to make a bold decision that day\, to grant them sanctuary. As a result\, Fort Monroe and Hampton became a haven for\nthousands of runaways in their fight for self-emancipation during the Civil War. \n“Some people don’t realize the history that’s here. Descendants of these contraband slaves created a moral\, spiritual and economically viable community for blacks\, and the houses that many people now live in once belonged to the contraband.”\nGerri L. Hollins\, Contraband Historical Society \nThe May 24th program\, which is free to the public\, also includes:\n● Attorney and genealogist Bessida White\, who recently discovered her own\nContraband roots\n● Living history reenactor Richard Scott\, who appears as General Butler\n● Historian Dr. William Wiggins who appears as Congressional Medal of Honor recipient\nSgt. Major Christian Fleetwood\n● Apostle Harriet Askew singing “Go Down\, Moses”\n● Dance program by Tyshawna Webb and the Built to Worship Dance Group. \nCan’t join us in person?  Please join us virtually.   Register here to join us on virtually on May 24. \n 
URL:https://fortmonroe.org/event/special-event-remembering-the-contraband-and-their-descendants/
LOCATION:Chapel of the Centurion\, 61 Bernard Road\, Fort Monroe\, 23651
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://fortmonroe.org/wp-content/uploads/Header2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Phyllis Terrell":MAILTO:PTERRELL@FORTMONROE.ORG
GEO:37.0026828;-76.3077103
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230521T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230521T190000
DTSTAMP:20230516T195503Z
CREATED:20230516T195256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230516T195503Z
UID:10000416-1684692000-1684695600@fortmonroe.org
SUMMARY:Special Event:  Contraband Commemorative Concert featuring the Western Branch High School Chamber Singers
DESCRIPTION:  \nJoin us in the historic Chapel of the Centurion at Fort Monroe on Sunday May 21st at 4:00 PM OR 6:00 PM for a special Contraband Commemorative Concert by the Western Branch High School Choir\, Chamber Singers. Space is limited and registration is requested. \nThe Western Branch Chamber Singers is a select choir made up of advanced singers from 10th – 12th grades. This group performs at many events throughout Hampton Roads. The Western Branch Chamber Singers have a well established reputation and standard of excellence continuously receiving superior ratings\, 1st place and grand champion awards at many choir competitions both locally and nationally. Recently\, this choir competed in Festival Disney\, a prestigious national competition at Walt Disney World and received 4th place honors out of 23 choirs that competed from all over the country. Members of this group have been selected to go to “All District”\, “VMEA Senior Honors Choir”\, “Young Singers Project” of Virginia Chorale” and “All Virginia Chorus”. This group is directed by Mrs. Robin Duncan. Mrs. Duncan has been teaching for 27 years and has taught all over the state of Virginia. Choirs under her direction have received superior ratings and 1st place in competitions across the country from Ohio\, New York and Florida. She is honored to now have come full circle by teaching at her alma mater. This is her 3rd year at Western Branch HS. \nThere is no virtual option for this performance.
