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 is located at 555 Alliance Street. This center uses the buildings of the old Havre de Grace Colored High School. Parts of the buildings have been fixed up. In 2022, people were asking for money to finish all the repairs.
Contents
History of Havre de Grace Colored High School
Early Beginnings: A School for Black Children
The Havre de Grace Colored School first opened its doors in 1912. It started as a small, one-room wooden building. The Black community worked hard to raise $1,500 to build it (equivalent to $53,392 in 2022). The city of Havre de Grace also gave $200 (equivalent to $6,281 in 2022).
During a time known as the Jim Crow period, laws kept Black and white people separate. This school was one of over 14 elementary schools for African-American children in Harford County. There was no high school in the county for Black students. Families who could afford it sent their children to high schools in cities like Baltimore or Philadelphia.
Creating a High School for the Community
In 1930, a group of African-American parents, teachers, and community leaders joined with white state lawmakers. Together, they created the Havre de Grace Colored High School. This was the very first high school for Black children in Harford County.
In 1936, a simple brick building was added to the original one-room school. 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.
Challenges and Support for Students
Even with a new school, Black students faced challenges. They often had to use old textbooks and equipment. These items were usually handed down from schools where white children studied. The school also did not have any sports facilities. At first, there was no school bus, so students had to find their own way to school.
The famous poet Langston Hughes visited the school many times. He often traveled through Havre de Grace while studying at nearby Lincoln University (Pennsylvania). He was a close friend of the school's principal, Leon Roye.
The School's Closing and New Purpose
The Havre de Grace Colored High School closed in 1953. All the separate elementary and high schools for Black children in Havre de Grace combined. They formed the Havre de Grace Consolidated School at a new location.
In 1965, schools in Harford County became integrated. This meant Black and white students could go to school together. The segregated Black schools then closed. The old Havre de Grace Colored High School buildings were later used as a doctor's office. After the doctor passed away in 2015, the buildings were given to a non-profit group. This group wanted to create a museum.
Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center
The Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation worked with Morgan State University's architecture department. They gathered and saved many items from former students. These items included photos, diplomas, books, and other important documents.
The Havre de Grace Colored School Museum and Cultural Center opened to the public in the spring of 2019. It helps people learn about the history and importance of this school.
