James Wormley facts for kids
James Wormley (born January 16, 1819 – died October 18, 1884) was an important businessman in Washington D.C.. He owned a famous place called the Wormley Hotel. This hotel opened in 1869. Before that, he ran boarding houses starting in 1855. Some people said he was with Abraham Lincoln when Lincoln died. But many people disagree with this story.
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Early Life and Career
James Wormley was born free in Washington D.C. in 1819. He and his brothers and sisters thought they had some Native American family history. James started his career by driving carriages. He worked for his father, Lynch Wormley. His father owned a stable near the Willard Hotel.
Driving carriages helped James meet many important people in the city. He used these connections to get a job managing a club. He became known as a very good manager. He even worked on a Mississippi River boat for a while. Later, he worked for a well-known lawyer named Reverdy Johnson.
Helping with Education
James Wormley played a big part in helping education. In 1871, he helped convince the U.S. Congress to give money. This money was for the city's first public elementary school for Black students. This school was called the Sumner School. James Wormley led the group that watched over the school's building.
The Wormley Hotel's Importance
The Wormley Hotel was located at 15th and H streets in Washington D.C. This hotel became famous for a very important event. It was the place where the Wormley Agreement happened. This agreement solved a big problem with the presidential election of 1876.
The election was very close between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. The agreement helped decide who would be president. This agreement also led to the end of the Reconstruction period in the Southern states. Reconstruction was a time after the Civil War when the U.S. worked to rebuild the South.
Later Life and Legacy
James Wormley passed away on October 18, 1884. He was buried in Columbian Harmony Cemetery in Washington D.C. After his death, his son, James T. Wormley, took over running the hotel in the 1890s.
The Wormley School Building
James Wormley also led the group that supervised the building of another school. This was an elementary school for Black children in Georgetown. It was located at 3325 Prospect Street. This school opened in 1885 and was named the Wormley School. Most of the children who went there came from other parts of Georgetown.
The Wormley School closed in 1952. After that, it was used for school offices. For a short time, it also served as a public school for students with special needs. From 1979 to 1994, the building was called the Prospect Learning Center. This center helped children with learning difficulties and some emotional issues.
The building closed as a public school in June 1994. This was because the city had not kept up with its maintenance. The building also had problems with asbestos and lead paint. After it closed, Georgetown University bought the building. They planned to turn it into student housing. However, the building remained empty from 1994 to 2005. Today, the historic building is home to the Wormley Row condominiums. New houses were built on the old parking lot and playground. These houses match the style of the neighborhood.
Honoring James Wormley
James Wormley's life and achievements were featured in a newspaper article. It was called "A Hotel for the History Books." This article was in the Washington Post on March 18, 2001. Nicholas E. Hollis wrote the article. He also spoke to groups like the American Bar Association. He launched a special project to honor James Wormley's memory.
