Uncovering communities in books

February 3, 2008

Louis S. Diggs has written eight books on the 40 historic African- American communities of Baltimore County, with each work taking up to 1 1/2 years to craft. The author says he is "uncovering truths through books." Here is a look at the writings that have unearthed the secrets of the past:

It All Started On Winters Lane. The first book published in his series, it documents the history of the African-American community of the same name in Catonsville.

Holding On to Their Heritage. His second work chronicles the histories of Bond Avenue in Reisterstown and Piney Grove in Boring. In Our Voices. Three communities -- Chattolanee in the Green Spring Valley, Cowdensville in Arbutus and the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the oldest black order of nuns -- were visited for this third installment.

Since the Beginning. This book journeys to the African-American communities of East Towson, Schwartz Avenue, Lutherville and Sandy Bottom.

Surviving in America. Book five focuses on the historic African- American communities of Halethorpe, Oella and Granite in Baltimore County, and Church Lane, Oakland Park Road and Winands Road in Randallstown.

From the Meadows to the Point. This book spotlights the community of Turners Station that had its beginnings in the late 1880s after the Bethlehem Steel Mill came into existence in Sparrows Point.

North County. Diggs traveled to North Baltimore County to bring to life the historic communities of Pine Grove in White Hall; Union Chapel United Methodist Church; Mount Joy African Methodist Episcopal Church and Isaiah Baptist Church in Monkton; Big Falls Road in Hereford; Sparks, Cuba Road and Foote's Hill in Cockeysville; Long Green, Glen Arm, Forge Road in Perry Hall; Bradshaw in Kingsville; Philadelphia Road and Loreley in White Marsh.

Our Struggles. This book completes the documentation on the 40 historic African-American communities by detailing Chase, Bengies, Overlea, Back River Neck Road, Goodwood/Hyde Park, Hopewell Avenue, Norris Lane, Edgemere, Bare Hills, Belltown and Campfield.

[COMPILED BY ARNESA A. HOWELL]