URL:https://fortmonroe.org/event/special-event-contraband-commemorative-concert-featuring-the-western-branch-high-school-chamber-singers/2023-05-21/2/
LOCATION:Chapel of the Centurion\, 61 Bernard Road\, Fort Monroe\, 23651
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://fortmonroe.org/wp-content/uploads/Western-Branch-Choir.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Phyllis Terrell":MAILTO:PTERRELL@FORTMONROE.ORG
GEO:37.0026828;-76.3077103
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Chapel of the Centurion 61 Bernard Road Fort Monroe 23651;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=61 Bernard Road:geo:-76.3077103,37.0026828
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230521T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230521T170000
DTSTAMP:20230516T195503Z
CREATED:20230516T195256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230516T195503Z
UID:10000415-1684684800-1684688400@fortmonroe.org
SUMMARY:Special Event:  Contraband Commemorative Concert featuring the Western Branch High School Chamber Singers
DESCRIPTION:  \nJoin us in the historic Chapel of the Centurion at Fort Monroe on Sunday May 21st at 4:00 PM OR 6:00 PM for a special Contraband Commemorative Concert by the Western Branch High School Choir\, Chamber Singers. Space is limited and registration is requested. \nThe Western Branch Chamber Singers is a select choir made up of advanced singers from 10th – 12th grades. This group performs at many events throughout Hampton Roads. The Western Branch Chamber Singers have a well established reputation and standard of excellence continuously receiving superior ratings\, 1st place and grand champion awards at many choir competitions both locally and nationally. Recently\, this choir competed in Festival Disney\, a prestigious national competition at Walt Disney World and received 4th place honors out of 23 choirs that competed from all over the country. Members of this group have been selected to go to “All District”\, “VMEA Senior Honors Choir”\, “Young Singers Project” of Virginia Chorale” and “All Virginia Chorus”. This group is directed by Mrs. Robin Duncan. Mrs. Duncan has been teaching for 27 years and has taught all over the state of Virginia. Choirs under her direction have received superior ratings and 1st place in competitions across the country from Ohio\, New York and Florida. She is honored to now have come full circle by teaching at her alma mater. This is her 3rd year at Western Branch HS. \nThere is no virtual option for this performance.
URL:https://fortmonroe.org/event/special-event-contraband-commemorative-concert-featuring-the-western-branch-high-school-chamber-singers/2023-05-21/1/
LOCATION:Chapel of the Centurion\, 61 Bernard Road\, Fort Monroe\, 23651
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://fortmonroe.org/wp-content/uploads/Western-Branch-Choir.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Phyllis Terrell":MAILTO:PTERRELL@FORTMONROE.ORG
GEO:37.0026828;-76.3077103
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Chapel of the Centurion 61 Bernard Road Fort Monroe 23651;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=61 Bernard Road:geo:-76.3077103,37.0026828
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230409T063000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230409T073000
DTSTAMP:20230406T143949Z
CREATED:20230406T143949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230406T143949Z
UID:10000407-1681021800-1681025400@fortmonroe.org
SUMMARY:Special Event:  Easter Sunrise Service Inside at the Chapel of Centurion
DESCRIPTION: Sunrise Service inside the Chapel of the Centurion at 6:30am with Regular Service at 10:30am.  Everyone is welcome!
URL:https://fortmonroe.org/event/special-event-easter-sunrise-service-inside-at-the-chapel-of-centurion/
LOCATION:Chapel of the Centurion\, 61 Bernard Road\, Fort Monroe\, 23651
ORGANIZER;CN="Phyllis Terrell":MAILTO:PTERRELL@FORTMONROE.ORG
GEO:37.0026828;-76.3077103
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Chapel of the Centurion 61 Bernard Road Fort Monroe 23651;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=61 Bernard Road:geo:-76.3077103,37.0026828
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220524T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220524T200000
DTSTAMP:20220524T151336Z
CREATED:20220429T161415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220524T151336Z
UID:10000533-1653418800-1653422400@fortmonroe.org
SUMMARY:Special Event:  Annual Commemoration of the 1861 Contraband Decision
DESCRIPTION:Ceremony by the Contraband Historical Society marking the 161st anniversary of the May 24\, 1861\, “Contraband Decision” at Fort Monroe\, The Contraband Decision was the first successful action by an official of the United States Government to confiscate enslaved people from their enslavers. That action signaled the beginning of the end of slavery in the United States. Featuring a presentation on the life of Harry Jarvis\, contraband and soldier\, who liberated himself and then fought to liberate others. Ceremony concludes with a candlelight procession from Cannon Park through the old fort’s main gate into “Freedom’s Fortress.” Free admission.  Due to the inclement weather\, this event will be held at the Chapel of the Centurion located at 61 Bernard Road.
URL:https://fortmonroe.org/event/special-event-annual-commemoration-of-the-1861-contraband-decision/
LOCATION:Chapel of the Centurion\, 61 Bernard Road\, Fort Monroe\, 23651
GEO:37.0026828;-76.3077103
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