On November 5, Antietam National Battlefield and the Friends of Tolson’s Chapel will debut a film about the life of Christina Watson. The National Park Service’s full event description is below:

“Learn about the connections between Antietam National Battlefield and Tolsons Chapel and School to commemorate the anniversary of emancipation in Maryland. In 1866, African Americans in Sharpsburg built Tolson’s Chapel, which would later serve as a Freedman’s Bureau School. Some of the parishioners and students lived on the battlefield including Hilary Watson, who was enslaved on the Otto Farm in 1862. His wife, Christina Watson, who went by Teeny, was enslaved and worked in a tavern in the town of Sharpsburg and also experienced the terror of the Battle of Antietam. The Friends of Tolson’s Chapel have produced a living history film to provide insights into Teeny’s life and role in the chapel. This film will be premiered in the park theatre at 1:00 pm. The showing will be followed by a panel discussion featuring those who researched, wrote, acted in, filmed, and produced the video including ZSunee Miller Matama, Dr. Emilie Amt, Edie Wallace, and Jerris Smith.”

SHAF stepped in to save Tolson’s Chapel from demolition years ago.

The program will begin at 1 pm at the Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center.