Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center facts for kids
The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center is a special place in Havre de Grace, Maryland. It's located in the old buildings of the Havre de Grace Colored High School. These buildings are being fixed up, and people are working hard to finish the restoration.
The Havre de Grace Colored School first opened its doors in 1912. It started as just one room! The Black community worked together to raise $1500 to build it (which was a lot of money back then, like equivalent to $53,392 in 2022 today!). The city of Havre de Grace also helped with $200 (about equivalent to $6,281 in 2022 now). During a time called the Jim Crow period, when laws kept Black and white people separate, this school was one of more than 14 elementary schools for African-American children in Harford County. Sadly, there was no high school for Black students in the county. Families who could afford it had to send their children far away to Baltimore or Philadelphia for high school.
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A New High School for Black Students
In 1930, a group of African-American parents, teachers, and community leaders teamed up with white state lawmakers. Together, they created the Havre de Grace Colored High School. This was a huge step, as it was the first high school for Black children in Harford County!
Growing and Facing Challenges
In 1936, a simple brick building was added next to the original one-room schoolhouse. This new high school quickly became a source of great pride for the Black community. They saw it as the best way for their children to get ahead in life. Even with a new school, students still faced challenges. They often had to use old, second-hand books and equipment that white schools no longer wanted. The school also didn't have any sports facilities. At first, there wasn't even a school bus, so students had to find their own way to school.
Famous Visitor: Langston Hughes
The famous poet Langston Hughes visited the school many times. He was studying at nearby Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) and often passed through Havre de Grace. He was a close friend of the school's principal, Leon Roye.
The School Closes and a New Chapter Begins
In 1953, the Havre de Grace Colored School closed. All the "Colored Schools" in Havre de Grace, both elementary and high school, joined together to form the Havre de Grace Consolidated School at a brand new location. Later, in 1965, schools in Harford County became integrated, meaning Black and white students could attend the same schools. At this point, the segregated Black schools officially closed.
From School to Museum
After the school closed, the buildings were used as a doctor's office. When the doctor passed away in 2015, the buildings were given to a non-profit group that wanted to create a museum. With help from the architecture department at Morgan State University and many donations from former students (like old photos, diplomas, books, and documents), the Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation opened its doors to the public in the spring of 2019. It's now a museum and cultural center, preserving the important history of the school and its community.
