Kemp Hall

In 1861, Maryland's legislature, called into extraordinary session by Governor Thomas Holliday Hicks, met in this building owned by the Evangelical Reformed Church after convening in the courthouse on April 26 and assembling here on April 27, with senators on the second floor and delegates on the third floor. A peace and safety bill was referred to a joint committee and reported favorably, but after an amendment demanding secession was rejected, the bill was recommitted. The legislature adjourned in September without passing the bill because a lack of quorum resulted from the arrest of a number of senators and delegates by Federal order, and Maryland never seceded from the Union. On February 15, 1961, the legislature met again in this building to commemorate the Civil War session.

Frederick, Maryland · United States