The Maryland Historical Trust anounced a grant to the Save Historic Antietam Foundation (SHAF) of $50,000 in FY2007 for “carpentry and masonry repairs to foundation, sills, floors & supports, roof repairs and installation of cupola” on Tolson’s Chapel in Sharpsburg.
Tolson’s was used as a free school immediately after the Civil War, educating the town’s African-American children. It is one of very few free schools still standing in the state of Maryland. Following construction of a slightly larger school in town, the building was used as an AME church until the mid-20th century. When SHAF acquired it in 2003, Tolson’s Chapel had not been touched since its closing.
SHAF teams have stabilized the structure and are now planning further preservation activities.