Welcome to Hagerstown!

Following the success of "Our Town - Chestertown", Maryland Public Television announced that the western Maryland town of Hagerstown was selected for the next installment of MPT's "Our Town" series!

The stories of the residents of Hagerstown are as broad and varied as the town itself. The town is known for its historical significance - particular its role in the Civil War and the battle of Antietam - but the area is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the state of Maryland and among the fastest growing in the United States.

With a population of nearly 40,000, Hagerstown is the largest town in western Maryland. As the area grows and expands, Hagerstown is being challenged to include its new residents without losing the charm and appeal of what makes the town unique. As new residents and older residents meet and interact, what happens to the greater sense of "community"? That question is what "Our Town - Hagerstown" explores.

Production Funders

Program Sponsors

Carson Jewelers | Citi Group | Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation, Inc. | Gorfine, Schiller & Gardyn, P.A. | Graphic Response | Hagerstown Honda | Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau | Homewood at Williamsport | Mary K. Bowman Historical and Fine Arts | My Bank! First United Bank & Trust | River's Edge Landscapes | Schmankerl Stube Bavarian Restaurant | Washington County Free Library

With special thanks to the City of Hagerstown and University System of Maryland at Hagerstown.

What is "Our Town"?

The "Our Town" series is a collection of documentaries showcasing different towns across the great state of Maryland, from the Eastern shore to the Western mountains. But with a twist. Unlike a lot a historical documentaries seen on television, the "Our Town" series explores different Maryland communities through the eyes (and camera lenses) of the members of these communities. MPT has solicited the involvement of a wide variety of the community's populace, from the mayor to the bartender, from the high school student to the chief of police, new residents, old residents, any and all residents.

Our Town - Chestertown

The beautiful town of Chestertown on Maryland's eastern shore was the first community to be explored in the "Our Town" series. Chestertown is one of the quaintest and best preserved towns in Maryland, and perhaps, America. Sitting on the banks of the Chester River and surrounded by estuaries, the town's historical significance goes back to colonial America and the men and women that founded America.

Chestertown has helped to keep that heritage alive and well through the annual Chestertown Tea Party Festival, the preservation of the Schooner Sultana, and the careful consideration given to maintaining the town's charm and tradition by local government and developers. Chestertown is also home to Washington College, a liberal arts college founded under the patronage of George Washington.

If you'd like your own DVD copy of "Our Town - Chestertown", featuring additional bonus footage not seen in the broadcast version of the program, please send an email to OurTown@mpt.org or call Viewer Services at (800) 522 - 8915.