POTOMAC, Md. — WUSA9 first shared a series of stories about the historic enclave back in February. In the summer of 2019, a catastrophic storm nearly knocked it’s church off its foundation. But with faith, favor and funds, Scotland AME Zion, the little church with the big history is being rebuilt and restored.
The reach of the area that surrounds the church extends beyond just one stretch of Seven Locks Road.
A familiar park where many of Wednesday's activities will take place, also shares a deep connection with its founding families too.
Tucked away in woods and green spaces of Cabin John Regional Park are stories waiting to be told.
“This park has a really rich history and it’s connected to the Scotland community. Some of the land that Cabin John Regional Park is on now, originally belonged to people who lived in Scotland and some of this park land was acquired,” recounts Miti Figuerado, Director of Montgomery Parks.
So it is fitting that as Scotland comes together for a second year for its Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival to affirm freedom and reflect, this park, is central to the celebration.
“Having this community, that’s been here for so long reach out to us and tell us that they wanted to celebrate Juneteenth in Cabin John Regional Park which is their backyard, we were more than happy to say yes,” said Figuerado.
During the time of Jim Crow and Segregation, Black residents in Scotland and across the county often heard the word “no.”
With few places to gather, those residents found community around Black sandlots.
Baseball was everything.
“It was particularly the center of civic life in the Black communities in Montgomery County. It was the church, the school and baseball,” said Bruce Adams, baseball historian and founder, Bethesda Big Train Baseball.
Adams said, everyone was at the games. “You went to church in the morning on Sunday and then you went to the ballgame. The preacher who preached in the morning was at the game and the bootlegger was in the in parking lot selling his stuff.”
Eddie Dove, 89, remembers it like it was yesterday.
“And it was always somebody centered around two or three people selling beer.”
Dove is a living legend. He and the Scotland Eagles soared back in the day. He said, “Mostly, I played third base. I did a little pitching and catching.”
Lesli said, “I hear you had quite an arm at the time.”
“I did.” Dove replied.
And, Dove, whose grandfather, bought some of the first land to create what would become the Scotland community, recalls a game he’ll never forget.
“This arm is still swollen from that game. We were playing a night game in Gaithersburg, Emery Grove,” Dove reminisced, showing Lesli his swollen arm. “ I go back to get a pop fly, I misjudged the pop fly and I fell."
On Juneteenth, Dove will throw out the first pitch of the game, played at Povich Field on the grounds of Cabin John Regional Park.
“Baseball is our platform, but building a stronger community is our purpose,” said Adams.
For 25 years, Bethesda Big Train has trained young players, and raised money to fix fields for kids across the area all while sharing stories about Black Sandlots. The Juneteenth Classic named for one of the best players to come out of the county, Clarence “Pint” Israel, is one way to do just that.
“Discrimination was not just hurting people of color, it hurt us all. It diminished the lives of all of us,” said Adams. “I was missing out on something amazing because my community didn’t recognize this other commit and I didn’t get to see the superstars play.”
Eddie Dove is one of the greats. He's carrying the legacy of talented players who kept moving forward on the sandlots and in life, against all odds. In early June, Negro league baseball and Major League Baseball merged in the record books. Finally, Negro Leaguers are getting their due.
Sadly, most of them are no longer here to know it. The Big Train Baseball Juneteenth Classic in honor of those legends will be played at Povich Field Wednesday, 7-9:30pm.
Just after the game ends, a fireworks show over the field will close out the festivities. It’s a first for Montgomery County on Juneteenth. A parting gift of unity and heritage in the skies.
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